One of the matches is traditionally steeped with history, old tradition, and rivalry: India and England in cricket. Since the first meeting of the teams back in 1932, through the countless unforgettable encounters, several teams from both sides have produced many of the most thrilling moments in cricket history. The journey from early British colonialism right through India’s recent dominance in the modern cricketing world has bedded this rivalry. For this reason, India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team matches become a grand show on the international grounds.
This article will delve into those iconic matches between the India National Cricket Team and the England Cricket Team in their various formats: Tests, ODIs, and T20s. Analysis of detailed scorecards from these matches with key performances and historical impact.
Early Encounters: India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team (1932-1952)
India’s First Test Match (1932): The Genesis of a Rivalry
The India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team rivalry started when India played its very first Test match at Lord’s in 1932. The colonial power was England and this was more a precursor to India’s early steps on the international stage in cricket.
First Test, Lord’s, 1932:
England 259 & 275 (Douglas Jardine 79, Les Ames 65)
India 189 & 187 (Nissar 5/93, Jahangir Khan 4/60)
Result: England won by 158 runs.
The match was however marked by a gallant performance from Mohammad Nissar who took 5 wickets in England’s first innings but India did not score high enough to win the match. However, this match marked the starting point of a rivalry that would gain much momentum with time.
Indians First Test Success (1952): The Watershed Moment
It had been years of defeats that people experienced in cricket matches, and it was after many years that India finally managed to win its maiden Test against England at Madras (now Chennai) in the year 1952, which ushered in a new cricketing era for India.
Fifth Test, Madras, 1952:
England 266 & 183 (Pankaj Roy 4/35, Ghulam Ahmed 4/77)
India 457 (Vinoo Mankad 231, Pankaj Roy 111)
Result: India won by an innings and 8 runs
This complete win proved the first milestone for India, as Vinoo Mankad’s sensational 231 and his 8-wicket match haul fixed him as one of India’s first cricketing legends.
The 1970s-1980s: Indian Cricket Soars to Great Heights
1971 Oval Test: India’s First Ever Series Victory in England
Indian cricket reached its epitome with the series in England in 1971. This was the first time India won a series in the land of England, under Ajit Wadekar’s leadership, and the most famous test in that series is the Oval test test match.
The Oval Test 1971
England 355 & 101 (Alan Knott 90, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar 6/38)
India 284 & 174/6 (Farokh Engineer 59, Dilip Sardesai 54)
India won by 4 wickets
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s 6/38 in the second innings unearthed holes in the English batting order, and the Indians chased down the target with six wickets in hand. That victory signaled India’s entry into the fray as a cricketing power.
1986 India Tour of England: Dominating at England
In 1986 again, India toured England, and India team under Kapil Dev won the three-match Test series 2-0. That Test at Lord’s was special because India in 1986 rarely won at the Mecca of cricket.
First Test, Lord’s, 1986:
- England 294 & 180 (Mike Gatting 56, Dilip Vengsarkar 126)
- India 341 & 136/5 (Chetan Sharma 5/64, Kapil Dev 4/52)
- India won by 5 wickets
It was a masterly century by Dilip Vengsarkar and some all-round brilliance from Kapil Dev, that gave India a historic win at Lord’s. This tour really established the fact that India was a team to reckon with even beyond the boundary of India.
The Modern Era: From Tendulkar to Kohli (2000s-Present)
2002 NatWest Series Final: Defining ODI Moment
And for the first time since Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996, the Indians could look forward to celebrating on the streets of Colombo.
It was a victor – this Lord’s Test match of the 2002 NatWest Series between India and England – and one of the finest played in ODI history. The match is also remembered for India’s wonderful chase and Sourav Ganguly’s shirtless celebration atop the Lord’s balcony.
Final, NatWest Series, Lord’s, 2002
- England 325/5 (Marcus Trescothick 109, Nasser Hussain 115)
- India 326/8 (Yuvraj Singh 69, Mohammad Kaif 87)
- India won by 2 wickets
Chasing a daunting total of 326, India was moving rather laboriously at 146/5 before Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif staged a dramatic fight back. The latter’s unbeaten 87 would guarantee India’s victory, and Ganguly’s celebration epitomised the growing confidence of India with ODI cricket.
2011 Lord’s Test: India’s 100th Test at the Mecca of cricket.
An opportunity for India to celebrate its 100th Test match at Lord’s, the 2011 series was truly a landmark series. But with all the excitement and as with almost every series before this one, India played horribly in the series.
Lord’s Test, 2011
- England 474/8 decl. & 269/6 decl. (Kevin Pietersen 202, Matt Prior 103)
- India 286 & 261 (Rahul Dravid 103, Praveen Kumar 5/106)
- Result: England won by 196 runs
It was to be a double-century knock from Kevin Pietersen that overshadowed the gritty knock of Rahul Dravid as India suffered a humiliating defeat. The series also marked a transition period for India, as some of their best players were drawing to the twilight stages of their long careers.
2021 Lord’s Test: A Modern-Day Classic
The 2021 India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team series was a drama-filled one, but the second Test at Lord’s would stay as a modern classic for years to come. India’s tailenders stunned on the last day to snatch a victory from defeat’s jaws.
Second Test at Lord’s, 2021:
- England 391 & 120 (Joe Root 180, Mohammad Siraj 4/32)
- India 364 & 298/8 decl. (KL Rahul 129, Mohammed Shami 56)
- Result: India won by 151 runs
This resulted in a lower-order partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah that helped India post a tricky target. The bowlers, led by Mohammad Siraj, then bowled out England to take the thrilling win, showing India’s resilience and grit overseas.
ODI Matches: The 2019 World Cup
India vs England, 2019 World Cup Group Stage
The India-England group match of 2019 ICC World Cup was a neck-to-neck affair. The two teams were probable title contenders, and this game turned out to be an important one in deciding the permutations and combinations of the tournament.
India vs England, June 30, 2019 (Edgbaston):
- England 337/7 (Jonny Bairstow 111, Ben Stokes 79)
- India 306/5 (Rohit Sharma 102, Virat Kohli 66)
- Result: England won by 31 runs
They could not make a chase of the mammoth total that England put up under a great century by Rohit Sharma. It was a game where they were to hand over momentum to England for their eventual World Cup-winning campaign.
T20 Encounters: The New-Age Rivalry
India vs England, 2016 T20 World Cup
It was an explosive affair between India and England in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup, as both teams had shown their batting lineups while being hard-hitting.
India vs England, March 18, 2016 (Wankhede Stadium):
- England 182/6 (Joe Root 83, Jos Buttler 66)
- India 185/4 (Virat Kohli 75, MS Dhoni 22)
- Result: India won by 6 wickets
Virat Kohli’s sublime 75ensured India chased down the target with ease. His innings is still remembered as one of the best in T20 cricket.
Conclusion: A Rivalry for the Ages
Over the years, the India-England cricketing rivalry has evolved from being a contest between the masters of the colonies and their subjects to being a battle for supremacy between two of the world’s strongest cricketing nations. Whether it was the testing grounds of the Test arena, the blistering worlds of the ODIs, or the electric thrill of the T20s, India and England have given cricket fans countless unforgettable moments.
Every match creates a new chapter in this famous rivalry; scorecards of such contests speak of the good competition between both, building the picture of skill and passion. Cricket just keeps on rising, and the spectacle India-England rivalry is one of the most coveted and eagerly-awaited spectacles in the sport.
Also read:- India National Cricket Team vs Australian Cricket Team Matches Scorecards
