What Is the Story About?
India vs Pakistan—no other storyline is needed. In sports, very few rivalries come close, and none surpass it. This documentary gives you a taste of the high-voltage matchups.
While the documentary covers a broader timeline, it primarily focuses on Pakistan’s tour of India in 1999 and India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004. At a time when mainstream media often fuels hostility between the two nations, this documentary highlights the role of cricket diplomacy.
It also features glimpses of Pakistani players in IPL teams in 2018 and explores how cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were severed after the Mumbai terrorist attack.
The docu-series ends on a hopeful note, as both Indian and Pakistani cricketers emphasize the importance of cricket in healing the relationship between two nations that have endured decades of conflict.
Performances?
Being a documentary, it’s not about judging performances. However, Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar received the most screen time, as the arch-rivals shared their memories of each other.
Netflix brought in some big names, interviewing cricketers from both countries. From Pakistan, the documentary features Shoaib Akhtar, Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis, and Inzamam-ul-Haq.
On the Indian side, Ashwin, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, and Sunil Gavaskar represented Team India. Additionally, the documentary includes insights from sports journalists from both nations.
Analysis
A Netflix documentary naturally comes with certain expectations, but The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan falls short in almost every aspect.
Why?
Because the hallmark of a great Netflix documentary is its ability to dig deep and uncover unknown truths. But this one doesn’t. It feels like Netflix rushed to put something together to capitalize on the hype surrounding the Champions Trophy and the controversy over India’s tour of Pakistan.
The documentary’s main timeline runs from 1999 to 2004, covering two key tours. In 1999, Pakistan toured India and played a couple of Test matches. Both Indian and Pakistani players shared positive remarks about the experience, but the real essence of the documentary emerges when it shifts focus to India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004.
The film touches on migration and frames the 2004 tour as a Friendship Tour, where cricket was seemingly used as a diplomatic tool. One of the documentary’s few positives is how warmly Indian players spoke about Pakistan’s hospitality and the PCB’s efforts.
But now, let’s talk about where Netflix could have done much better.
The panel of interviewees? A missed opportunity. While Sehwag and Akhtar had direct involvement in the 1999-2004 events, including players like Ashwin and Dhawan—who had nothing to do with those tours or the rivalry—feels like an odd choice.
The show does briefly touch on Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup win and how it changed the course of their cricketing history, just as India’s 1983 triumph did for them. But even here, the documentary barely scratches the surface.
Now, is it a bad documentary?
No…but it doesn’t add anything substantial to the India-Pakistan rivalry either. The whole effort feels shallow—especially given the weight of this rivalry. A recent example of how to do it right is The Test on Prime Video, which had the advantage of following the Australian team closely.
Given Netflix’s track record, they could have done far better. Instead, what we got feels rushed and uninspired. The real target audience seems to be those unfamiliar with these events—because everything they’ve presented is just a Google search away.
Music and Other Departments?
There isn’t much music throughout the series, except for the part where Sehwag talks about how singing helped him perform better against Shoaib Akhtar. The background score is fine—nothing remarkable, but no major flaws either.
The editing feels more like a montage. Some parts feel rushed, while others drag on for too long. The pacing is a major issue for the docu-series.
Overall, it just feels bang average.
Highlights?
A good flashback to past events
Interviews with Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar
Drawbacks?
Major pacing issues
Too shallow in certain parts
Lacks insight into the psychology of the sport
Did I Enjoy It?
A bit…yes
Will You Recommend It?
Not necessarily. It depends on your knowledge of Indian cricket. The documentary targets a novice audience and isn’t for everyone. If you want to experience the rivalry, there are better documentaries available on YouTube for free.
The Greatest Rivalry India vs Pakistan Web Series Review by Binged Bureau