India last played an international game in Pakistan during the 2008 Asia Cup, a tournament that culminated in a high-stakes final between India and Sri Lanka in Karachi. Unfortunately for the Men in Blue, the match ended in heartbreak as they succumbed to a 100-run defeat, largely due to an extraordinary performance by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis.
The Final Match: Key Highlights
Sri Lanka’s Batting Performance
- Toss and Decision: India won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to chase down a target under lights.
- Sanath Jayasuriya’s Heroics: Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya delivered a masterclass, smashing 125 off 114 balls, including nine boundaries and five sixes.
- Middle and Lower Order Contributions:
- Tilakratne Dilshan: Scored a crucial 56, forming a 131-run partnership with Jayasuriya for the fifth wicket.
- Chaminda Vaas (19) and Nuwan Kulasekara (29): Provided valuable runs down the order.
- Total Score: Sri Lanka posted a challenging 273 runs in their 50 overs.
- India’s Bowling:
- RP Singh and Ishant Sharma: Took three wickets each.
- Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag: Contributed with two and one wicket, respectively.
India’s Chase and Mendis’ Magic
- Strong Start: Virender Sehwag got India off to a blistering start, scoring a rapid 60 off 36 balls. At 76/1 in nine overs, India seemed on course for a successful chase.
- Ajantha Mendis Turns the Game:
- Mendis was introduced in the 10th over and struck immediately, dismissing Sehwag.
- Two balls later, he sent Yuvraj Singh back for a duck.
- Mendis continued to wreak havoc, eventually finishing with astonishing figures of 6/13 in eight overs, the best ODI figures of his career.
- MS Dhoni’s Resistance: The Indian captain tried to steady the innings with a 74-ball 49 but found little support from the other batters.
- Collapse: India was bundled out for 173, falling short by a massive 100 runs.
Legacy of the 2008 Final
- Ajantha Mendis’ Breakthrough: The final marked the rise of Ajantha Mendis as a formidable “mystery spinner.” His variations left Indian batters clueless and etched his name in cricketing history.
- Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup Victory: The win secured Sri Lanka their fourth Asia Cup title.
- India’s Missed Opportunity: Despite a strong group-stage performance, India couldn’t deliver in the final.
India-Pakistan Relations Post-2008
The 2008 Asia Cup remains significant as it was the last time India played an international match on Pakistani soil. Following the Mumbai terror attacks later that year, cricketing ties between the two nations deteriorated. India has since refused to travel to Pakistan for security reasons, with bilateral series reduced to ICC tournaments or matches played at neutral venues.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will follow this trend, as India’s games, including the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan, will be hosted in the UAE instead of Pakistan.
The 2008 final in Karachi serves as a bittersweet reminder of the historic rivalry between India and Pakistan, the impact of geopolitical tensions on cricket, and the brilliance of cricketing legends like Jayasuriya and Mendis.
