by The England cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline is more than just a collection of match results — it’s a saga that spans nearly a century, beginning when a colonized nation first challenged its colonial master on the cricket field.
What started in 1932 as a symbolic act of defiance has evolved into one of cricket’s most prestigious and fiercely contested rivalries, where every match carries the weight of history, national pride, and sporting excellence.
England Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
From India’s nervous debut at Lord’s to their modern-day dominance at home, this timeline captures cricket’s most transformative journey — one that mirrors India’s own evolution from underdog to superpower.
The Historic Beginning: June 25, 1932 (Lord’s)
Cricket rivalries don’t get more symbolic than this.
On a cloudy June morning at Lord’s Cricket Ground, India played their first-ever Test match against England.
Led by the charismatic C.K. Nayudu, India wasn’t just playing cricket — they were making a statement against British colonial rule.
Match Summary:
- England First Innings: 259 all out
- India First Innings: 189 all out
- England Second Innings: 275 (Douglas Jardine 85)
- India Second Innings: 187 all out
- Result: England won by 158 runs
India fought hard but fell short. Yet this match was never about winning — it was about belonging. It announced that India had arrived on the world cricket stage.
Key Moment: C.K. Nayudu’s fearless batting against England’s pace attack won hearts even in defeat. He represented a nation finding its voice through cricket.
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The Struggle Years: 1932-1950 (Learning to Fight)
The next two decades were tough for Indian cricket.
England dominated almost every encounter. India toured England in 1936 and 1946, losing heavily each time. Back home, the results were barely better.
Reality Check:
- India played 17 Tests against England between 1932-1950
- Result: 0 wins, 10 losses, 7 draws
But India was learning. Players like Vijay Merchant, Vinoo Mankad, and Lala Amarnath were building the foundation for future success.
The Turning Point:
Everything changed in February 1952 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai (then Madras).
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India’s First Victory: February 6-10, 1952 (Chennai)
This wasn’t just a win. This was liberation.
After 20 years of trying, India finally defeated England in a Test match.
Match Details:
- India First Innings: 457 (Pankaj Roy 140, Vinoo Mankad 72)
- England First Innings: 266 (Vinoo Mankad 8/55)
- England Second Innings: 183 (Ghulam Ahmed 5/61)
- Result: India won by an innings and 8 runs
Hero: Vinoo Mankad took 12 wickets in the match and scored crucial runs. He was unplayable on that Chennai pitch.
When the final wicket fell, the crowd erupted. Fireworks lit up the sky. For India, this wasn’t just about cricket — it was about proving they could beat the nation that taught them the game.
| Year | Venue | Result | Notable Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Lord’s | England won by 158 runs | C.K. Nayudu (India’s captain) |
| 1952 | Chennai | India won by innings & 8 runs | Vinoo Mankad (12 wickets) |
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The 1960s: India Finds Its Voice
The 1960s marked India’s coming of age in Test cricket.
In the 1961-62 home series, India stunned England with back-to-back victories in Kolkata and Chennai.
4th Test (Kolkata, December 1961):
- Result: India won by 187 runs
- Stars: Chandu Borde, Nawab of Pataudi Jr., Salim Durani (5 wickets)
5th Test (Chennai, January 1962):
- Result: India won by 128 runs
- India’s batting lineup showed depth and confidence
These wins proved India was no longer just competitive — they were dangerous opponents, especially at home.
The 1967 Series in England:
England reasserted dominance, winning all three Tests. But India’s fighting spirit was evident in every match. They were learning how to compete in English conditions.
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The Watershed Moment: 1971 Series in England
This is where the England cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline took a dramatic turn.
Under Ajit Wadekar’s calm leadership, India achieved what seemed impossible — they won a Test series in England for the first time.
The Series:
- 1st Test (Lord’s): Draw
- 2nd Test (Old Trafford): Draw
- 3rd Test (The Oval): India won by 4 wickets
The Oval Victory (August 19-24, 1971):
Chasing a modest target, India wobbled but held their nerves. Dilip Sardesai (40) and Gundappa Viswanath (33) guided India home with 205 minutes to spare.
Impact: This victory changed how the cricketing world viewed India. They were no longer seen as pushovers — they were genuine Test match winners.
ODI Cricket Arrives: 1974-1980
The One Day International format added a new dimension to the rivalry.
