India first win in England 1971

22 matches to win on 22 yards

1971 was Indira Gandhi’s Garibi Hatao (eradicate poverty) was the theme for the election campaigns. The apex court declared her representation as void on the grounds of electoral malpractice. Himachal Pradesh became the 18th state of India, from UT status. India changed her status from the Non-aligned movement and signed the treaty of peace with the Soviets. This was quintenssial year for India, Indian army lead by Sam Mankeshaw alongside Mukti Bahini liberated East Pakistan. The creation of Bangladesh in December after defeating Yahya Khan’s radical Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams. Rajesh Khanna was a household name with 15 consecutive solo hits from 1969-1971, with Haathi Mere Saathi as year’s highest-grossing film. The other prominent films were Hrishikesh Mukherjee Anand, Shakti Samanta Kati Patang, Ramesh Sippy Andaz with Hema Malini also we witnessed Kishore Da iconic songs “Zindagi Ek Safar”, “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai”.

1983, 2001, and 2011 is what present Indian generation resonates with cricket memorable events. Kapil boys unexpected triumph in 83 against mighty Windies, Harbhajan-Laxman magic to win 2001 home series against Steve Waugh team. MS iconic moment, finishing off in style to lift the world cup. “For connoisseurs of the game, great matches are not merely those that their country won but those with drama, heroic moments, tight finishes, a tremendous display of skill and acts of sportsmanship.” preface Mumbai to Durban

India on the backdrop of debutant Gavaskar record-breaking performance and seasoned player Sardesai’s effort won the first series in Windies. The team was full of confidence to tour England, but conditions and opponents were orthogonal while Windies had not won their last four series. England under Ray Illingworth was a dominant side that never lost a series, winning all the five series including famous Ashes. The critics were of the opinion that it will be an upheaval task for India.

This was the first tour of England for Gavaskar, Vishwanath, Abid Ali, Solkar, and Ashok Mankad. Eknath Solkar one hour determination at the crease saved the Lords test. “We lost time, but we decided to play positive cricket and force a win. This is the reason we lost too many wickets. The win against the West Indies with a powerful batting line-up gave us the confidence. The dry summer was another factor. We played eight first-class matches before the first Test and not a single match was washed out. We won five matches, drew two and lost to Essex. The one-month acclimatization helped the team. The bowling was exceptional right through the series,” Wadekar continues.

India’s Sunil Gavaskar (second r) with HM Queen Elizabeth II, Getty Images before the first test

Old Trafford test also ended in a draw with no play on the final day.“We did not have a chance in the second Test at Old Trafford. But our bowlers were superb. England was 187 for seven before Illingworth made a century. The last day’s play was washed out and we were saved.” said Wadekar.

The third and final test was scheduled to play on 19th August, Illingworth won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening day ended with England posting 355 runs on the board, Knott 90, Jameson playing in place of Boycott scored 82, and Richard Hutton 81 was the top scorer. There was no play on the second day, third-day Wadekar and Sardesai stabilized inns after India lost both the openers early on. The English skipper off-break castled Sardesai, within a moment India lost Vishwanath, Wadekar. Half of the team was back in the pavilion with more than two hundred runs behind the host score. The 97 runs stand between Solkar and Engineer took India score past 200. Illingworth fifer finally bowled out India for 284 runs that is 71 runs deficit. The golden moment was the fourth day 23rd as 22nd was a rest day.

The strategy to attack England with close-in fielders and spinners worked as Chandrashekhar backed by skipper bowled a magical spell of 6/38 to bowled out England for 101 runs. The veteran Sardesai asked Chandra to bowl googly, he did, and Edrich was cleaned up. Solkar blinder to remove top-scorer Knott was an eye-catching moment. Luckhurst, who tried to cut off Chandra, was brilliantly caught at slip by Venkat, out in his Nelson ball (111th ) he faced. Wadekar asked Sardesai to start limping and go off so that Kenia Jayantilal’s young legs could be used. Sardesai obliged, and Jayantilal took the D’Oliviera catch in the outfield. Barring the Bombay born Jameson, who was run out spinners took all other England’s wickets. India just needed to bat sensibly to chase down 173 runs target, once again, Wadekar-Sardesai duo made sure there was no collapse as visitors ended they four at 76/2, needing under hundred runs.

Indian fielder Eknath Solkar dives to take a catch from the bat of England’s Alan Knott, off the bowling of S. Venkatarachavan for 1. (Getty Images)

24th August Kennington Oval On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, the enthusiastic Indian supporters rent Bella, an Indian elephant from Chessington Zoo, in the outfield at the Oval. India team won their first-ever Test on English soil. It took India 39 years and 6 series to register the maiden win. The series saw spin quartet emergence and Solkar fielding was talk of town.

When Abid Ali struck winnings boundary “Every Indian tourist, businessman, waiter, and schoolboy in London seemed to be at the Oval,” “What follows is like one of Eisenstein’s crowd scenes. While the ball is still 50 yards from the boundary, massed Indians leap the barrier and charge. The England team sprint for the pavilion. The umpires gather up the stumps before they are lost to the marauders. Hot on the heels of the shock troops, a little Indian girl of not more than five years old lifts her even smaller brother over the fence, takes his hand and drags him to where the action is. In no time the Indian batsmen are being swept towards the pavilion on the shoulders of the crowd.” Campbell Page in the Observer

Wadekar came to know about the win from English manager and former player Ken Barrington “Mate, they want you on that balcony pronto, else we could have a ruddy riot on our hands.”

The moment inched into the blood of every Indians as they outplayed British in their own backyard after 24 years of independence. The scheduled return flight to Mumbai was diverted to Delhi on the behest of Indira Gandhi, PM of India. The welcome team got in Mumbai was best mentioned by TOI “Glorious to be living at this hour and to be an Indian, Days, months, years will pass, but our cricket team’s magnificent triumph over England in England will remain unforgettable.”

*The Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with Wadekar ,Bedi and Gavaskar*

The winning skipper recollects the moment in his interview to Hindu.

“I had played Chandra many times and I knew that if he got wickets in his early spell, he could prove deadly. When he struck, dismissing John Edrich, Keith Fletcher and Brian Luckhurst, I knew he had got into his rhythm. The wicket afforded bounce and turn and it was perfect for Chandra.

“He needed support from the close-in fielders to be effective. Venkat took a blinder from Luckhurst and Solkar took two outstanding catches from Fletcher and Knott. I told Dilip (Sardesai) to start limping and got Kenia Jayantilal in as a substitute. He took the catch of Basil D’Oliveira who was hitting in the air.”

“I think we benefited a lot by playing eight matches before the first Test. Moreover it didn’t turn out to be a wet summer. Both wins (against England and the West Indies before that) were important and memorable for me. It was all because of team work.”