england cricket team vs india national cricket team timeline
Introduction: England Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
Let me start with a confession — whenever India plays England, I can feel the match before it even begins.
It’s like a storm slowly brewing, calm on the surface but ready to explode when the first ball is bowled.
There’s something magical about this rivalry. It’s not loud or political like India vs Pakistan; it’s poetic. It’s old-school grace versus modern grit. It’s heritage versus hunger.
And every time I watch these two sides face off, I can’t help but think — this isn’t just a match; it’s a conversation between generations.
So today, let’s take a nostalgic ride down memory lane. From dusty radio commentaries to HD live streams, here’s the complete timeline of the England Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team rivalry — told the way it deserves to be: with emotion, memory, and a touch of madness.
Table of Contents
England Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
| Year | Format | Series/Tournament | Venue(s) | Notable Moments & Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Test | India’s 1st Test Match | Lord’s, London | India’s first-ever Test; CK Nayudu led bravely. England won, but a new cricketing chapter began. |
| 1952 | Test | England in India | Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata | India’s first-ever Test victory against England at Madras. A defining moment of national pride. |
| 1971 | Test | India in England | The Oval | Ajit Wadekar’s team stunned England to win their first series on English soil. Pure emotion. |
| 1974 | Test | India in England | Lord’s & Edgbaston | The “Summer of 42 All Out” – a painful reminder that cricket teaches humility too. |
| 1982 | Test | England in India | Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai | India’s spinners toyed with England. The visitors had no clue how to handle Indian turners. |
| 1985 | ODI | Benson & Hedges Cup | Australia | India beat England in the semi-final. Ravi Shastri became the “Champion of Champions.” |
| 1990 | Test | India in England | Lord’s | 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden century. The world met its new prodigy. |
| 2002 | Test | India in England | Headingley & The Oval | Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly stitched a masterpiece at Headingley. Pure batting art. |
| 2007 | Test | India in England | Trent Bridge | India clinched their first Test series win in England in 21 years. A sweet redemption. |
| 2011 | Test & ODI | India in England | Lord’s, Trent Bridge, The Oval | England whitewashed India 4–0. A nightmare summer for Indian fans. |
| 2014 | Test | India in England | Lord’s, Southampton | Ishant Sharma’s fiery spell (7 wickets) gave India their first Lord’s win since 1986. |
| 2016 | Test | England in India | Vizag, Mumbai, Chennai | Kohli’s team crushed England 4–0. Ashwin and Jadeja spun magic out of dust. |
| 2018 | Test | India in England | Birmingham, Southampton, The Oval | Kohli’s redemption tour—593 runs, tears, and triumphs, even though the series was lost. |
| 2021 | Test | England in India | Chennai, Ahmedabad | After losing the 1st Test, India bounced back 3–1. Ashwin’s all-round brilliance stole the show. |
| 2022 | Test | India in England (Rescheduled 5th Test) | Edgbaston | England chased 378 runs. Root and Bairstow played like men possessed. “Bazball” arrived. |
| 2024 | Test | England in India | Hyderabad, Ranchi, Dharamsala | Young stars like Jaiswal and Sarfaraz powered India’s 4–1 triumph. The future looked fearless. |
Where It All Began – Cricket, Colonies & Courage
If you think about it, the rivalry between India and England is older than the game itself.
When India played its first Test in 1932, it wasn’t just about cricket—it was about courage.
Imagine those Indian players, walking out at Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” dressed in whites that probably didn’t fit perfectly, facing bowlers they’d only read about in newspapers.
They lost, sure—but that day, something bigger was born: belief.
That’s where this story began — not with a victory, but with a spark.
1952–1971 – The First Wins That Changed Everything
Fast forward twenty years.
It’s 1952 in Madras. The Indian team finally beats England. Radio announcers go wild, crowds dance, and somewhere, an entire nation feels a shift in the air. For the first time, India wasn’t following England — it was challenging them.
Then came 1971, and oh boy, what a moment that was.
