India’s All-time XI to have played Test cricket in England

Ever since India’s Test debut in 1932 against England, the nation has produced many greats who have gone onto rule the world in their own respective eras. India’s first Test win, that came in 1952 against England, took 20 years after their arrival in Test cricket.

In the past 86 years, India has always been on the receiving end while touring abroad, especially against England. In the tours so far to the birthplace of the game, the sub-continent giants have gone past the solid England side only thrice to win the Test series.

It was in 1971 that India drew first blood against England in their own backyard to win the 3-match Test series, 1-0. Then it took a while, in 1986, when a well-established Indian side dashed out England to win 2-0 in the 3-match Test affair. And to count their latest Test series win in 2007, India registered a 1-0 victory in the 3-match series.

In all these years, despite producing so many greats, only a few have managed to play out of their skin and perform well in those tough English conditions. We take a look at an All-time India XI that could have played in England:

#1 Openers: Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid

One could not ask for better players of seam and swing bowling as openers, given the amount of movement that a bowler can fetch with the new dukes ball.

Sunil Gavaskar, who played in England at various times in his career as an opener, was a master when it came to negate the swing early on in the innings. The Little Master was in the mix of things when India won its first Test series against England.

It was in the tour of 1979, when Gavaskar almost single-handedly took India to victory, as he scored a record-breaking 221 in the fourth innings of the 4th Test match, The visitors just fell short by 9 runs to let the game end as a draw.

M: 16, Runs: 1152, Average: 41.14, HS: 221

Rahul Dravid had a great love for England. He was one of the few Indian batsmen to have scored runs consistently in this part of the world. His Test debut at Lord’s, where he scored 95, impressed one and all with his grit and determination.

His innings of 148, on a green top at Leeds in 2002, is one of the best innings ever played by an Indian batsman in England. It was under Dravid’s captaincy that India won its third Test series in England after a long wait of 21 years.

M:13, Runs: 1376, Average: 68.80, HS: 217

#2 Middle-order: G Vishwanath, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar

Gundappa Vishwanath was a true genius when it comes to batting, so much so that, his contemporary and India’s all-time great Sunil Gavaskar, also reckoned him as the batting artist.

Vishy was known for his grit and passion towards the game. His knocks for his side in times of vulnerability defined him as a cricketer. Though his numbers aren’t too impressive, it was his impact within the side that was well above mere records that he registered for himself.

M:13, Runs: 858, Average: 39, HS: 113

Sachin Tendulkar was the backbone of Indian batting ever since he defined himself as the lone warrior at the times of uncertainty for his side. His stature grew as a batsman, even more, when he was challenged by tough situations.

His exploits in England and Australia have been praised more often just because of him adapting to the situations quickly. His innings of 193 are still afresh in the minds of every Indian fan.

M:17, Runs: 1575, Average: 54.31, HS: 193

Dilip Vengsarkar, another Mumbaikar, who brought laurels to the country. Vengsarkar was a class apart in terms of his style of batting. When players are devoid of even a single century at the Home of cricket, Dilip was fortunate to hit three centuries in his first three matches played at the auspicious venue. He was the chief architect of India’s victory in 1986, as he went onto hit two centuries in India’s 2-0 triumph against the home team.

M:13, Runs: 960, Average: 48, HS: 157

#3 Wicket-keeper: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has been one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen to have ever played the game for India in whites. India’s former skipper was always questioned about his technique and his overseas form.

But on his first tour to England, Dhoni stunned one and all with his match-saving knock at Lord’s. He was unbeaten on 76 off 159 deliveries to help India settle the game for a draw as bad light helped India’s cause. Dhoni even played a crucial inning of 92 in India’s win at Trent Bridge, to help his side take a 1-0 lead in the series.

He was always a safe pair of hands behind the wicket. As a skipper, he was criticised for his defensive skills while touring abroad. His next two series as captain were a disaster, as India were decimated 4-0 and 3-1 in 2011 and 2014. He lacked a viable bowling attack that could affect a damage to those English conditions.

M:12, Runs: 774, Average: 37.04, HS: 92

#4 All-rounder: Kapil Dev

India’s first genuine all-rounder and by far the best that the country has ever produced, Kapil Dev was India’s go-to man both with the bat and the ball in the adverse conditions. He could pick wickets and bowl consistent line and lengths. His charismatic appearance and bravado style of batting made him a nation-hero.

His exploits in seamer-friendly English conditions were less to none. He led India’s pace bowling along with Madan Lan and others. It was under Kapil’s captaincy that India displayed a rampaging performance in 1986 to win the series 2-0. He always played a handy knock lower down the order with a strike rate often in excess of 100.

M:13, Runs: 638, Average: 35.44, HS: 110, Wickets: 43, Average: 39.18

#5 Bowlers: Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Ishant Sharma, BS Chandrashekar

Zaheer Khan led India’s pace attack after the departure of Srinath and Prasad in all formats of the game. His experience of playing in tough conditions across the world helped him grow as a bowler.

Zak was a completely different bowler in India’s triumph in 2007. He went through the English line up on numerous occasions to help his side secure victory at Trent Bridge. India’s best left-arm pacer till date, Zaheer got injured in the first Test in 2011, and thus couldn’t weave his magic for his side to see India go down by 4-0.

M: 8, Wickets: 31, Average: 27.96

Anil Kumble was a match-winner in all sorts with the ball. The tall leg-spinner enjoyed a good time in England in India’s triumphs in 2002 and 2007. He even mustered his maiden Test century in 2007 at Oval, remaining unbeaten on 110.

Although the conditions in England didn’t have much for the spinners, his consistency and the ability to fox the batsmen made him effective in even unfriendly conditions.

M: 10, Wickets: 36, Average: 41.41

Ishant Sharma is currently India’s most impressive pace bowler. The lanky pacer has the ability to bowl long spells and has shown signs of troubling the batsmen in various stages of his career.

With over 200 wickets to his name, Sharma has impressed most in England. His spell of 7-74 against England in 2014 helped India secure their solitary win in the Test series and a win after 28 years at Lord’s. It might just be the breakthrough year for him after his maiden county stint with Sussex earlier this year.

M: 7, Wickets: 25, Average: 40.84

BS Chandrashekar, the orthodox-leg spinner, was part of India’s spin quartet in the 70s. A true match winner in overseas conditions, Chandra always produced the unexpected side of him on the cricket field.

He was the architect in India’s maiden series win in England. With his 6-fer in the third innings of the third Test match in the 1971 series, he helped India register a 4-wicket win to claim the series.

M: 9, Wickets: 33, Average: 33.96