Top 5 moments in India's illustrious Test cricket history

#2 One for the ages, The Oval (1971)

Wadekar and Chandrasekhar wave to the supporters after a famous win

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.