Ajit Wadekar’s men did the impossible — defeating England in their own backyard. Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s spinning fingers scripted history, and Sunil Gavaskar’s calmness was poetry in whites.
That victory wasn’t just about cricket. It was about rewriting a narrative.
The 1980s & 90s – When Cricket Became Emotional
If you were a 90s kid (like me), you probably grew up hearing one name more than any other — Sachin Tendulkar.
But long before him, there was Kapil Dev, the man with a lion’s heart. The 1980s were fiery — full of both triumphs and heartbreaks. The 1985 Benson & Hedges Cup was one such moment where India looked unstoppable, beating England and the world with confidence.
Then came the ‘90s.
And there he was — a 17-year-old boy at Lord’s in 1990, batting with the calmness of a saint and the maturity of a veteran.
That boy? Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
That innings? The start of an era.
2000s – The Bold and the Beautiful Game
By the 2000s, India was no longer the humble guest. We were there to win.
Under Sourav Ganguly’s fiery leadership, India became fearless.
I still remember the 2002 Headingley Test—Dravid’s patience, Tendulkar’s precision, and Ganguly’s flair. It wasn’t just a match; it was a painting made of strokes, sweat, and silence.
And when we finally won the series in 2007, it felt personal. 21 years of waiting had ended. The victory tasted like rain after drought.
2011 – The Humbling, Then the Resurrection
Ah, 2011. The same year India won the World Cup, yet the same year England humbled us 4–0 in Tests.
It was rough. I remember staying up late, half-asleep, watching Indian wickets fall one after another. It was one of those nights you don’t forget — not because of the loss, but because it reminded you how cruel and beautiful this game can be.
But the comeback was fierce.
By 2016, India, led by Virat Kohli, dominated at home. Ashwin and Jadeja spun circles around England. Every match was electric, every victory a roar.
That’s the thing about India—they fall, but they always rise.
2018–2024 – Bazball Meets Indian Bravery
The rivalry evolved again in recent years. England brought “Bazball”—that wild, attacking approach that made Test cricket look like T20.
And India? India brought fight, flair, and fire.
In 2018, Kohli played like a man possessed—593 runs, pure redemption for his 2014 failures.
In 2022, the rescheduled 5th Test at Edgbaston felt like a movie. India had the upper hand, but England chased down 378. I remember shouting at my TV, “Root, stop it already!” But deep down, I admired it too. That’s what great cricket does—it frustrates and fascinates you at once.
Then came 2024, and India answered. Loudly.
Youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan played like they’d been here forever. India won 4–1, and every fan smiled the way only redemption allows.
Head-to-Head Snapshot
| Format | Matches Played | India Won | England Won | Draw/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 135+ | 34 | 51 | 50 |
| ODIs | 106 | 58 | 44 | 4 |
| T20Is | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 |
(Stats as of 2025)
Numbers are cold, but emotions aren’t.
Behind every stat, there’s a story — a roar in the stands, a teardrop in the dressing room, a nation united for a moment in time.
Why This Rivalry Feels So… Human
Unlike other rivalries, this one doesn’t thrive on hate—it thrives on respect.
It’s two cricketing philosophies facing off — England’s discipline and structure against India’s chaos and creativity.
England is like a symphony orchestra — precise, practiced, and polished.
India? We’re a rock band — unpredictable, passionate, and loud.
And somehow, when these two perform together, it creates the kind of harmony that keeps cricket alive.
Final Thoughts – More Than Just a Game
Every time India plays England, it feels like turning the pages of an old book.
The characters change, the settings evolve, but the story remains timeless.
It’s not just about cricket anymore.
It’s about pride, history, and how two nations that once stood on opposite sides of power now meet as equals on 22 yards of grass.
So, the next time you tune into an India vs England Test, remember — you’re not just watching a game. You’re watching history breathe.
The bats may change, the jerseys may evolve, but that fire between blue and white? That’ll never fade.
About the Author
