The Take Another Take: The biggest rivalry in sport – India and Pakistan in cricket
Feb 14, 2026
Tabish Talib, a Pakistani reporter and on-the-ground fan, and Ashish Malhotra, a stadium reporter and cricket superfan, bring vivid match-day color. They recreate the pop-up stadium buzz. They describe diaspora watch parties, fans’ sacrifices, tense crowd divisions, the politics behind neutral venues, and the rollercoaster finish that left emotions raw.
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Pop-Up Stadium Feels Like a Concert
- Ashish Malhotra described the pop-up Nassau County International Cricket Stadium hosting India vs Pakistan in New York.
- Fans paid thousands and treated the match like a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience.
Childhood Memories Cement Fandom
- Tabish Talib and Ashish recalled childhood memories of iconic India-Pakistan matches, like Saeed Anwar's 194 in 1997.
- Those moments cemented lifelong fandom and show how the rivalry becomes personal.
Politics Reshaped Cricket Fixtures
- The 2008 Mumbai attacks changed India-Pakistan relations and ended regular bilateral cricket tours.
- Now they only meet at major international tournaments, often in neutral countries.