Turning points: A timeline

1932

India make their entry into the Test fold, in a 158-run loss to England at Lord’s, becoming the sixth team to be granted Test status.

1952

After 24 Tests in almost 20 years, India beat England in Chennai for their first Test win. Spinner Vinoo Mankad is the hero, taking 8 wickets.

India clinch their first Test series win, 2-1 against Pakistan at home. Pakistan made their Test debut at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla ground in the series.

1968

India register their first overseas series win. The team led by Tiger

Pataudi beat hosts New Zealand 3-1. The win also marks the rise of spin, making stars of Bishan Singh Bedi, EAS Prasanna and Bapu Nadkarni. This remains India’s biggest away series win.

1971

India achieve a historic win at Port of Spain in the West Indies. Sunil Gavaskar scores a record 774 runs in his debut series, which India win 1-0.

The Ajit Wadekar-led side go on to clinch another historic first series win at the home of India’s former colonial rulers, England. Leg-spinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar takes 6/38 in the Oval Test for a 1-0 series win.

1976

India chase down a world record fourth innings total of 403 in the Port of Spain Test, reaching 406/4, with centuries by Gavaskar and GR Viswanath making the great win possible.

1999

Anil Kumble emulates England’s Jim Laker, becoming only the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings (10/74), against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground, for a series-levelling win.

2001

VVS Laxman setting an India Test record of 281 and Harbhajan Singh scoring the first Test hat-trick by an Indian bowler help India become only the second team in the world to win after being asked to follow on. That win in Kolkata against all-conquering Australia is the spark India needs as it rallies to win the series 2-1.

2004

India score their only series win in Pakistan, from seven visits in a bilateral series played after 14 years. Virender Sehwag hits 309, the first Test triple century by an Indian batsman.

2008

Anil Kumble’s India overcome the Monkeygate scandal on the Australia tour by winning at Perth’s famous WACA ground for the first time. Teenager Ishant Sharma gets Ricky Ponting at the end of a 9-over spell to inspire the team.

2018-19

India, led by Virat Kohli, beat Australia 2-1 to achieve their first series win in that country.

2020-21

India, in skipper Kohli’s absence and following a record innings low of 36, roar back to clinch the series against Australia in Australia 2-1, shaped by great team performances despite a spate of injuries.