IND vs ENG 2021: When was the last time India won a Test match at the Oval?

England managed to level the series 1-1 against India courtesy of a comprehensive victory in the third Test at Headingley last week. The first Test at Trent Bridge ended in a draw, while Team India won the second Test hosted at Lord's.

Both teams are now gearing up to play the crucial fourth Test of the 5-match series at the Oval, which commences on September 2.

India train at the Oval while the pitch is prepared pic.twitter.com/eeV5aM1n5d

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) August 31, 2021

Team India has a very poor record while playing Test cricket at the Oval. So far, they have played 13 Tests at this venue and went on to win on only one occasion. They lost five games while seven contests ended in a draw. India have not won a Test at this venue over the last 50 years.

Ironically, Oval is known to be one of the best venues to bat in England, but some of the prominent Indian batsmen from the current line-up have struggled for runs here.

The pitch at the Oval is supposed to be the flattest in England.Meanwhile India's big 3 at Oval 🥴Kohli 2 matches75 runs Best 49 Avrg 18.75 Pujara 2 matches52 runs Best 37 Avrg 13 Rahane 2 matches 41 runs Best 37Avrg 10.25#ENGvIND

— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) August 31, 2021

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August 19 - 24, 1971: Team India registered its first Test win on English soil at the Oval

Team India's last victory at the Oval came way back in 1971. It was also the first-ever Test win for India while playing in England. The 3-match series was level at 0-0 after two consecutive draws going into this match. In the third Test at Oval, England skipper Ray Illingworth won the toss and elected to bat first.

John Jameson (82), Alan Knott (90), and Richard Hutton (81) starred with the bat for the hosts in the first innings, as these knocks helped them reach a decent total of 355. Eknath Solkar (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers for India in the first innings.

Dilip Sardesai (54), Farokh Engineer (59), Ajit Wadekar (48), and Eknath Solkar (44) got starts in the Indian batting line-up, but none of them could convert them into big knocks. It meant India got all-out for 284 and conceded a 71-run lead to the hosts. Ray Illingworth (5/70) picked a fifer and led the team from the front.

Legendary leg-spinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar (6/38) bowled an iconic spell in the second innings as he spun a web around the English batsman and bundled them out for 101. Srinivas Venkataraghavan (2/44) and Bishan Bedi (1/1) played supporting roles to Chandrasekhar.

India's win at The Oval in 1971 is a landmark in their cricket history, their first Test win in England which secured them their first series win in England as well. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar's 6 for 38 in England's second innings was crucial in their victory pic.twitter.com/GuUUb0rB8t

— Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) March 31, 2020

With a 173 runs target in the final innings, Team India got off to the worst possible start. Dependable opener Sunil Gavaskar perished for a nine-ball duck. Ajit Wadekar (45), Dilip Sardesai (40), Gundappa Viswanath (33), and Farokh Engineer (28*) played sensibly in the middle-order and helped India script a historic triumph at the Oval in 1971.

Courtesy of the win, India also won the 3-match series 1-0, which was also their first-ever Test series win on English soil.

#OnThisDay in 1971, India won the last and final test against 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 at the Oval to win their maiden test series in England 1-0The then Indian Captain Ajit Wadekar top scored in the 3-match series with 204 runsWhat an achievement !! 👏👏#TeamIndia #England #India #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/VM3SrHXfiA

— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) August 24, 2021