Know About The First-Ever Test match On Indian Soil

The inaugural Test match in India commenced on December 15, 1933, at the Bombay Gymkhana Ground, marking a milestone in the history of cricket in India. The match marked history with the Indian side, led by captain C.K. Nayudu, facing off against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of England, led by captain Douglas Jardine.

The Bombay Gymkhana, which was established in 1875, had previously been a preserve of Europeans, with strict limits that even did not allow notable Indian personalities like K.S. Ranjitsinhji. But this prohibition was relaxed for this historic game, with Indians allowed to play on this sacred ground.

The game had an unprecedented turn-out, with some 50,000 attending to witness this historic occasion. The air was electric with tension when Morris Nichols delivered the first ball to India's opening batsman, Wazir Ali. The cheering crowd aside, the Indian batting side struggled to match the organized English bowling. Lala Amarnath was the top scorer in the first innings with 38 runs, propelling India to a total of 219. England's bowlers, Stan Nichols, Hedley Verity, and James Langridge, all took three wickets, restraining India's progress. 
England later retaliated with some bat too. There was a sound 78 of Cyril Walters and Bryan Valentine contributed the record first Indian Test hundred when he came up with a score of 136 runs. England declared with their innings tall at 438 and gave the gigantic lead. Mohammad Nissar headed the Indian performance by claiming precious 5 for 90, from his first-ever outing of 5 for 93.

India was left with a deficit of 219 runs when they started their second innings under pressure.

Both openers were gone early with only 21 runs on the board. But there followed a solid partnership between captain C.K. Nayudu and debutant Lala Amarnath. In great composure and quality, Amarnath made his first Test century, the first Indian to achieve that feat. He scored 118 runs off 21 boundaries, while Nayudu contributed 67 runs handy. They both took India to a total of 258 in the second innings without suffering an innings defeat. 
England needed 40 runs to win and accomplished the feat quite comfortably, losing just one wicket in the process. Despite the loss, India's performance, including Amarnath's record century and Nissar's commanding bowling, gave a good platform to the country for its future in Test cricket.

This game was not just India's first to host Test cricket but also showed the capability of the country in the world. The determination and ability of the players in this milestone Test have been celebrated as the dawn of a new age in Indian cricket.