Go Ad-Free
    My Alerts
    Moneycontrol
    Moneycontrol PRO
    HomeNewsCricket75 years of Indian cricket since Independence

    Independent India is 75 years old. Old enough to have accomplished a lot, and young enough to be energized by new possibilities every day. We capture different aspects of the old and the new in listicles of 75 fun, inspiring, surprising and meaningful facts in this special Independence Day Series.

    75 years of Indian cricket since Independence

    75 years of Indian cricket since Independence
    Abhishek Mukherjee
    Abhishek Mukherjee

    On October 8, 1947, less than three months after attaining Independence, an Indian team left for Australia for a five-match Test series. At the helm of the side was Lala Amarnath, who had scored India’s first Test hundred back in 1933/34. A lot has changed over the next 75 years: From a team that barely competed with the top sides, India evolved into one of the top sides in all three formats of the sport, winning multiple global tournaments. Off the field, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the most powerful cricket board, and India continue to remain the largest base of cricket fans in the world. Here is how Indian cricket has progressed since Independence.

    1947
    India undertake first tour after Independence, to Australia.
    1948
    All India Radio covers Test cricket for the first time, during India’s home series against West Indies.
    1949
    India almost win their first ever Test match, in Bombay. They are six runs away with seven balls in hand when umpire Bapu Joshi erroneously ends the match.
    1950
    India decides to become part of the British Commonwealth. As a result, they retain ICC Full Membership and continue to play Test cricket.
    1951
    Vijay Merchant signs off with 154, then the highest score by an Indian. Vijay Hazare later scores 164 in same Test match.
    Vijay Merchant (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
    1952
    India win their first ever Test match, against England at Madras by an innings and eight runs. They also beat Pakistan 2-1, their first-ever series win.
    1953
    First edition of the M.J. Gopalan Trophy, a curious annual match between a state (Madras) and a country (Ceylon, now Sri Lanka).
    1954
    India tour Pakistan for the first time. They would return without losing a Test match for the first time.
    RELATED STORIES
    75 contemporary artists capturing young India's aspirations on canvas, multimedia, video and performance art
    75 contemporary artists capturing young India's aspirations on canvas, multimedia, video and performance art
    75 films that capture a million different ideas of India
    75 films that capture a million different ideas of India
    75 luxury brands that changed the way we live and indulge
    75 luxury brands that changed the way we live and indulge
    75 best sporting moments of Independent India
    75 best sporting moments of Independent India
    75 musicians who have made us love classical music
    75 musicians who have made us love classical music
    75 young cultural ambassadors of India
    75 young cultural ambassadors of India
    VIEW ALL
    1955
    Polly Umrigar scores 223, the first double hundred by an Indian in Test cricket.
    1956
    Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy add 413 for the first wicket. The world record stands until 2007/08.
    1957
    Ranji Trophy restructured to provide more matches to the weaker teams. Earlier, they would have been knocked out after their first defeat.
    1958
    Confusion reigns as India begin their home series against West Indies. Six men would lead India in seven Test matches.
    1959
    India beat Australia for the first time. Jasu Patel takes 9-69 in an innings and 14-124 in the match, both national records.
    1960
    Nari Contractor becomes first ‘commoner’ Indian captain (from outside major cities, royalty, royal patronage, and armed forces).
    1961
    Duleep Trophy begins to bridge the gap between Ranji Trophy and Test cricket.
    1962
    With wins in Calcutta and Madras, India celebrate their first series victory against England (2-0).
    1963
    Joginder Rao becomes first player to do three hat-tricks in his first two First-class matches. An accident restricted his career to five matches.
    1964
    Bapu Nadkarni bowls 21 consecutive maiden overs, still a world record.
    1965
    S. Venkataraghavan becomes second cricketer in history to dismiss all eleven opposition batters (against New Zealand in Delhi).
    1966
    Doordarshan live telecasts a cricket match for the first time (Prime Minister’s XI versus the touring West Indians from Delhi).
    1967
    Rioting at the Eden Gardens leads to abandonment of an entire day’s Test cricket between India and West Indies.
    A match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, before the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo: Marajozkee via Wikimedia Commons 4.0)
    1968
    India win their first overseas series (3-1 in New Zealand).
    1969
    With an eye on the future, selectors pick eight debutants in eight Test matches in three months. The investments pay off over time.
    1970
    Farokh Engineer is selected in a Rest of World team that plays five Test matches against England.
    1971
    India win first ever series in both West Indies and England.
    1972
    A.F.S. Talyarkhan, legendary commentator of the 1930s and 1940s, recalled by All India Radio after 23 years for one final stint.
    1973
    Women’s Cricket Association of India, the first central cricket body in the country, is founded.
    1974
    Karnataka end Bombay’s 15-year streak of Ranji Trophy titles, ending a monopoly.
    1975
    India win their first ODI, against East Africa in the inaugural World Cup.
    1976
    India Men chase a world record 406 in West Indies. India Women win their first Test match, against West Indies in Patna.
