The rivalry between the Indian national cricket team and the English cricket team is one of the oldest, most intense, and most prestigious in world cricket. It is also the most historic in international cricket. This story is not just about matches but also about emotions and cricket culture. While England is the birthplace of cricket, India gradually increased its influence in the sport and has repeatedly defeated England on their home soil. This includes many memorable moments in the test. One-day international (ODI) and T20 formats. Let’s explore the complete timeline of the Indian and English cricket teams.
India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline: A Historic Rivalry Through the Ages
The Beginning: 1932 – India’s Test Debut
India played its first test match against England at Lord’s in 1932. This marked India’s Test debut. The captain was C.K. Nayudu. England won the match. And India lost the match by 158 runs. But having given the excellent and tremendous performance, India won the heats of all people.
The English team came on a tour to India to play its first test on Indian soil in 1933. England won the series. But India’s Amarnath and Naidu were the winners. These players made a lasting impact.
Post-Independence Era: 1947–1959
After independence, Indian cricket gained confidence. The cricket match between India and England was organized in Madras (now Chennai). India created history by defeating England in 1952. This was Indiqa’s first test victory.
During this period, players like Vinoo Mankad, Polly Umrigar, and Vijay Hazare performed brilliantly against England, making 72 runs and taking 12 wickets.
1960s–1970s: The Rise of Indian Cricket
From 1961 to 1962, India defeated England 2-0 in a home series. In 1971, under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar, India won its first test series on English soil. Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s bowling and Sunil Gavaskar’s batting made history in the Oval Test and scoring 101 runs and taking 4 wickets. This victory became a golden chapter in Indian cricket history.
1980s: Kapil Dev and the One-Day Revolution
India played several memorable matches against England in the 1980s. In 1982-83, India toured England, where Kapil Dev’s bowling caught everyone’s attention.
The year 1983 was historic for India when, under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, India defeated England and entered the World Cup final and then won the World Cup.
In 1986, India won the series again in England. Kapil Dev, Dilip Dengsarkar, and Chetan Sharma became the heroes of this victory.
1990s: The Era of Tendulkar and Ganguly
In 1990, Sachin Tendulkar scored his first test century in Manchester. And that time he was only 17 years old. In 1993, India beat England 3-0 in a home series.
India defeated England in the quarterfinals of the 1996 World Cup. This decade ushered in a new era for the India-England rivalry, with both teams experiencing a renewed energy from young players.
2000s: India Becomes a Powerhouse
In the Nottingham test in 2002, India made a brilliant comeback and leveled the series 101.
In 2007, under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, India won the test series in England after 21 years.
In 2011, India defeated England at home, while England defeated India 4-0 at home in the same year.
This decade saw the rise of players like Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff for England and Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sehwag for India.
2010s: Modern Rivalry Intensifies
In 2012, England created a major upset by defeating India on its home ground. Virat Kohli’s performance was weak in the 2014 England tour, while James Anderson troubled the Indian batsmen a lot.
India took revenge, defeating England 4-0 in 2016. Virat Kohli, Ashwin, and Jadeja shone in this series. And Kohli performed brilliantly in the 2018 tour of England, although India lost the series 4-1.
2020s: The Era of Balance and Intensity
The rivalry between the two teams has reached new heights this decade. Then In 2021, the test series between India and England started, which had to be left incomplete due to Covid. In the rescheduled match, played in Manchester in 2022, England pulled off a historic run-chase thanks to Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root to level the series 2-2.
India took the lead in the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) between 2024 and 2025 by defeating England at home. And the series saw the emergence of young players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jasprit Bumrah, while England’s ‘Bazball’ style of cricket added a new flavor to the game.
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Head-to-Head Record (As of 2025)
- Test Matches: More than 135 matches have been played between India and England, with England winning more of them.
- ODIs: The clash between India and England in ODIs has always been exciting. India has taken a slight lead with consistent wins in recent years.
- T20Is: India dominated the shorter format thanks to tremendous and aggressive batting and the powerful bowling.
Conclusion
The cricketing relationship between India and England is not just about sport but about the two nations’ culture, pride, and history. From 1932 to 2025, this rivalry has continually evolved—sometimes England dominated, sometimes India showed its strength. Today, it’s not just a contest between batsmen and bowlers, but also about strategy, technique, and mental toughness.
Whenever India and England face each other in the future, the same thrill, the same emotion, and the same history will remain alive in the hearts of everyone
