After watching one of the single greatest ODI’s this game has produced, where everything clicked. Every single event and ocassion produced something, whether that be Andrew Hall’s one-handed catch at mid-on to dismiss Gilchrist, or a continuous mindset of raining sixes after sixes in consecutive overs, it got me to thinking; we all have heard and read the fierce rivalries that surround the scene of International Cricket, at some point in time of our lives. Certainly, starting with India/Pakistan (moreso because of political tension than anything else, I’d reckon), the Ashes (with dozens of reports indicating that a huge cricketing fanbase have been glued to this game ever since this past Ashes series), and last but not the least, growing it’s roots from all the way back from the Semi-Final of circa '99 World Cup, the Australia vs. South Africa rivalry (the game itself, which, ultimately, resulted in a draw).
Considering the greatest rivalries that have revolved around the orbit that we live on, experts and analysts have gone on record of mentioning that the rivalry between India/Pakistan takes away the cake; it is the ‘bread-and’butter’; it has single-handedly changed the scope of the modern era, and have even ranked it at the very top of their respective lists. Trotting down my memory lane (if it serves me correctly) to the recent Dil Jeet Lo series, and the current consistency of happenings with which these two countries have met (and will be meeting in the near future - Abu Dhabi matches + Europe tour), all of it has been, well, a notch down (below-par) in my book. It definitely used to hold that “spark” during tons of Sharjah matches in the past, but lately, it has become too predictable and too one-sided (of course, with a few exceptions - Mohali Test, Karachi Test, First Peshawar ODI) and have been missing that glimmer of light, that flicker of ignition, and that flash of a glow, it seems. If it is not the above, then I certainly can’t put my finger on it. There certainly have been an absentee, or rather an omission of, well, again, I just can’t put my finger on it. I remember vividly, back in the day, the only topic that we discussed at a dinner table was who will win tomorrow’s match between India/Pakistan, who will score how many runs, and things of that nature. I am not even speaking on behalf of my household only, as I am sure you would have also seen such activities and actions going around in your neighborhood as well, especially when there was a “big” event lurking around the corner, as everybody gathered around a nice, warm and shady place and just endlessly discussed the outcome and possibilities to death, with no worries or shadows hovering upon them, which thus would remain past midnight.
With that said, please provide your opinions as to whether or not India/Pakistan rivalry is still ranked at the very top of your list, or has it been overshadowed by Australia/South Africa, or rather England/Australia? In any case, do you think that the cricket that we (as us - in both countries) have played in recent years have been, well, excessive (to say the least)? Even though it’s understandable that both PCB and BCCI are on the brinks of casting as much money as possible by only playing with nations that sees the end-result generate in billions of dollars, why does it seem like the “spark” has been diminished in this modern day?
Anything and everything you can comment on, from what categorizes rivalry as ‘fierce’, to the lack of interest in the ‘supposed’ “biggest” rivalry of the history (if such is the case).
aab saara parhna parey ga 
thank you! made my day