‘We’ve Had Enough’: Waqar Younis Admits Defeat to India’s World Cup Dominance

NEW YORK – The gap between India and Pakistan in ICC tournaments was laid bare not just on the scoreboard, but in the commentary box, following India’s tense victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. As India defended a modest total of 119 to secure their seventh win over their arch-rivals in T20 World Cup history, former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis offered a blunt assessment of the rivalry’s current state.

The Commentary Box Confession

The defining moment came during the broadcast analysis of India’s six-run victory at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. As commentator Pommie Mbangwa highlighted India’s overwhelming statistical advantage in ICC events, Younis interrupted with a candid admission of resignation.

“The domination of this fixture by India would undoubtedly be annoying for Pakistan,” Mbangwa observed. Younis interjected immediately: “Alright! Enough. Leave it there. We’ve had enough of that. India have been too good in the last 15-20 years, I would say.”

The reaction underscores a grim reality for Pakistan cricket: what was once the sport’s most volatile and unpredictable rivalry has settled into a pattern of Indian hegemony in global tournaments.

Data Analysis: A Rivalry Lopsided

While the rivalry was statistically balanced in the 1980s and 1990s, the modern era has seen India establish a psychological stranglehold at World Cups. In the T20 format, the two sides have met eight times, with India winning seven encounters.

India vs Pakistan: T20 World Cup Head-to-Head

Pakistan’s solitary triumph came at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Dubai, a 10-wicket demolition that briefly suggested a turning tide. However, subsequent defeats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2022 (courtesy of Virat Kohli’s masterclass) and the low-scoring thriller in New York in 2024 have restored the status quo.

The Psychological Toll

Waqar Younis’s exasperation reflects a broader sentiment within Pakistan’s cricketing fraternity. Having served as head coach during the 2016 defeat in Kolkata and played in the 1996 and 2003 ODI World Cup losses, Younis has witnessed the evolution of this mental block firsthand.

The “Mother of All Battles” often fails to deliver on competitive tension, with India consistently handling pressure moments better than their neighbors. In the 2024 encounter, Pakistan appeared to be cruising in their chase of 120 before a middle-order collapse handed the initiative back to Rohit Sharma’s men—a recurring theme of panic under pressure.

For detailed match statistics and player records from the rivalry, visit ESPNcricinfo or the official BCCI website.