Top 10 Landmark Moments in Indian Cricket Since Independence

Since India's independence, cricket has undergone substantial growth and evolution, with the Indian Cricket Team continually reaching new milestones. Over the last 75 years, the nation has faced various challenges, but cricket has thrived. This progress is not limited to cricket alone, other sports have also advanced, leading to historic achievements. 

One of the recent testaments to this progress is India's outstanding performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the country finished fourth, securing 61 medals, including 22 golds.

The impressive achievements at the CWG 2022 are particularly noteworthy given the absence of shooting, a traditionally strong event for India. Although India may not yet be considered a sporting giant on par with the United States or China, it has been steadily improving its standing. At the Tokyo Olympics last year, India recorded its highest-ever medal count, with seven medals. This included Neeraj Chopra's groundbreaking gold medal in athletics and the Indian badminton team's historic Thomas Cup victory. Indian cricket, in particular, has seen tremendous development, with numerous exceptional moments and significant achievements over the years.

Here are the top 10 iconic moments in Indian cricket since 1947:

Consecutive overseas Test series victories in 1971

This achievement was undoubtedly India's greatest cricketing moment until their World Cup triumph in 1983, and it remains one of the most pivotal events in India's Test cricket history. The victories against the West Indies and England laid the foundation for India's rise to the No. 1 Test team, a journey that culminated 38 years later.

Ajit Wadekar's team first triumphed over the legendary Sir Gary Sobers-led West Indies, winning the five-match series in the Caribbean 1-0. Following this, they faced Ray Illingworth's formidable Ashes-winning English side and secured another 1-0 victory in a three-match Test series. In the decisive third Test at the Oval, Bhagawat Chandrasekar's outstanding bowling performance dismissed England for 101 in their second innings. India chased down a target of over 170 in the fourth innings, clinching their first-ever Test series win in England, following their hard-fought success in the Caribbean.

First World Cup Title-1983

India's first World Cup victory is a landmark achievement in the country's cricketing history, notable for its difficulty and its transformative impact on Indian cricket. On June 25, 1983, at Lords, Kapil Dev's team, dubbed "Kapil's Devils," defeated the formidable West Indies by 43 runs to win the Prudential World Cup, defying expert predictions. Despite not being favoured to win the tournament, the Indian team showed remarkable resilience. Kapil Dev's legendary innings of 175 against Zimbabwe set new records and marked a turning point.

The team advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Australia in their final league match. In the semi-finals, they overcame the favoured England team and went on to face the dominant West Indies in the final. By defeating the mighty West Indies, India achieved the pinnacle of cricketing success, marking a new era in Indian cricket history.

First mini World Cup Title-1985

Two years after their World Cup victory in 1983, India participated in the "Mini-World Cup" in Australia, featuring all the leading national teams. The 1985 World Championship of Cricket included seven teams: India, Australia, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.

Before the tournament, India had recently lost a home series to England and had also lost three consecutive series since their 1983 World Cup win, leading to low expectations for their performance. Despite their historic triumph over the West Indies, India was not considered a strong contender.

Nonetheless, under Gavaskar's astute leadership, India performed strongly against all major teams. In a memorable final, they defeated their arch-rivals Pakistan by 8 wickets, demonstrating their resilience and skill and clinching the championship.

Defeat of Australia - 2001

In March 2001, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India secured one of the most unforgettable Test match victories under Sourav Ganguly's leadership. At that time, Australia, led by the charismatic Steve Waugh, was a dominant force in cricket, boasting a 15-match winning streak, which they extended to 16 by winning the first Test against India.

Meanwhile, Indian cricket was grappling with the aftermath of a match-fixing scandal. Despite the challenging circumstances, Sourav Ganguly's team exhibited remarkable resilience in Kolkata. After being forced to follow on, they faced a confident Australian side eager to capitalise on their first Test victory.

Rahul Dravid's 180 and VVS Laxman's exceptional 281, considered the greatest Test innings by an Indian, dramatically changed the course of the series. Against all odds, India won in Kolkata and followed it up with a thrilling victory in Chennai, clinching the series 2-1.

