Review of “The Greatest Rivalry: India Vs Pakistan” On Netflix
Newz Daddy OTT Review
Newz Daddy Ratings: 3.5*/ 5
Genre: Documentary
Writer: Akshat Ghildial
Director: Faisal Hashmi
Produced By: SineCorp, Canus Films,
Music: C Girinandh Sanjay Rajee Duo
Run Time: Total 3 episodes of 35 to 45 minutes
Recommended: Very Much Yes.
Critical Analysis of “The Greatest Rivalry: India Vs Pakistan”
“I swear, I’m telling the truth—the patriot inside me had suddenly gone wild. Generally, this kind of energy only comes out during 15th August (Independence Day) or 26th January (Republic Day), or whenever there’s an India vs. Pakistan match. It doesn’t matter if it’s kabaddi, hockey, or even javelin throw at the Olympics. But if it’s cricket, the excitement across India is on another level. And now, a documentary has been released on this very India-Pakistan cricket rivalry—Greatest Rivalry India vs Pakistan, which is now streaming on Netflix. I’ve watched it, so let’s talk about it quickly.
By the way, this documentary has only three episodes, each around 35-40 minutes long. You’ll start watching, and before you know it, the episodes will be over. It’s so engaging that you’ll finish all episodes in just 1.5 to 2 hours. The series is mostly in English, but it’s also available with Hindi audio, so there’s no issue in understanding it. The vibe of this series is something else! Honestly, on match days, you’ll see what goes on inside every player, and not just players—every cricket fan in India. You’ll see how Pakistani and Indian cricket legends prepare themselves for these matches.
You’ll also see how difficult it was to organize a bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the 90s due to the political situation at the time, and how Pakistan toured India in 1999 despite those challenges.
The second and third episodes are all about India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004. Back in 2004.
While watching this documentary, I was surprised many times. For example, during the 2004 India-Pakistan ODI match in Karachi, the police had to use batons to control the crowd. There are many such hidden facts and truths that you’ll discover when you watch the documentary. However, by the end of it, I was a little disappointed because I felt they could have shown so much more.
This rivalry has so many memories, especially for those who grew up in the 90s. The last episode does try to cover a lot, like why Pakistani players don’t play in the IPL, why bilateral series between the two countries don’t happen anymore, and more. But it doesn’t go into much detail.
Negative Points
- They should have covered more matches in this documentary.
- More star players like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar’s matches should have included.
- They have not shown the most recent matches between India and Pakistan.
- The Champions trophy match of 2017 which Pakistan won should also be shown.
Positive Points
- Very well narrated.
- Small and To the point.
- Creates curiosity.
Overall, it’s still a good watch, and if you’re a cricket enthusiast, you shouldn’t miss this documentary. Go ahead and give it a try. It’s a documentary, —just lose yourself in the nostalgia and relive your childhood memories. See legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag playing again on your screen.
Honestly, I enjoyed that part the most. So, tell me, are you interested in cricket? What do you think about this series?