First ODI Encounter (July 13, 1974 – Headingley):
- Result: England won by 4 wickets
- India scored 265/8, but England chased it down comfortably
The Controversial 1975 World Cup Match:
June 7, 1975, at Lord’s, remains one of cricket’s most puzzling matches.
- England’s Score: 334/4 (Dennis Amiss 137)
- India’s Chase: 132/3 in 60 overs
- Result: England won by 202 runs
What Happened?
Sunil Gavaskar batted through the entire 60 overs for 36 not out off 174 balls.
Fans were baffled. India crawled to 132/3 when they should have been chasing aggressively.
To this day, nobody fully understands Gavaskar’s approach in that match.
The 1980s: Botham’s Dominance and India’s Fightback
Ian Botham’s Masterclass (February 15, 1980 – Mumbai):
One man destroyed India single-handedly.
- Botham’s Performance: 114 runs with the bat, 13 wickets (6/58 and 7/48)
- Result: England won by 10 wickets
This was one of cricket’s greatest all-round performances. India had no answers.
But India Bounced Back (1981-82 Series):
India claimed their first-ever ODI series win over England.
Key Match (December 20, 1981 – Jamshedpur):
- Result: India won by 6 wickets
- Hero: Dilip Vengsarkar (88 not out)
Match 3 (January 27, 1982 – Cuttack):
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Series sealed 2-1
This was huge. India proved they could compete in limited-overs cricket too.
The Glory of 1983: World Cup Triumph
June 22, 1983, Old Trafford, Manchester.
India faced England in the World Cup semi-final on English soil.
Match Summary:
- England’s Score: 213 all out (Mike Gatting 41)
- India’s Chase: 217/4 (Yashpal Sharma 61)
- Result: India won by 6 wickets
Why It Mattered:
This victory sent India to the World Cup final, where they shocked the mighty West Indies to become world champions.
The 1983 World Cup changed Indian cricket forever. It inspired a generation and made cricket India’s religion.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Headingley | England | First ODI between the two |
| 1982 | Cuttack | India | First ODI series win |
| 1983 | Old Trafford | India | World Cup semi-final |
The 1990s: Tendulkar’s Arrival
The 1990s belonged to one name: Sachin Tendulkar.
1990 Series in England:
Young Tendulkar, just 17, played his first series in England. Though India lost, his talent was obvious.
1992-93 Home Series:
India demolished England 3-0 in Tests.
- 1st Test (Kolkata): India won by 8 wickets
- 2nd Test (Chennai): India won by innings and 22 runs
- 3rd Test (Mumbai): India won by innings and 15 runs
This was India asserting complete dominance at home.
1999 World Cup (Edgbaston):
- India’s Score: 232/8 (Rahul Dravid 53, Sourav Ganguly 40)
- England’s Chase: 169 all out (Prasad 3/33)
- Result: India won by 63 runs
The Dravid-Ganguly partnership of 71 runs steadied India’s innings and set up the victory.
The 2000s: The NatWest Final & Yuvraj’s Six Sixes
NatWest Final – July 13, 2002 (Lord’s):
This is one of India’s greatest ODI victories.
The Chase:
- England’s Score: 325/5 (Marcus Trescothick 109, Nasser Hussain 115)
- India’s Target: 326 to win
India was in trouble at 146/5. The match seemed lost.
Then Came the Miracle:
Yuvraj Singh (69 off 63 balls) and Mohammad Kaif (87* off 75 balls) staged an incredible partnership.
When Kaif hit the winning runs, Sourav Ganguly ripped off his shirt and waved it from the Lord’s balcony — an iconic image of Indian cricket’s newfound aggression.
2007 T20 World Cup (September 19, 2007 – Durban):
India vs England, the first-ever T20I between the two.
India’s Score: 218/4 (Yuvraj Singh 58* off 16 balls)
The Magic Moment:
Stuart Broad bowled the 19th over. Yuvraj hit him for six sixes in a row — the fastest fifty in T20I history (12 balls).
The world stood still. Cricket had never seen anything like it.
- England’s Chase: 200/6
- Result: India won by 18 runs
India went on to win the inaugural T20 World Cup.
