The perfect opening act for Champions Trophy: Netflix brings India vs Pakistan rivalry live

"Rivalry" comes off as an intense term to describe the competition between two opponents. However, a word as fierce is only fitting to explain the tussle between the subcontinent neighbors, India and Pakistan. Any sport that pits them against each other witnesses a clash that enlightens the tournament. But the best stage to see the India vs Pakistan rivalry in all its glory is their shared favorite sport, cricket. Divided in 1947, these neighbors have been serving the ultimate sporting spectacle for ages, with each match growing more intense than the previous one. The relationship has been tumultuous, with their on-field interactions reducing considerably, but the limited events only fuel the competition between the opponents. One of the greatest tales in the sport, the India vs Pakistan rivalry could now be relived as Netflix brings the tale live on February 7.

The Ashes, the age-old cricketing rivalry between Australia and England, takes a back seat when India and Pakistan take the field. Good thing, the rivalry is not all talk. India and Pakistan, over the years, have given legends to the game of cricket. From the World Cup-winning skippers Imran Khan and Kapil Dev to new-age heroes like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, the India vs Pakistan contest has borne witness to notable talents taking the spotlight generation after generation. Meanwhile, when these talents collide within the bounds of the field, a skillful display of cricket enchants the fans all over the world. To make it a foolproof recipe for a complete cricket game, the India vs Pakistan matches are laden with intense moments on the ground.

Netflix sets the scene with a documentary on India vs Pakistan rivalry ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

The scenes of a charged-up Gautam Gambhir engaging Shahid Afridi in a heated chat are still fresh in the minds of fans across the border. Their clashes tell a story of numerous such face-offs, which Netflix brings back to the screens with its new series, "The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan." With multiple matches played in a single day, there are seldom any contests that fans want to see again and again. It's not a coincidence that the India vs Pakistan clashes make up most of the matches with a mighty rewatch value. Who could even get over the moment when Virat Kohli bashed Haris Rauf for two maximums at the MCG to take the T20 World Cup match home in a thriller? The historic battle is now over two years old. Ask any cricket fan, and the league-stage battle still ranks atop the list of the most enthralling cricket contests.

The streaming giant, meanwhile, brings to our screens the heroes that make the India vs Pakistan rivalry great. Directed by Chandradev Bhagat and Stewart Stugg, the Grey Matter production will feature Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar narrating the tale of the rivalry. Moreover, the documentary promises insights from the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar, Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

India and Pakistan featured regularly in bilaterals and tri-series like other teams in the game in the past. However, the unfortunate and gruesome terror attack of 26/11 completely ceased their direct contest. With the 2008 Asia Cup being the last instance of India touring Pakistan, both neighbors have since played each other only in ICC and ACC tournaments. The discontinuation of bilateral series across formats meant reduced interaction between the rivals. However, India and Pakistan are set to face each other soon as the ICC Champions Trophy gears up to hit the floors.

The revival of the Champions Trophy, which concluded with Pakistan beating India in the final in 2017, carried a lot of drama. Pakistan, as the defending champion, won the hosting rights for the tournament in 2025. However, citing a clear safety issue for its players, the BCCI refused to tour Pakistan for the ICC championship. After long-extended deliberations, the ICC intervened to make the Champions Trophy follow the hybrid model. Now, placed in the same group, India and Pakistan will face each other on 23 February in Dubai for the league-stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy.

With the date not so far ahead in the calendar, the Netflix documentary is set to serve as the perfect prelude to the Champions Trophy contest. A history as rich and intense, fueled further by the touring debacle ahead of the tournament, the India vs Pakistan tale needed something as fitting as the documentary. Brace up as "The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan" hits your streams on 7 February 2025.