The Indian cricket team is currently touring England, where they are set to play a crucial five-match Test series. This India vs England (IND vs ENG) series will commence on June 20th and conclude on August 4th, 2025.
Sports News: The Indian cricket team is once again facing the challenging task of playing Test cricket on English soil. In this five-match Test series, running from June 20th to August 4th, 2025, India will be led by Shubman Gill. This is the first Test series for Team India with a new captain following the retirements of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
However, Shubman Gill faces not only the pressure of captaincy but also the responsibility of breaking a historical jinx—continuing the tradition of winning Tests in England, a feat rare in Indian cricket history. India has only won 9 Test matches in England, despite a 68-year history and over 65 Test matches played.
Only 6 Captains Have Secured Victories
India's 9 Test victories in England have been achieved under the leadership of only 6 Indian captains. Many of these names are legendary figures in Indian cricket, while some other prominent captains are notably absent from this list. Let's learn about these historic captains:
1. Ajit Wadekar (1971) – The First Golden Moment
In 1971, India achieved the feat of winning a Test match on English soil for the first time. Ajit Wadekar was the captain of the Indian team at that time. This victory came in the Oval Test, which India won by 4 wickets. This was not just a Test win, but the first solid beginning of India's self-reliance in foreign conditions. Under Wadekar's leadership, India went on to win series in the West Indies and England, creating history.
2. Kapil Dev (1986) – First Series Win in England
Kapil Dev, who led India to victory in the 1983 World Cup, created another piece of history in 1986 against England. Under his captaincy, India won the 3-Test series 2-0. India defeated England by 5 wickets in the Lord's Test. Kapil took 5 wickets in that match and ultimately played an unbeaten innings of 23 runs.
3. Sourav Ganguly (2002) – The Return of Confidence
In 2002, under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, popularly known as Dada, India defeated England by an innings and 46 runs at Leeds. This victory was not only significant on the scoreboard but also established mental dominance over England. This match proved that India could now play aggressive cricket even abroad.
4. Rahul Dravid (2007) – Calm Captaincy, Historic Win
In 2007, under Rahul Dravid's leadership, India won the Nottingham Test, claiming a series victory in England after 21 years. This 1-0 win showcased the Indian team's excellent discipline throughout the tour.
5. MS Dhoni (2014) – Historic Return at Lord's
In 2014, under MS Dhoni's captaincy, India defeated England in the Lord's Test. This is the same ground where India achieved its first Test victory in 1986. This win demonstrated Dhoni's strategic capabilities not just in limited-overs cricket but also in Test cricket.
6. Virat Kohli (2018 and 2021) – The Most Successful Indian Captain in England
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most Test victories in England. He achieved three wins, with victories in the Nottingham Test in 2018 and the Lord's and Oval Tests in 2021. These wins instilled new confidence in India's performance in England and established Kohli as the most aggressive face of Indian cricket on foreign soil.
Which Legends Are Missing From the List?
Surprisingly, under the captaincy of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid (on several tours as captain), and Rohit Sharma, India failed to win a single Test in England. The 2025 series is a trial by fire for Shubman Gill. As a young captain, he has been given the full responsibility of the team for the first time in Test cricket, and that too under the challenging conditions of England. If Shubman can secure at least one win in this series, he will etch his name in the list of these historic captains.
