Indian Cricket turns 75

Indian cricket is now 75 years old. India played its first official test match at Lord's (England) on 25th Juna 1932. The tour was quite a drama in itself.

First there was a lot of search for the person who would captaion Indian side. There was legendry Duleepsinhji, but he was playing for England and didnt want to rue his chaces for playing England.

Second, the game needed money for sponsorship and development. It is believed that Maharajah of Vizianagram first emerged to sponsor the then Team-India. However, he was overshadowed by the offer of Maharaja of Patiala. The fight was obviously for the captaincy.

Seeing no harm in a nobler leading the team. Maharaja of Patiala was appointed the captain, with Ghansyamshinji, the Maharaja of Porbandar as vice-captain and Maharaja of Vizianagram as deputy vice-captain.

Nawab of Pataudi (Sr) conveyed his inability to participate in the tour in last moments. when team set to left Bombay on April 4th, Maharaja of Patiala and Vizianagram had withdrawn from the tour. Maharaja of Porbandar was not ready to lead the team at Lord's. And this is how Colonel C K Nayudu stepped in as captain of the team. This made other players furious and they woke Maharaja of Porbandar in the night and said that they would not play under Nayudu. However he somehow managed to make players agree to play under him.

India started well in the game with both openers of England Herbert Sutcliffe and Percy Holmes back in pavilion within 10 minutes. At one moment England was struggling at 19 for 3. Mohammad Nisar the first fast bowler of India takes the honour of claiming first test wicket for India. Amar Singh was the next. Unfortunately Amar Singh died at the age of 29.

In the first innings England were bowled out for 259, with Nissar claiming 5 victims and Amar Singh and Nayudu 2 each. Indian started well but could not cross 189. Nayudu top scored with 40. England declared their second innings at 275 for 8, while Jardine made 85 n.o. in continuation of 79 from 1st inning. In 2nd Indian inning only Amar Singh could show some resistance scoring 51, but in the end Indian team finished with 187 and ended up loosing by massive 158 runs. Unlike modern days, those matches used to be of only 3 days.