‘It will be a great contest’- India captain Rohit Sharma ready to face Pakistan in bilateral Test series

India and Pakistan last played bilateral cricket in 2012-13.

Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma during World Cup 2023 | GettyIndia captain Rohit Sharma said that if Men in Blue and Pakistan faced off in a regular bilateral series, there would be some great matches between the two Asian Giants.

Notably, India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral relations since 2012-13, while India has not toured Pakistan since 2008.

The Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 and then the 2019 Pulwama attack, along with the constant terrorism sponsorship by Pakistan, have led to India not playing Pakistan in one-on-one matches.

The two sides have faced off in ICC events in Champions Trophy, the World Cup, and T20 World Cup,  but they do not play Test cricket as well.

During a podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan asked Rohit whether he thought that India playing Pakistan regularly in Test cricket would be great for the format.

WATCH - MS Dhoni coming to US, but hard to convince him for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma

I totally believe that! They are a good team. they have got a superb bowling line-up. I think it would be a good contest, especially if you play in overseas conditions. That would be awesome. Last test match played between India and Pakistan was way back I think in 2006 or 2008 (2007), where Wasim Jaffer got a double hundred in Kolkata,” Rohit said on the “Club Prairie Fire” podcast.

Vaughan then asked Rohit if he wanted to see regular cricket between India and Pakistan.

The Indian captain said: “I would love to. At the end of the day, we want to be in a contest. I think it will be a great contest between the two sides. We anyway play them in the ICC tournaments. So, it doesn’t even matter. I am only interested in pure cricket. I am not looking at anything else. It’s just pure cricket. A battle between bat and ball. It will be a great contest so why not.”

Meanwhile India and Pakistan will clash in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in New York on June 9 at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 18 Apr, 2024

    Share Via