2011-2013: England’s Revenge
2011 Test Series in England:
England crushed India 4-0, one of India’s worst overseas performances.
| Test | Venue | Result | Star Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lord’s | England won by 196 runs | James Anderson |
| 2nd | Trent Bridge | England won by 319 runs | Stuart Broad |
| 3rd | Edgbaston | England won by innings & 242 runs | Alastair Cook (294) |
| 4th | The Oval | England won by innings & 8 runs | Graeme Swann |
India’s legendary batting lineup — Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman — all struggled. England’s pace and spin combination was too good.
2012-13 Test Series in India:
England achieved the unthinkable — winning a Test series in India (2-1) for the first time since 1984-85.
Star Performer: Alastair Cook scored 562 runs with three centuries. His masterful batting on turning pitches shocked everyone.
James Anderson’s reverse swing was lethal, taking 12 wickets in the series.
2016-17: India’s Revenge at Home
India had been embarrassed away. Now it was time to settle scores at home.
Test Series Result: India 4-0 (5-match series)
| Test | Venue | Result | Star Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rajkot | Draw | — |
| 2nd | Visakhapatnam | India won by 246 runs | Virat Kohli (167, 81) |
| 3rd | Mohali | India won by 8 wickets | Ravichandran Ashwin |
| 4th | Mumbai | India won by innings & 36 runs | Kohli (235) |
| 5th | Chennai | India won by innings & 75 runs | Karun Nair (303*) |
Historic Moment: Karun Nair became only the second Indian to score a triple century in Tests (303 not out in Chennai).
India’s spin twins — Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — dominated throughout the series.
2019 World Cup Clash: England’s Crucial Win
June 30, 2019, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
This was a must-win game for England in their home World Cup.
Match Summary:
- England’s Score: 337/7 (Jonny Bairstow 111, Ben Stokes 79)
- India’s Chase: 306/5 (Rohit Sharma 102, Virat Kohli 66)
- Result: England won by 31 runs
Key Moment: Liam Plunkett dismissed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in quick succession, breaking India’s momentum.
England went on to win the World Cup, defeating New Zealand in a dramatic super-over final.
2024-2025: India’s Home Dominance Continues
2024 T20 World Cup Semi-Final (June 27, 2024 – Guyana):
- India’s Score: 171/7 (Rohit Sharma 57, Suryakumar Yadav 47)
- England’s Chase: 103 all out
- Result: India won by 68 runs
Hero: Axar Patel (3 wickets) dismantled England’s batting.
India went on to win the T20 World Cup, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought.
England Tour of India 2025:
India dominated both white-ball series comprehensively.
T20I Series (January-February 2025):
| Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2025 | 1st T20I | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | India won by 7 wickets |
| Jan 25, 2025 | 2nd T20I | Chepauk, Chennai | India won by 2 wickets |
| Jan 28, 2025 | 3rd T20I | Rajkot | England won by 26 runs |
| Jan 31, 2025 | 4th T20I | Pune | India won by 15 runs |
| Feb 02, 2025 | 5th T20I | Wankhede, Mumbai | India won by 150 runs |
Series Result: India won 4-1
Star Performer: Abhishek Sharma scored a stunning 135 off just 54 balls in the 5th T20I — one of the greatest T20I innings ever played.
ODI Series (February 2025):
| Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 06, 2025 | 1st ODI | Nagpur | India won by 4 wickets |
| Feb 09, 2025 | 2nd ODI | Cuttack | India won by 4 wickets |
| Feb 12, 2025 | 3rd ODI | Ahmedabad | India won by 142 runs |
Series Result: India won 3-0 (clean sweep)
Star Performer: Shubman Gill won two Player of the Match awards and the Player of the Series award for his consistent batting.
This England tour of India 2025 proved that India’s home dominance remains unshakeable.
