On this day in 1952: India celebrate their first-ever victory in Test cricket

10th February stands as a very important day in the history of Indian cricket. Exactly on this day 70 years ago in 1952, India beat England in the Chennai Test to register their first-ever win in the longest format of the game. India played their first-ever Test in 1932 when they locked horns against England at the iconic Lord’s and the debutants had lost that game by 158 runs.

Following that one-off Test, it took India 23 more Tests and 20 years to register their first-ever win in Tests. The victory came when England visited India for a five-match series during the 1951/52 season. The first three Tests ended in draws before the visitors drew the first blood by winning the fourth Test by 8 wickets in Kanpur.

With their backs firmly against the wall, the Indian team was staring at another series defeat. India, however, went on to spring a huge surprise and thrashed England by an innings and 8 runs to create history and draw the series. Allrounder Vinoo Mankad starred with the ball for the hosts, taking 12 wickets in the game.

The golden moment

In the first innings, England managed to score only 266 runs after their skipper Donald Carr won the toss and decided to bat first. At one stage, the visitors were cruising at 244 for 5 before Mankad ran through their lower-order. He returned with stunning figures of 38.5-15-55-8 to help India claw their way back into the game.

Today in 1952 at Chepauk, Madras, India bt England by an inns/8 runs to record their first ever Test match victory! pic.twitter.com/j8xgWyCAKs

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 10, 2016

With the bat, India responded well as they ensured to cash in on England’s collapse. Opener Pankaj Roy (111) and Polly Umrigar (130) scored centuries to power the home side to a big total of 457 for 9 declared. Having taken a big lead of 191, India were suddenly the favourites. England, on the other hand, needed to bat out of their skins to save the game but failed miserably.

The tourists survived the last quarter of an hour on the third day but were blown away by Mankad and his fellow spinner Ghulam Ahmed on day four. The duo wreaked havoc on English batsmen and shared eight wickets between them to help India bowl out England for 183.