Remembering India's first Test win in each of the overseas test-playing nations

#7. Zimbabwe, 2000

Shiv Sunder Das's 84 helped India win in Zimbabwe for the first time

After narrowly losing to Australia in the home ODI series, India would travel to Zimbabwe to play two Tests. The Zimbabwe side consisted of four players from the team that defeated India in a one-off Test at Harare in 1998.

The first Test was held in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe won the toss and captain Heath Streak opted to bat first. The hosts were bowled out for 173 with only Andy Flower managing to score a half-century. Ashish Nehra was the pick of the Indian bowlers while Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh picked up two wickets each.

In reply, India scored 318 thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 74 and Harbhajan Singh’s 66 with Rahul Dravid and Sameer Dighe also contributing with 44 and 47 respectively. Heath Streak and Brighton Watambwa both took three wickets.

In the second innings, Zimbabwe put on a much better batting performance with the Flower brothers scoring 50s each; Andy scoring 83 and Grant scoring 71 while Stuart Carlisle scored 52. However, Zimbabwe could only manage 328. This time, Javagal Srinath picked up three wickets while Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra both picked up two scalps apiece.

India needed 184 to win and they chased down the target easily, losing only two wickets with Shiv Sunder Das scoring an unbeaten 82 which eventually won him the Man of the Match award. India thus won their first Test at Zimbabwe but they lost the second Test at Harare and the series was drawn.

---

#8. Pakistan, 2004

Virender Sehwag's 309 was one of the key reasons behind India's first Test win in Pakistan

After winning an ODI series in Pakistan for the first time, India were eager to win their first Test at Pakistan. The first Test of the three-match series was held at Multan and India’s stand-in captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and decided to bat first.

The first innings saw history being created as Virender Sehwag smashed each of the Pakistan bowlers to all parts of the ground to become the first Indian batsman to score a triple-century in Test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar also batted brilliantly as he scored 194 but with the departure of Yuvraj Singh for 59, Rahul Dravid declared the Indian innings at 675/3 thus denying Sachin Tendulkar the chance to score a double hundred.

In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 407 and Dravid forced them to follow-on. In the second innings, Mohammad Yousuf batted valiantly, scoring 112 but other Pakistan batsmen were unable to assist them with Anil Kumble being the root cause. Kumble picked up 6 wickets for 72 as Pakistan were dismissed for 216 thus handing India a win by an innings and 52 runs.

Virender Sehwag was adjudged the Man of the Match for his monumental knock of 309 as India won their first Test on Pakistan soil.

India eventually went on to win the series 2-1, thus recording their maiden Test series win in Pakistan as well.