The India vs Pakistan rivalry has produced some brilliant moments over the years. And while it has balanced out over the years, it eventually boils down to India’s batting against Pakistan’s bowling.
And despite the extreme rivalry between the two nations, in the end, there is certainly respect for talent on both sides – two countries who genuinely appreciate cricket.
In our build-up to the India vs Pakistan clash on 4 June in the Champions Trophy, we look back at seven sensational yorkers by Pakistani bowlers against various opponents. It’s hard not to marvel at these deliveries and any cricket fan would applaud…
Shoaib Akhtar’s back-to-back rippers against Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar: Two deliveries, two big big wickets. Dravid was set at 24 and India were 147-2 after Pakistan scored 185 in the 1st innings. The pacer then produced not one, but two sensational yorkers to dismiss Dravid first, before sending Tendulkar packing for a duck. Love him or hate him, to pull this off in Kolkata is just something else. Pakistan eventually won the Test by 46 runs.
Wasim Akram’s yorker to Darren Lehmann: It was the Carlton & United series in Australia in 1997 and the hosts were chasing a target of 182. Long story short, Akram finished with 4/25 in a losing cause and one of his wickets was this absolute beauty of a yorker.
Waqar Younis to Brian Lara, 1997: Another amazing delivery from 1997, as Waqar Younis completely bamboozled Brian Lara to send his stumps rolling. Just seeing Brian Lara fall over like that is pure beauty for anyone who loves the art of bowling. Tremendous from Waqar.
Umar Gul against Australia: This one came in 2010 and in a winning cause at the MCC Spirit of Cricket T20I Series in England. Umar Gul was up against Mike Hussey, who was favouring the mid-wicket area. The yorker’s on leg-stump though, and in the blockhole. Excellent stuff.
Junaid Khan vs Sri Lanka: Prasanna Jayawardene felt the full brunt of a yorker from a Pakistani bowler when Junaid Khan sent the ball crashing into his stumps with a vicious delivery on Day 1 of the 2011 Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. Junaid took 5/38 in the first innings but this was the pick of the wickets.
Wasim Akram yorker plus run-out against India: Including this one for the fabulous piece of fielding after the yorker. Akram at his best in fact. It was Pakistan’s year – 1992 – and their World Cup as well. Akram’s delivery floored Kiran More with a yorker and then got a direct hit to run him out. India still won the match though.
