'Just pure cricket' - Rohit Sharma wants to see India vs Pakistan Test series in a neutral venue

18-04-2024
3 min read
(Getty)

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is looking forward to playing a bi-lateral Test series against arch-rivals Pakistan even if it happens outside the Indian subcontinent at neutral.

The two rivals last met in a bilateral Test series back in 2007 while their last ODI series was held in 2012. Since then, due to rising political tension between the two nations, bilateral series have been put on hold.

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However, the two subcontinental giants continue to meet at ICC competitions and their last meeting happened at the 2023 ODI World Cup league stage where India got the better of their rivals.

What did Rohit Sharma say about India vs Pakistan Test series?

The Indian captain heaped praise on rivals Pakistan and spoke highly of their bowling attack while claiming that he expects a 'great contest' between the two teams if a Test series is held at a neutral venue.

On the Club Prairie Fire podcast, former cricketer Michael Vaughan asked Sharma if he would like to play a Test series against Pakistan even if it is held at a neutral venue like Lord's Cricket Ground (England) or Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), to which he said,

I totally believe that. They are a good team. Superb bowling lineup. So I think it will be a good contest, especially if you play in overseas conditions, that will be awesome. The last Test match that was played between India and Pakistan was way back in 2006 or 2008.

He added, 

I would love to see a regular series between India and Pakistan. At the end of the day, we want to be in contest and I think it would be a great contest, between the two sides. We anyway play them in ICC trophies so doesn't really matter. It's just pure cricket that I am looking at. I am not interested in anything else. It will be a great contest, so why not?

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What is the India vs Pakistan's head-to-head record in Test cricket?

The first-ever Test series between India and Pakistan was held back in 1952 and to date, the two teams have met each other on 59 occasions in the longest format where Pakistan have emerged victorious 12 times and India have won on nine occasions. The remaining 38 Test matches ended in a draw.

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