NEW DELHI: India vs Pakistan T20Is always produce high-pressure moments, and a handful of innings stand out not just for runs but for context, tempo and match-defining impact. So, ahead of the mouth-watering Asia Cup clash waiting for us on Sunday between the two cricketing heavyweights, let's look at the top 5 batting performances this fixture has given us over the years.

Virat Kohli - 82* (53), Melbourne, 2022

Chasing 160, India lost early wickets and needed someone to steady the ship. Kohli's 82 not out was a textbook chase: paced through the middle overs, quickened when required, and finished under MCG lights. A composed anchor at a strike rate of 154.72 that snuffed Pakistan's late hope and handed India a famous Super 12 win. Such was the magnitude of that chase that many regard it as the greatest T20I batting performance ever.

Mohammad Rizwan - 79 (55), Dubai, 2021

In the 2021 T20 World Cup group game, Pakistan needed a strong opening platform, and Rizwan delivered. His 79 (SR 143.64) shared a massive opening stand with Babar Azam and neutralised India's bowlers, making the chase smooth and giving Pakistan a rare World Cup success over India. The knock's value was amplified by the unbeaten partnership and the psychological boost it gave Pakistan.

Virat Kohli - 78 (61), Colombo, 2012

In the 2012 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash, Kohli's 78 (SR 127.87) was an innings of control. Coming in against a lively Pakistan attack, he anchored the chase and rotated strike expertly. A classic Kohli knock that prioritised timing and running between the wickets, and effectively put the game beyond Pakistan's reach.

Gautam Gambhir - 75 (54), Johannesburg Final, 2007

In the inaugural World T20 final, Gambhir's 75 (SR 138.89) was the backbone of India's 157. It wasn't just the runs but the tempo - positive, measured aggression that seized initiative in a final and set a defendable total. That knock remains one of the most consequential India-Pakistan T20 knocks ever.

Yuvraj Singh - 72 (36), Ahmedabad, 2012

A blistering cameo of 72 off 36 balls, studded with 7 sixes and 4 fours (SR 200.00), propelled India to a massive 192/5. His explosive hitting left the Pakistan bowlers clueless, and the Men in Green eventually fell short in the chase by 11 runs.

These five innings combine classical anchoring with outright carnage. Different answers to the same question: when India and Pakistan meet, a single great knock can tilt history in the favour of one side.