T20I World Cup Victory - 2007

T20I cricket was still a rather new and burgeoning format when the inaugural World Cup was held in South Africa in the 20-over format. Under the leadership of the young captain MS Dhoni, India stunned everyone by clinching the title with a 5-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan.

India opted to bat first after winning the toss in the final. Gautam Gambhir played a crucial innings, scoring 75 runs and helping the team reach a total of 157/5 in their allotted overs. Pakistan struggled to build momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals, with middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq trying to anchor the chase.

Needing just 13 runs in the final over with one wicket remaining, Pakistan faced Joginder Sharma, whom Dhoni had entrusted to bowl the last over. Misbah attempted a scoop shot over a short fine leg but was caught by Sreesanth, securing a historic victory for India.

№ 1 in ICC Test Team rankings - 2009

India reached the pinnacle of the ICC Test rankings for the first time on December 6, 2009, a system that had been introduced in June 2003. This achievement came under the leadership of MS Dhoni when India won their fourth consecutive series, defeating Sri Lanka by an innings at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.

India maintained the top spot until 2011 when England overtook them. However, India reclaimed the No. 1 position in 2016. 

In 2021, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, India once again aimed to secure the top rank as they faced New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final. New Zealand won the series, taking the No. 1 spot in the process.

Second World Cup Title - 2011

Twenty-eight years after their first World Cup victory, India ended the long wait by defeating a formidable Sri Lankan team in the 2011 ODI World Cup final in Mumbai. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, India secured another major ICC title.

Chasing a target of 275 runs, India faced an early setback with the quick dismissals of key players Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with an 83-run partnership before Kohli was dismissed. Dhoni then promoted himself up the batting order to join Gambhir in the pursuit.

Together, they forged a crucial 109-run partnership until Gambhir was out, narrowly missing a century by three runs. Yuvraj Singh came to the crease, but it was Dhoni who took charge, accelerating the run chase. Dhoni sealed the victory with a massive six, leading India to lift the iconic World Cup spectacularly.

Champions Trophy - 2013

India secured their first Champions Trophy victory in 2013 by defeating England, a triumph that made MS Dhoni the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies. The tournament began with India beating South Africa and continued with the team improving steadily, ultimately facing England in a rain-shortened 20-over final.

India posted a modest total of 129 while batting first. Despite England appearing poised to chase down the target, they struggled against India's formidable bowling attack. The match became increasingly tense, culminating in the final over, where England needed 14 runs from the last six balls.

In a high-pressure showdown, England required a six off the final delivery to win. Treadwell missed, Ashwin kept his composure, and India emerged victorious by five runs, adding another prestigious ICC title to their achievements.

Test Series Triumph in Australia - 2018/2019

Winning a Test series in Australia once seemed an unattainable goal, but under Virat Kohli's leadership, India achieved this remarkable feat and etched their name in the annals of cricket history.

India outperformed Australia in the last two Tests, clinching the series 2-1. This success was driven by the formidable Indian bowling attack and the stellar batting of the seasoned Cheteshwar Pujara throughout the series.

The four-match series saw India winning the first and third matches, while Australia claimed the second. With a 2-1 lead, the final game at the Sydney Cricket Ground ended in a draw, allowing India to lift the trophy and celebrate their historic victory.

Test Series Triump with Injured Team - 2020/2021

This Test series victory in Australia was exceptional, defying all expectations. After being bowled out for 36 in the first Test, facing the absence of their regular captain Virat Kohli on paternity leave, and dealing with injuries to key bowlers, India's prospects looked grim.

However, they bounced back to level the series at the MCG, withstood a tense final day at the SCG, and overcame all injuries to achieve a historic triumph at the Gabba, defeating a full-strength Australian side.

This remarkable achievement was made possible by vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's calm leadership and outstanding performances from young players like Mohammad Siraj, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, among others, who rose to the occasion. This victory will be cherished by cricket fans for generations. The significance of the four-match series was so profound that it inspired a documentary.