India have won more bilateral ODI series than any other team: 85. They have played 147 series of two or more matches since their first, in England in 1974, and won 85, lost 53 and drawn nine. Pakistan are second on 79 and England third on 74. The most recent addition to India’s total was the 2-1 home win over West Indies that finished on 3 October 2026.
The table counts every two-team ODI series of at least two scheduled matches, with the result as ESPNcricinfo records it. One-off ODIs, tri-series and tournaments such as the World Cup and Asia Cup are left out. A drawn series includes a levelled series and one washed out without a winner.
Most bilateral ODI series wins
| Team | Series | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 147 | 85 | 53 | 9 | 57.8 |
| Pakistan | 146 | 79 | 60 | 7 | 54.1 |
| England | 148 | 74 | 61 | 13 | 50.0 |
| South Africa | 107 | 69 | 29 | 9 | 64.5 |
| New Zealand | 143 | 66 | 60 | 17 | 46.2 |
| Australia | 115 | 63 | 42 | 10 | 54.8 |
| Sri Lanka | 130 | 54 | 62 | 14 | 41.5 |
| West Indies | 136 | 52 | 73 | 11 | 38.2 |
| Bangladesh | 95 | 39 | 53 | 3 | 41.1 |
| Zimbabwe | 104 | 20 | 77 | 7 | 19.2 |
| Afghanistan | 37 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 48.6 |
| Ireland | 43 | 10 | 23 | 10 | 23.3 |
South Africa have the best win rate of the lot. They have won 69 of their 107 series, close to two in every three, even though they only started in 1991. Their first series, in India in November 1991, was lost 2-1; the first win came at home against India in 1992-93, by 5-2.
India’s bilateral ODI series record
India lost their first four bilateral series, in England, New Zealand (twice) and Pakistan, before Sunil Gavaskar’s side beat England 2-1 at home in 1981-82. Since then the total has climbed to 85, and 51 of those wins have come at home.
Their best run is nine series wins in a row, from a 3-0 sweep in Zimbabwe in June 2016 to the 5-1 win in South Africa in early 2018. A 2-1 defeat in England in July 2018 ended it. England have also strung together nine, between 2016-17 and 2018-19. The longest run by any team belongs to West Indies, who won 14 in a row between 1980 and 1988.
| India v | Series | India won |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 24 | 17 |
| England | 23 | 12 |
| Sri Lanka | 21 | 15 |
| New Zealand | 18 | 9 |
| Australia | 16 | 7 |
| Pakistan | 16 | 5 |
| South Africa | 15 | 8 |
| Zimbabwe | 8 | 8 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 3 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1 |
Most consecutive series wins against one opponent
India’s run against West Indies is the longest by any team against a single opponent. They have won 14 bilateral ODI series in a row against them, starting at home in January 2007 and extended by this month’s 2-1 win. Pakistan’s 12 in a row against Zimbabwe, which began in 1996-97, is also still going. India also won ten in a row against Sri Lanka, from 2006-07 to 2022-23, and have won all eight of their series against Zimbabwe.
| Team | Opponent | Series wins in a row | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | West Indies | 14 | 2006-07 to 2026-27 (running) |
| Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 12 | 1996-97 to 2024-25 (running) |
| Pakistan | West Indies | 10 | 1999 to 2022 |
| India | Sri Lanka | 10 | 2006-07 to 2022-23 |
| South Africa | Zimbabwe | 9 | 1995-96 to 2018-19 (running) |
How the other leading teams got started
Pakistan won the first bilateral series they played. Intikhab Alam’s side went to England in 1974 and won both matches of the Prudential Trophy. England played in the first ODI of all, at Melbourne in January 1971, and won the first bilateral series of more than one match: Brian Close led them to a 2-1 win over Australia in the 1972 Prudential Trophy, settled at Edgbaston.
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Figures from ESPNcricinfo’s team series results, as of 6 October 2026.
Featured photo: AFP / RANDY BROOKS