Flashback: First-ever Test on Indian soil
Over the years, India have been a force to reckon with in Test cricket showcasing outstanding performances in overseas conditions and doing exceptionally well. India’s best performances away from home in red-ball cricket, including registering consecutive series wins in Australia, drawing a Test series in England and making the finals of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship in 2021.
As the Indian team look forward to putting their best foot forward in the longest format when they host Australia early next year as the race for the WTC 2023 final intensifies, here’s a look at India’s first-ever Test match on home soil.
When India made their Test debut at home
It was on June 25, 1932, that India took their first step in Test cricket, against England at the ‘Mecca of Cricket Lord’s’, but it was more than a year later i.e. on December 15, 1933, that the Indian team played their very first Test match at home under the captaincy of Colonel C.K. Nayudu, at the Gymkhana Ground in Bombay.
The coin landed in the favour of the home team Nayudu elected to bat first. He scored 28 runs before being caught plumb in front of the wicket by Nobby Clark. The legendary Lala Amarnath top-scored for India with 38 while other performers included Syed Wazir Ali (36), Vijay Merchant (23) and Sorabji Colah (31) as the hosts were bundled out for 219 in their first innings.
England in reply scored a mammoth 438 riding on a spectacular 136 from Bryan Valentine, Cyril Walters (78), and captain Douglas Jardine (60) as they got massive first innings lead of 219 runs.
India in their second innings failed to show much resistance despite a valiant 118 from Lala Amarnath and 67 from skipper C.K. Nayudu as they were bowled out for 258 to set a paltry target of 40 runs for England.
The visitors got past the finish line without breaking a sweat in just 7.2 overs by nine wickets to draw first blood in the three-match series. Thus, India’s first home Test match ended up being a forgettable affair due to this humiliating loss.
The next match played at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta ended in a draw while England registered a comprehensive 202-run victory in the third and final game at Madras to seal the series 2-0. Meanwhile, India’s maiden home Test match marked yet another milestone achievement as Lala Amarnath became the first-ever Indian player to score an international century.
