With India set to participate in their 500th Test, the journey from being an aspiring bunch of players into a formidable unit is one that must be relived time and again. Since debuting against England at the de facto home of cricket in 1932, they had to endure massive highs as well as unforeseen lows on their road to accomplishing several laudable feats.
During these 84 years, 32 cricketers have been given the honor of leading the country to 129 wins and 157 defeats. Traversing across different generations, the Indian team has stitched together numerous unforgettable memories.
In this segment, we will look back at some of those fulfilling chapters in India’s eventful Test history. Although there has been plenty of revered moments, the below five stand out for its significance.
#5 Where it all started, 1952 (Madras)
It had been 24 Tests and almost 20 years, but a Test victory still remained elusive. For a nation which was beginning to come out of the shadows entrenched from British rule, success against England would go a long way in establishing their credentials.
A five-match series against a rebuilding English side presented an opportunity for the hosts which contained quite a few battle-hardened names. Despite coming so close to breaking their streak in Delhi, they could not seal the deal. Arriving into the final match on a typical square turner in Madras, Vijay Hazare’s team were staring at a 0-1 deficit.
However, left-arm spinner Vinoo Mankad came up with a sterling effort and wove webs around the visiting batsmen. Aided by tons from Pankaj Roy as well as Polly Umrigar, India recorded their inaugural triumph which incidentally came by an innings margin and set the template for future generations to follow – score big & outclass opposition batsmen through spin.
#4 Sending a strong message, Perth (2008)
A tour that had begun in a disappointing fashion threatened to take a turn for the worse following the infamous Monkey Gate scandal. Having been on the receiving end of several dubious umpiring decisions during the Sydney Test, there were calls for the Indian team to return home in protest.
At a time when strong leadership was badly needed to steady the ship, Anil Kumble awakened the dressing room’s spirit and persuaded his troops to channel their frustration in the right direction. With Australia on a 16-match winning streak, he decided to bat first on a quick surface at the fabled WACA in Perth.
Senior batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar answered his call by leading them to a 300 plus first-innings total. In what was a bolt out of the blue, India’s seamers managed to shake a solid Australian lineup with a collective display.
VVS Laxman showed his tenacity yet again by playing a key role in setting a daunting target for the hosts. When a 19-year old Ishant Sharma tormented Ricky Ponting with a high voltage spell, the Indians never looked back and galloped to a glorious victory at a venue known for its pace/bounce.
#3 Climbing to the top, Mumbai (2009)
Since the inception of the ICC Test rankings as well as the prestigious mace during the early 2000s, Australia dominated the scene for almost eight years. However, the retirements of most of their match-winners opened the doors for some of the other teams to capitalize.
Though South Africa briefly displaced the Aussies at the summit, India soon eclipsed them and vaulted to the top of the table following their 2-0 victory at home against Sri Lanka. Even though Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai witnessed the final moment, the seeds were soaked a long time ago.
A delighted Sachin Tendulkar quipped, “It is a special day for me and all the Indians. It is great to be sitting on the top.” The serenity may have lasted for just 21 months but an indelible mark had been left on the country’s cricket folklore.
#2 One for the ages, The Oval (1971)
As they set foot onto English shores in 1971, the Indians had a lot to prove regarding their ability to play under seam-friendly conditions. Despite having beaten West Indies away from home a few months earlier, Ajit Wadekar’s team was not presumed to challenge England in England yet.
But, the first Test indicated that a cracking series was in the offing. With 38 runs or two wickets to go for the match to conclude either way, rain had the final say. Following another drawn affair, the caravan rolled to The Oval for the winner-takes-all clash.
When the hosts eked out a 71-run lead, the odds were stacked heavily in their favor. However, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar produced perhaps the greatest ever spell by an Indian bowler by scything through the batting lineup in an hour of utter mayhem to leave his batsmen with only 173 to get for glory. That they did and Indian cricket had finally come off age.
#1 Never say die, Kolkata (2001)
At a time when Indian cricket had not fully recovered from the ramifications sent by the notorious match-fixing episode, a resonating display was required to resuscitate the common man’s faith. Down and out, Sourav Ganguly’s ambitious crew trudged into their captain’s home town desperate to bounce back from a dismal defeat in the first Test at Mumbai.
Forced to follow-on, they were still trailing by 42 runs with only six wickets left when Dravid joined Laxman in the middle. What transpired had an intangible impact on the psyches of everyone involved as the duo put together a heroic rearguard. While Shane Warne was won over by the stylish Hyderabadi’s silky touches, 'The Wall’ blunted Glenn McGrath’s resolve.
In front of a packed house, India secured a sensational victory on a rapidly crumbling track and went on to win the series 2-1 in the decider. It was fitting that the moment which would define an entire era came at Eden Gardens, one of the most iconic venues in the country.
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