The England vs India Test rivalry – Top moments through the years – Part 1

Shubman Gill will be in the spotlight as a new-look India, without star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, bid to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England.

The two nations have enjoyed a storied rivalry in the longest format of the game. Ahead of the five-match series between the two superpowers, Sportstar takes a look at some of the iconic moments from their tussles in the past.

Group photo of the Indian Cricket team during the Vth Test match between MCC and India XI at the Chepauk Cricket stadium in Madras on February 09, 1952. Standing from left: S.G. Sindhe, V.L. Manjerakar, P. Roy, Ghulam Ahmed, C.D. Gopinath, P.R. Umrigar, P. Sen, P.S. Joshi, R. V. Divecha. Sitting from left: D.G. Phadkar, L. Amarnath, V. Hazare, Mushtaq Ali and V. Mankad.
| Photo Credit:
PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

India’s first Test win (1952, Chennai)

It was in 1932 at Lord’s, the Mecca of cricket, when the very first Test between England and India was played, and England won on that memorable occasion. Since then, the two countries have met in three rubbers, but in none of these had India won. Out of the ten matches played England had won six and the rest were drawn. That streak ended when India pulled off a wonderful win at Chepauk, incidentally its first triumphant outing in the format.

Here’s an account of that game from a 1952 Sport & Pastime ( Sportstar’s previous avatar) dispatch by S. K. Gurunathan.

C.D. Gopinath, the last surviving member of that team, spoke to Sportstar about the match and its impact on Indian cricket

The Indian side, captained by the legendary Vijay Hazare, won by an innings and eight runs. Vinoo Mankad made that win his own taking eight wickets for 55 runs in England’s first innings and then four wickets for 53 runs in the second innings (match figures: 12/108). He was ably assisted by Ghulam Ahmed, who claimed four scalps in England’s second innings to help Mankad wrap up the game. Polly Umrigar and Pankaj Roy scored centuries in this match.

Indian touring team to England. Third test. Oval.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

India’s first series win in England (1971)

The victory established at least three firsts. This was the first time India won a Test in England. It was the first time in 28 Tests since June 1968 that England was defeated and it was also the first time that India triumphed in two series in one year, having defeated the West Indies earlier.

For England, this was the first defeat in 14 Tests this year — six against Australia two against New Zealand (both series away) and three each against Pakistan and India. It beat Australia 2-0, New Zealand 1-0 and Pakistan 1-0 before succumbing to India 0-1.

On the other hand, India emerged unscathed this year—without losing a single Test against the West Indies, which it beat 1-0 in five Tests last winter. Against England, India won 1-0 in three Tests.

Sunil Gavaskar was congratulated by happy supporters at the Oval today (4th September 1979), after he reached his 20th Century in Test cricket on the last day of the fourth and final Cornhill Test against England.
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The Hindu Archives

Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 (1979, The Oval)

Before the Oval Test began, Sunil Gavaskar was a thoughtful young man. The fact that a Test century had eluded him on the tour weighed heavily on his capable shoulders. The master batsman was also aware that if he broke the jinx he would bury Sir Len Hutton’s record of 19 Test centuries, the best effort by an opener.

In what was then called one his finest knocks, Gavaskar scored 221 runs in a record 438-run chase which India fell short only by nine runs but drew the game against England at the Oval. He first recorded 213-run first wicket stand with Chetan Chauhan (80), and then added 153 with Dilip Vengsarkar (52) for the second. His 490-minute marathon knock included 21 fours. He batted for an incredible 489 minutes (over 8 hours) 

India was on the cusp of a record-breaking victory. However, with just 49 runs needed from 46 balls, Gavaskar was dismissed by Ian Botham after which a collapse ensued.

Despite the match being drawn, Gasvakar was given the Player of the Match award.

Kapil Dev’s four sixes (1990, Lord’s)

The Lord’s Test during India’s 1990 tour to England had many momentous stages. A captivating century by Mohammad Azharuddin in one session, an awe-inspiring knock by Graham Gooch and Kapil Dev hoisting Eddie Hemmings for four sixes off four balls to help India avoid the follow on.

England, propelled by Gooch’s mammoth 333 in the first innings, had declared at a massive 653/4. India, in response, were in danger of being forced to follow-on and needed to score 454 to avoid it.

With the score at 430/9, India still needed 24 runs and Kapil had only the No. 11 batsman, Narendra Hirwani, for company. Facing Hemmings and worried about just the one wicket in hand, Kapil saw off the first two deliveries with caution before taking Hemmings to the cleaners with four sixes on the trot. Hirwani fell in the very next over, underlining just how crucial that acceleration was.

India lost that match, but Kapil’s audacity has remained a highlight for the ages.

A star is born – Batting at number 6, Sachin Tendulkar showed remarkable maturity and superior skill in building his maiden Test ton
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Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar’s maiden Test century (1990, Old Trafford)

England had declared their first innings at a formidable 519 at Old Trafford in Manchester, and India was struggling in their second innings, staring at a likely defeat. With India at 183 for 6 and the possibility of going 0-2 down in the series looming, a young Tendulkar stepped up.

At just 17 years of age, Tendulkar made his first Test century for India, helping his country save a Test match. His 119 remains one of the great match-saving innings by an Indian batsman outside the sub-continent.

This was the first of 100 international centuries that Tendulkar made during his 24-year cricket career.