Agricultural crops face constant threats from various pests and pathogens, yet one of the most overlooked enemies is the plant-parasitic nematode. Nematology, the study of these microscopic roundworms, plays a vital role in understanding and managing their impact. The nematodes are found everywhere in nature, from the top of mountains to thousands of meters beneath the ocean and even in the polar regions under the brightness of Antarctica. Generally, nematodes do not have any inherent colour, instead adopting pigmentation based on their food intake. Their morphological and biological variability enables them to adapt to nearly every environmental condition. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have consistently proven to be critical hazards to agricultural ecosystems globally. Despite their importance, nematology remains a relatively young and emerging science compared to other disciplines in plant protection. Among the wide array of crop threats?from fungal pathogens to insect pests?nematodes remain the most ignored. As the renowned nematologist Dr. J. N. Sasser once remarked, ?Nematodes are the unseen enemy beneath our feet?quietly diminishing the productivity of our crops.? The science of nematodes is, therefore, essential to understand their impact and devise integrated strategies for their management. However, their role in plant health is often underestimated due to the non-specificity of symptoms, frequently mistaken for nutrient deficiencies or drought stress. Effective nematode management must include a combination of resistant cultivars, biological agents and sustainable agronomic practices. With global climate change amplifying food security challenges, nematology will inevitably gain prominence in future plant protection paradigms (Nicol et al., 2011). Despite its relevance, nematology continues to be seen as underdeveloped and undervalued, especially in practical agriculture and policy implementation.