Team India have played a lot of cricket in the last three years. Ever since international cricket resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Men in Blue have played almost non-stop cricket. They have competed against almost every top Test-playing nation.
Speaking of India’s opponents in 2022, the Men in Blue started the year with a series against South Africa, followed by West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Ireland, England, Zimbabwe, West Indies, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Now, in 2023, the Indian team is scheduled to play many bilateral matches again.
However, there are two such nations against whom the Indian cricket team has not played a single bilateral series in the last 10 years. Here is a list of those two nations.
1. Team India has not played bilateral cricket against Pakistan since 2012
The Pakistan cricket team has a long history with the Indian cricket team. They are arch-rivals in international cricket, and whenever they compete in the multi-nation competitions, the entire world stops to watch them play. The India vs Pakistan rivalry has millions of fans, but due to off-field reasons, the fans have not been able to enjoy bilateral series between the two nations since the year 2012.
In a way, the absence of India vs Pakistan bilateral series has benefited the rivalry because when these two nations play at the grand stage, it becomes a mega occasion for the stakeholders. Also, the players who perform on that day become heroes for their countrymen.
2. Afghanistan
India were Afghanistan’s first opponents in Test cricket. However, apart from that one-off Test match, India and Afghanistan have never competed outside ICC or ACC events. It is surprising to note that India have played bilateral cricket against Zimbabwe and Ireland but have not played a series against Afghanistan.