    1977
    Yajurvindra Singh equals the world record by holding five catches on Test debut.
    1978
    India host the second Women’s World Cup.
    1979
    Delhi win their first Ranji Trophy, marking the rise of a new power in Indian cricket.
    1980
    BCCI celebrates Golden Jubilee with a Test match. Every former international cricketer is invited.
    1981
    India becomes the last of the ICC Full Members to host an ODI (against England in Ahmedabad).
    1982
    N.K.P. Salve is appointed BCCI President. He would trigger the switch of the global cricket power towards India.
    1983
    India defy all predictions to win their first ever World Cup.
    Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup trophy in 1983.
    1984
    Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi becomes the second venue in the world to host international cricket under lights.
    1985
    India win seven-nation World Championship of Cricket in Australia.
    1986
    India win 2-0 in England, their best result in the country till date.
    1987
    Sunil Gavaskar becomes first cricketer to score 10,000 Test runs. India co-host the first Men’s World Cup outside England.
    Sunil Gavaskar (Screenshot courtesy: YouTube/cricket.com.au)
    1988
    Narendra Hirwani wrecks West Indies with world record figures of 16-136 on debut.
    1989
    Sachin Tendulkar becomes India’s youngest debutant – a record he still holds.
    1990
    Mohammad Azharuddin is appointed Indian captain with leadership experience of four First-class matches. Barring a short break, he would lead India until 1999.
    Mohammad Azharuddin (Image via Twitter/@azharflicks)
    1991
    India welcome South Africa after Apartheid with three ODIs. BCCI earn USD 120,000 from the series – their first income from cricket in India.
    1992
    India become first non-White team to play international cricket in South Africa.
    1993
    India sweep England series 3-0. Win first ever series in Sri Lanka.
    1994
    Kapil Dev breaks Richard Hadlee’s world record of 431 Test wickets. SG balls used for the first time in Test cricket in India.
    1995
    Neetu David takes 8-53, still the best figures in Women’s Tests.
    Neetu David (Image: Twitter/@ICC)
    1996
    India win their first Test series against South Africa.
    1997
    Jagmohan Dalmiya becomes first Indian president of the ICC.
    1998
    India win five triangular tournaments in four different countries in the same calendar year.
    1999
    Anil Kumble takes all 10 wickets in a Test innings, against Pakistan in Delhi.
    2000
    India win their first Under-19 World Cup. Indian cricket rocked by revelations of match fixing.
    2001
    V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh help India win the Kolkata Test match after following-on and end Australia’s record streak of 16 wins.
    2002
    Mithali Raj scores 214 at Taunton, then the highest individual score in Women’s Test cricket.
    2003
    India defy initial setbacks, including sponsorship rows with BCCI, to reach final of the World Cup.
    2004
    Virender Sehwag scores 309, the first triple hundred by an Indian in Test cricket. India win first series in Pakistan.
    Virender Sehwag
    2005
    India Women reach a World Cup final for the first time.
    2006
    BCCI take over WCAI to become sole governing body for women’s cricket in India.
    2007
    Indian Cricket League takes off. The Indian Premier League is launched. India win the World T20.
    Winners of the inaugural IPL - Rajasthan Royals - at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
    2008
    The first IPL season. The economy and geography of cricket would change over the years.
    2009
    India win a Test series in New Zealand after 41 years.
    2010
    Sachin Tendulkar scores the first ever ODI double hundred.
    Dilip Vengsarkar with Greg Chappell, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
    2011
    India win a World Cup after 28 years.
    2012
    Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman retire, Sachin Tendulkar plays last ODI.
    2013
    India win their first solo ICC Champions Trophy, 11 years after becoming joint champions.
    2014
    Sachin Tendulkar becomes first athlete to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, months after his last Test match.
    2015
    Lodha Panel sends an 82-point questionnaire to the BCCI. Indian cricket would later undergo significant overhaul.
    2016
    India Women become first Indian team to win a bilateral series against Australia in Australia in any format. India Men emulate them later in the day.
    2017
    Jhulan Goswami breaks Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s world record of 180 ODI wickets. India Women reach the World Cup final. Women’s cricket becomes mainstream.
    Jhulan Goswami
    2018
    India win Test matches in South Africa, England, and Australia in the same calendar year.
    2019
    India win first ever Test series on Australian soil.
    2020
    India Women play their first T20 World Cup final in front of a staggering 86,174 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
    2021
    India seal historic win in Australia despite being destroyed in the first Test match and losing several frontline cricketers.
    2022
    IPL sells broadcasting rights for INR 47,333 crore. At USD 15.1 million, the IPL’s per-game value is now next to only NFL’s.

    *This list aims to be comprehensive, not exhaustive.

    Tags
    Advisory Alert: It has come to our attention that certain individuals are representing themselves as affiliates of Moneycontrol and soliciting funds on the false promise of assured returns on their investments. We wish to reiterate that Moneycontrol does not solicit funds from investors and neither does it promise any assured returns. In case you are approached by anyone making such claims, please write to us at grievanceofficer@nw18.com or call on 02268882347