“It’s Not a Big Match” – Sourav Ganguly Gives Reality to Check to Hyped Fans Over India vs. Pakistan Rivalry

Sourav Ganguly led India to iconic victories against Pakistan during the early 2000s, cementing his legacy as a bold captain in the rivalry.

“It’s Not a Big Match” – Sourav Ganguly Gives Reality to Check to Hyped Fans Over India vs. Pakistan Rivalry

Sourav Ganguly suggested that the India-Pakistan match cannot be considered a 'big rivalry' anymore. (Image via India Today)

In Short
  • Sourav Ganguly stated that the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry no longer qualifies as a 'big match' due to the disparity in team quality.
  • India secured a 61-run victory over Pakistan, marking their fifth consecutive win against them in T20s.
  • Pakistan must win their final Group A match against Namibia to advance to the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup.

Following India’s dominant victory over Pakistan in the recent fixture at the T20 World Cup, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly offered a candid critique of the historic rivalry. He delivered a straightforward assessment to supporters, claiming the India-Pakistan clash no longer holds the status of a ‘big match’.

The Men in Blue confirmed their place in the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8s after securing a 61-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo. Although both teams were coming off impressive opening wins, India proved superior in all departments, moving to the top of Group A with six points. Pakistan’s crushing defeat was attributed to their decision to bowl first under overcast skies on a pitch that favored spinners. 

Batting first, India put up a competitive total of 175/7 on the board, with Ishan Kishan hitting a brilliant 77-run knock off 40 balls. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 29), Tilak Varma (25 off 24) and Shivam Dube (27 off 17) helped the co-hosts.

Chasing an above-par score, Pakistan struggled from the beginning, as they lost wickets at intervals. Usman Khan‘s 44 runs were not enough, as Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 114 in the 18th over.

The win in Colombo marked India’s fifth straight victory over Pakistan in the shortest format of the game, with three of those wins coming in the 2025 Asia Cup. It clearly depicts the wide disparity between the two sides, a fact that was well pointed out by Sourav Ganguly. The ex-Indian captain suggested that the current Pakistan side is in no way comparable to the legendary teams from the 1980s and 1990s. 

A big match doesn’t really exist anymore, those kinds of matches used to happen in the past. We make the mistake of thinking of Pakistan as the team of Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram… The gap in quality is more noticeable than the result itself.

Sourav Ganguly to reporters (H/T: News 18)

The 53-year-old noted that previous Pakistani squads featured legends such as Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, and Wasim Akram. Ganguly firmly contemplated that the India-Pakistan showdown can no longer be termed as a competitive ‘rivalry’, reasoning that the current Pakistani team lacks the talent. He instead suggested that India’s matches against Australia, South Africa, and England are closer to a rivalry.

Nonetheless, Pakistan will now have to win their final Group A fixture against Namibia to secure a Super Eight spot. India, on the other hand, will be looking to end their group-stage campaign with a hundred percent win record, when they next take on the Netherlands. 

India vs. Netherlands: Focus shifts to Abhishek Sharma’s form ahead of Ahmedabad clash

With India having made it through to the next stages of the 2026 T20 World Cup, all eyes will now be on opener Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to open his run account in the tournament. Sharma will be hoping to find himself among the run-getters, when the Men in Blue take on the Netherlands.

Abhishek Sharma India-Netherlands form
Abhishek Sharma will be expected to score big when India takes on Netherlands next. (via India Today)

Abhishek Sharma, while being the world’s No.1-ranked T20I batter, has struggled in the two matches that he played at this year’s World Cup. In India’s opening group-stage fixture against the USA, the 25-year-old was dismissed for a first-ball duck by pacer Ali Khan. His poor luck continued in the much-awaited clash against Pakistan as well, where he was caught out for a four-ball duck, off Salman Ali Agha’s bowling. 

Prior to the match, Pakistani captain Agha had even challenged the Indian team to include the left-hander in their playing XI despite his illness. The Punjab-born batter had to be admitted to the hospital following India’s opening match against the USA for suspected stomach infection. Sharma also suffered from high fever, as a result of which he had to sit out of the Namibia encounter, with Sanju Samson replacing him.

Fully recovered now, Sharma will be hoping to score some runs in India’s following match against the Netherlands on February 18. Moreover, the young opener has now recorded four ducks and two 50+ scores in his last seven outings for India in T20Is. 

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