In Tests they had a 12–8 record in their favour, while in ODIs from 1978 till the start of this series, they had won 62 per cent of the games, with the figure dropping to 57 after 2000.

[4] India also had a poor home record in ODIs against Pakistan having won six matches and lost 15 leading up to the series.

However, following the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, India suspended the 2009 planned series, and all future engagements against Pakistan.

Rahul Dravid and Dinesh Karthik were dropped following inconsistent performances in the preceding series and were replaced by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, with Praveen Kumar as the only new inclusion in the squad.

[16] A 14-member squad was announced on 14 November for the first two Tests; Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan made way for spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik.

After Umar Gul was returned home following an injury sustained in the First Test, all-rounder Yasir Arafat was named as his replacement.

[21] After putting in Delhi to bat first in a pitch that assisted swing, Pakistan picked quick wickets reducing the hosts to 46/4.

A 91-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan and Rajat Bhatia then followed before a lower order collapse took Delhi's score to 213 after 50 overs.