In a breathtaking turn of events, India’s Test cricket journey has reached a historic milestone. Over 92 years since CK Nayudu led the inaugural Test against England at Lord's in 1932, Rohit Sharma's team has now achieved a win-loss ratio exceeding parity for the first time after their recent victory over Bangladesh in Chennai.
The trajectory wasn’t easy. It took India 25 matches and two decades to secure their maiden win—a narrow six-run victory against England in Madras in 1952. By the time they notched their 50th win, they had played 287 Tests, and the 100th win arrived after enduring 434 matches. A transformative shift began in the 21st century, with India winning 116 of 244 Tests since 2001, second only to Australia. Home advantage became a hallmark, with an impressive 63.06% success rate in 111 matches.
Leadership played a crucial role, with captains like Ganguly, Dhoni, and Kohli elevating the team's performance. Kohli's era particularly showcased consistency and belief, leading to a remarkable 40 wins in just 68 Tests. Moreover, India's evolution included the rise of a formidable pace attack, complemented by their traditional spin strength, represented by icons like R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
With a total of 179 wins now overshadowing their 178 losses, India stands tall in Test cricket, scripting a proud chapter in its rich history.
INDIA's MILESTONES IN TEST CRICKET
Maiden Test in 1932: India played their first Test in 1932 under the captaincy of CK Nayadu, losing to England by 158 runs.
1st Test win in 1952: India registered their first Test win over England. The hosts defeated the English side by an inning & 8 runs in Madras.
50th Test win in 1994: India scripted their 50th Test win. India defeated Sri Lanka in Lucknow by an innings & 119 runs for their 50th Test win.
100th Test win in 2009: India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in the second Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Kanpur. This turned out to be India's 100th Test victory in their 432nd outing.
150th Test win in 2018: A 137-run win over Australia in Melbourne not only helped the Virat Kohli-led side retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also completed India's 150th Test win.
179th win in 2024: Chennai Test win over Bangladesh meant India now has for the first time more wins than losses in their 92-year Test history. They achieved this grand milestone with 179 wins, which is one more than their 178 losses in Test matches.
INDIA's RESULT PROGRESSION IN TESTS
After 25 Tests - Won: 1, Loss: 12, Draw: 12
After 100 Tests - Won: 10, Loss: 40, Draw: 50
After 200 Tests - Won: 35, Loss: 72, Draw: 93, Tied: 1
After 300 Tests - Won: 56, Loss: 98, Draw: 145, Tied: 1
After 400 Tests - Won: 88, Loss: 129, Draw: 182, Tied: 1
After 500 Tests - Won: 130, Loss: 157, Draw: 212, Tied: 1
After 580 Tests - Won: 179, Loss: 178, Draw: 222, Tied: 1
Home (290 matches) - Won: 119, Loss: 55, Draw: 115, Tied: 1 Away (290 matches) - Won: 60, Loss: 123, Draw: 107
PLAYERS WITH THE MOST TEST WINS FOR INDIA
72 - Sachin Tendulkar 60 = Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin 58 - Rahul Dravid 56 - Cheteshwar Pujara
CAPTAINS WITH THE MOST TEST WINS FOR INDIA
40- Virat Kohli 27-MS Dhoni 21-Sourav Ganguly 14- Mohammed Azharuddin 9-Sunil Gavaskar