India and England are set to face each other for a four-match Test series starting from February 5. These two arch-rivals have had a history of taking on each other since 1932.
India vs England at Bombay Gymkhana, 1933
After India’s Test debut at Lord’s in 1932, Douglas Jardin’s MCC squad traveled to India to play three Test matches next year. In the first Test at Bombay Gymkhana ground, Indian captain CK Nayudu won the toss and opted to bat. Lala Amarnath debuted and top-scored with 38 runs. James Langridge, Hedley Verity, and Stan Nichols took three wickets each. In reply, England scored 438 and the English debutant Bryan Valentine scored 136.
For India, Mohammad Nissar registered a five-wicket haul as the 41-years-old debutant Rustomji Jamshedji picked up three wickets. India’s second innings was memorable for Amarnath’s maiden Test century. This was the first Test century by an Indian. Along with captain Nayudu (67), Amarnath added 186 runs for the third wicket. However, India were all out for 258 and the target of 40 was easily completed by visitors.
India vs England at MA Chidambaram Stadium, 1952
After 20 years of their first Test match, India recorded their first Test win. In the 1952 Test match at Chidambaram Stadium, batting first England could manage to score 266 runs, thanks to contributions from Jack Robertson (77) and Dick Spooner (66). But the deadly Vinoo Mankad went on to bag eight wickets conceding 55 runs. During India’s innings, Pankaj Roy (111) and Polly Umrigar (130) scored two fine centuries to provide India a lead of close to 200 runs.
The English captain Donald Carr used seven bowlers to stop Indian batsmen but failed to all-out the hosts. It was an interesting show as the captain himself also tried his luck in the mission of getting all of the Indian wickets. Indians declared with 457 on- board for the loss of nine wickets. In the second innings, England were folded for 183 runs. Indian spinning duo Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed proved to be deadly and ended up with eight wickets to their names jointly.
India vs England at MA Chidambaram Stadium, 2008
The horrible 26/11 Mumbai Attacks had forced the visitors to return home without completing an ongoing tour. However, once the situation was under control, the boards agreed to play a 2-Test match series. The Chennai Test in 2008 saw England scoring 316 runs in their first innings thanks to 123 from Andrew Strauss. India replied with a below-par 241 as no one except MS Dhoni (53) could pass 50. Strauss scored another ton in the second innings along with one century from Paul Collingwood.
England declared on 311/9 and set a target of 387 for the Indians. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir provided a great start and added 117 runs at almost run-a-ball in 23 overs. On the final day, Sachin Tendulkar took charge and scored a brilliant unbeaten 103. Yuvraj Singh (85*) was another contributor and with Tendulkar, he added 163 runs to complete the chase for India. This remains India’s highest fourth-innings chase at home.
India vs England at Wankhede Stadium, 2012
When England came to India in 2012, the home team was the favorite for the series win and as expected took an early 1-0 lead in the series. In the second match in Mumbai, India batted first and could post only 327 despite 135 from Cheteshwar Pujara and 68 from Ravichandran Ashwin. Monty Panesar (5/129) and Swann (4/70) shared nine wickets between them.
Kevin Pietersen played a memorable knock of 186 and helped his side to score 206 runs in just 54 overs. England were all out for 413 and in reply, the Indian batting order once again collapsed. Gautam Gambhir could score 65 but the rest of the line-up surrendered to Panesar (6/81) and Swann (4/43). Cook and Nick Compton easily completed the target of 57 runs and won the Test by 10 wickets.