A sport comes to the point of climax only when there is a history of rivalries between two teams. Especially in a game like cricket, which is famous across the globe, the urge to win the battle is an inevitable part of the game. The passion and the craze for the game have merely caused or can be better said to create rivals! The rivals are both nationally and internationally popular because of their competency towards each other. So, do you know of any such rivalries in cricket? In this blog, I have shared the biggest rivalries in cricket history. So, if you want to know more, read the blog till the end.
Biggest Rivalries in Cricket
India-Pakistan
India-Pakistan is one of the biggest rivalries in cricket. The primary reason behind this is the tense relationship between these two nations, which resulted in bitter connections that originated from the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
Several conflicts, such as the Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Kashmir conflict, have led to the emergence of fierce sporting rivalries between these two countries. The first match, like the tests and the limited-overs series, was held when Pakistan visited India. However, other tours have been cancelled due to political factors.
But even this didn't last long. From 1962 to 1977, no match was played between these two countries due to the major wars in 1965 and 1971 and other wars, such as the 1999 Kargil War and the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which interrupted the cricketing ties between these two nations.
However, India has won 11 ICC tournaments, and Pakistani has won 5; at the senior level, India has won 6 ICC trophies like the 2 Cricket World Cups, 2 T20 World Cups, and 2 Champions Trophy, whereas Pakistan has won 3 like the 1 Cricket World Cup, 1 T20 World Cup, and 1 Champions Trophy. However, India won Pakistan in the ICC World Cups, winning 14 out of 15 matches, whereas Pakistan secured only one victory. India also leads 8-0 against Pakistan at the 50-over ODI World Cups.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka
The Bangladesh–Sri Lanka cricket rivalry is another biggest rivalries in cricket. The main reason for the two is the rise of multi-national competitions such as the Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup, which led to more regular, spicier, heated contests between the two sides. The rivalry has deepened since 2018 among the players' officials and fans.
The two sides first played in 1986, when Bangladesh visited Sri Lanka for the 1986 Asia Cup after winning the 1984 South-East Asia Cup. However, the test and the limited overs series were later played between them. Sri Lanka has now won 3 ICC tournaments compared to Bangladesh, and at the senior level, Sri Lanka has won over nine global trophies 1 Cricket World Cup, 1 T20 World Cup, 1 Champions Trophy, and 6 Asia Cups. In contrast, Bangladesh has never won any global competition.
Border Gavaskar Trophy- Australia and India
The Border–Gavaskar Trophy is an International Test cricket trophy played between India and Australia. This series is named after India and Australia's two great cricket legends, Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar.
The match is played via a test series scheduled using the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme. The winner of the test series wins the trophy; if the series is drawn, the country holding the trophy retains it. The competitive nature of this game creates a rivalry between both nations to win the trophy.
Both teams perform best to obtain and win this most prestigious bilateral trophy in 5-day cricket. However, throughout the years, India's position towards this Border Gavaskar Trophy has seen a success rate compared to Australia. Of the 17 test series, India has stepped onto victory around 10 times, Australia has won just 6 times, and one series was drawn.
Bangladesh-India
Bangladesh and India are also two of the biggest rivalries in cricket. It is also one of the most aggressive cricket rivalries, as cricketers have described it as the "essence of sports rivalry." Initially, there was a friendly competition between the two nations, but the rivalry grew in the early part of the 20th century due to repeated controversial high-profile incidents and periods when both teams refused to play with each other.
The rivalry increased further after Bangladesh's win over India in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Although Indians have been the dominant side in the rivalry, Bangladeshis consider India their arch-rival. Yet, India has won two Cricket World Cups, two T20 World Cups, and two Champions Trophies, whereas Bangladesh has yet to win an ICC tournament. Bangladesh's best performance was reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and the quarter-finals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. India defeated them in both instances.
Chennai Super Kings–Mumbai Indians Cricket
The Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians are rivals between the franchises in the Indian Premier League. Both teams are the most powerful in the Indian Premier League and have won the T20 title 5 times. They both have competed with each other around 37 times in IPL and 2 times in CLT20, which is the highest of any IPL teams that would have faced off against each other.
However, Mumbai Indians have more victories (21). The highest run scorer from this fixture is Suresh Raina of Chennai Super Kings with 736 runs in 32 matches against Mumbai Indians, and the Mumbai Indians skipper is Rohit Sharma, a person with the most ducks in international cricket, managed to score 711 runs in 30 outings. Historically, they have engaged in the most iconic clashes in the IPL, including the three times in the finals. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the richest cricketers in the world, captains the Chennai Super Kings, leading to their victory several times.
The Ashes- England vs Australia
Popularly known as "The Ashes," the Ashes is one of England and Australia's oldest and most iconic rivalries, having existed since 1882. It is a men's test cricket series played biennially between England and Australia.
The term "ashes" is a satirical term that originated in a news article published by "The Sporting Times" immediately after Australia's win at the Oval, where its first win was against the English Soil. It was a kind of obituary that stated that the English cricketer had died and that the body would be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia. The English people took this statement seriously, and in return, they decided to regain those ashes and also started "the quest to regain the Ashes" during their tour.
Again, when England won three to four test series in the tour, they were gifted with a small urn, personally to Bligh. However, the contents of the Ashes were the ashes of wooden bail, but it was humorously remarked as "the ashes of Australian cricket". However, there have been 73 Ashes series till now, whereas Australia has won 34 and retained six times from draws (40). England won 32 and was retained once (33).
Frequently Asked Questions about Biggest Rivalries in Cricket
Why Is the India-Pakistan Rivalry So Intense?
The India vs. Pakistan Rivalry is intense due to several factors, including historical, political, and cultural differences between the two nations.
What Role Do the Cricket Boards Play in Fueling Rivalries?
Cricket boards leverage rivalries by scheduling high-profile series and tournaments, promoting the matches as marquee events, and enhancing fan engagement through marketing strategies.
Are There Any Rivalries in Women's Cricket?
Yes, rivalries like Australia vs England in the women's Ashes and India vs Australia in ICC events are gaining popularity.
This is on the list of some of the biggest rivalries in cricket history, which offers a thrilling, exciting, and competitive battleground to the players and the spectators. Watching these rivalries play could also be fantastic entertainment.
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