Head-to-Head: Complete Records Across All Formats
| Format | Matches | India Wins | England Wins | Draws/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 136 | 33 | 51 | 52 |
| ODIs | 110 | 59 | 45 | 6 |
| T20Is | 29 | 20 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 275 | 112 | 105 | 58 |
Key Insights:
- England still leads in Tests (51-33)
- India dominates ODIs (59-45)
- India is far superior in T20Is (20-9)
- The overall rivalry is nearly even (112-105 in India’s favor)
Iconic Performances: Players Who Shaped the Rivalry
🇮🇳 India’s Legends
Sachin Tendulkar
- Runs vs England: 2,535 (Tests), 1,573 (ODIs)
- Centuries: 7 (Tests), 4 (ODIs)
- The master blaster against England
Virat Kohli
- Runs vs England: 2,000+ (all formats)
- Centuries: 8 across formats
- Consistent match-winner
Kapil Dev
- Led India to 1983 World Cup glory
- All-round brilliance in the 1980s
Yuvraj Singh
- Six sixes off Stuart Broad (2007)
- NatWest Final hero (2002)
Ravichandran Ashwin
- Wickets vs England: 100+ (Tests)
- Unplayable on Indian pitches
🏴 England’s Icons
Alastair Cook
- Runs vs India: 2,431 (Tests)
- Led England’s 2011 whitewash and 2012 series win in India
Ian Botham
- 13-wicket haul and century at Mumbai (1980)
- One of cricket’s greatest all-round performances
James Anderson
- Wickets vs India: 100+ (all formats)
- Master of reverse swing
Ben Stokes
- Match-winner in crucial games
- 2019 World Cup hero
Stuart Broad
- Despite being hit for six sixes, he took crucial wickets throughout his career
Memorable Venues: Where History Was Made
| Venue | Significance |
|---|---|
| Lord’s (London) | India’s Test debut (1932), NatWest Final (2002) |
| Chennai (India) | India’s first Test win (1952) |
| The Oval (London) | India’s first series win in England (1971) |
| Old Trafford | 1983 World Cup semi-final |
| Edgbaston | Alastair Cook’s 294 (2011) |
| Wankhede (Mumbai) | Botham’s 13-wicket match (1980) |
| Eden Gardens | Multiple historic encounters |
The Emotional Weight of This Rivalry
- For India:
Every win against England carries special meaning. It’s not just about cricket — it’s about a former colony proving its worth to its former ruler. From 1932 to 2025, this journey represents India’s growth as a nation.
- For England:
England gave cricket to India, and now India has mastered it. Losing to India hurts English pride, but they respect India’s rise as a cricketing superpower.
- For Cricket Fans:
This rivalry has produced some of sport’s greatest moments — Vinoo Mankad’s 12-wicket match, Yuvraj’s six sixes, the NatWest Final, Cook’s 2012 heroics, and Abhishek Sharma’s 135 in 2025.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
The India tour of England 2025 (tentatively scheduled for July-August) will be the next major chapter.
England will be desperate to prove themselves after the humiliating 2025 home defeats in ODIs and T20Is.
Expected Format:
- 5 Tests (part of ICC World Test Championship)
- 3 ODIs
- 3 T20Is
Key Battles to Watch:
- Jasprit Bumrah vs England’s top order
- Shubman Gill vs James Anderson (if he plays)
- Indian spinners vs English batsmen
- Ben Stokes’ captaincy vs Rohit Sharma’s leadership
The India vs England win probability today always depends on conditions — India dominates at home, while England has the edge on seaming English pitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When did India and England first play cricket?
India played their first Test match against England on June 25, 1932, at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. England won by 158 runs.
- What is the India vs England Test series history record?
Out of 136 Tests, England has won 51, India has won 33, and 52 have ended in draws. England leads the Test head-to-head.
- Who has won more ODIs between India and England?
India leads the ODI head-to-head 59-45 after 110 matches, with 6 no results.
- What were the highlights of the England tour of India 2025?
India dominated comprehensively, winning the T20I series 4-1 and sweeping the ODI series 3-0. Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were the standout performers.
- When is the next India vs England series?
The next major series is expected during the India tour of England 2025, tentatively scheduled for July-August 2025, featuring Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Final Thoughts: A Rivalry That Defines Cricket
The England cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline isn’t just sports history — it’s a mirror reflecting over 90 years of political change, cultural evolution, and sporting excellence.
What began as a symbolic act of defiance in 1932 has blossomed into one of cricket’s most balanced and prestigious rivalries.
From C.K. Nayudu’s bravery to Virat Kohli’s dominance, from Lord’s 1932 to Mumbai 2025, every chapter has added richness to this saga.
England may have taught India cricket, but India has now become the master. And yet, whenever these two nations meet, the result remains beautifully unpredictable.
That’s what makes this rivalry timeless — respect, history, passion, and the eternal quest for supremacy on the cricket field.
The England cricket team vs India national cricket team timeline continues to be written, and cricket fans around the world eagerly await the next chapter.
