For the first time in 147 years: Ravichandran Ashwin sets a unique Pakistani record after retirement

Ravichandran AshwinThe 38-year-old’s sudden retirement from international cricket saw him become the first man to achieve a rather unique feat. Ashwin is among 14 Indian players to have played over 100 Test matches for India and is one of 78 players in the history of the game to do so. However, Ashwin will go down in history as the first player in 147 years since Test cricket began to play 100 or more Test matches to never play a single match against Pakistan. While Ashwin is first on the list, two of his teammates may soon join him.

India’s frosty relationship with Pakistan in the world of cricket and beyond has meant that the two countries have not played a single Test match against each other since December 2007. After this, Ashwin’s career took off and he became the first player to retire with more than 100 players. Test caps but never played for Pakistan.

Ashwin may soon join this list. Virat Kohli And Cheteshwar Pujara on the list. Kohli and Pujara have never faced Pakistan despite playing over 100 Test matches each.

Given the way things have gone with the Champions Trophy, neither country will tour each other in any form of cricket until at least 2027, when both Kohli and Pujara may have retired.

The only possibility of Kohli or Pujara playing against Pakistan would be a potential World Test Championship (WTC) final to be played at a neutral venue. With Pakistan dropping out of the race in the 2023-25 ​​cycle, such a scenario can only materialize from the next cycle.

This means that any clash of India-Pakistan tests is unlikely until at least 2027.

India and Pakistan will next meet in the 2025 Champions Trophy at a neutral venue, despite Pakistan being the original host of the tournament.