Indian cricket has witnessed several memorable moments since 1947, captivating fans with thrilling performances. The team achieved its first Test victory in 1952 and has since excelled in ICC tournaments, securing multiple trophies. This article highlights India’s significant achievements and records over the past 79 years, showcasing key milestones that have shaped Indian cricket’s legacy.
India’s journey began with a historic victory in the 1983 World Cup under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, where they defeated West Indies in the final. Additionally, legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar became the first to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket. The 1983 World Cup is etched in memory, especially the 175-run innings against Zimbabwe.
India’s Test cricket successes started with a win against England in 1952 at Chepauk, with Vinoo Mankad taking 12 wickets. A home Test series victory against Pakistan followed. In 1967-68, under Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, India won its first series outside Asia, defeating England 3-1, with Bedi and Prasanna contributing significantly. In 1971, Ajit Wadekar led India to series wins against West Indies and England, with Sunil Gavaskar scoring 774 runs, a record for most runs by an Indian in a series.
The 1983 World Cup victory was followed by India’s triumph in the inaugural Asia Cup in 1987. Sunil Gavaskar also became the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs. The 2001 Kolkata Test saw a remarkable victory against Australia, featuring a 274-run partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid and stellar bowling by Harbhajan Singh.
In 2004, Virender Sehwag scored a triple century (309 runs) against Pakistan in Multan, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat in Test cricket. Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy, making him the first captain to win all ICC white-ball titles. The Indian Premier League (IPL), launched in 2008, revolutionized T20 cricket.
In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar scored the first double century in men’s ODIs against South Africa, and in 2012, he became the first to reach 100 international centuries. From 2013 to 2024, India dominated Test cricket at home, winning 18 consecutive series. Rohit Sharma scored 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014, the highest individual score in ODIs. Virat Kohli led India to its first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19. Rohit Sharma captained India to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa in the final, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with the final match played against New Zealand.