Flashback: India’s first Test Win

India played its first Test in 1932, but had to wait for more than two decades to earn their first Test victory. The early struggles of the Indian cricket started to vanish from time to time, and a lot of heroes started emerging to take the Indian cricket forwards. In the 1952 home series against England, India registered their first-ever Test win under the leadership of Vijay Hazare.

England elected to bat first after winning the toss in the fifth Test in Chennai, and half-centuries from Dick Spooner and Jack Robertson took England to a total of 266 in the first innings. Vinoo Mankad did all the damage as he picked up eight wickets in the innings for India.

In the second innings, India responded with a strong show with the bat and reached 457/9 until they decided to declare the innings. Pankaj Roy scored a century at the top of the order for India while Polly Umrigar remained unbeaten on 130, which helped to build a lead of 191 runs. Roy Tattersall, Malcom Hilton and Donald Carr all picked up two wickets each for England as they had a big task on their hands in the third innings.

Jack Roberston yet again scored a fifty in the second innings, while Allan Watkins’ 48 was the noticeable contribution in the third innings for England as they were bundled up for just 183. Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed were the pick of the bowlers in the second innings with four wickets each and they ensured India did not need to bat again in the Test.

India won the Test by an innings and eight runs in the end, and levelled the series 1-1. Since, then India have managed to record some memorable victories in the format and have attained the number one status for a considerable time.