India hosted its first-ever Test match in December 1933 at the Gymkhana Ground in Bombay. The excitement was immense as a massive crowd gathered to watch their heroes, led by C. K. Nayudu, take on a strong English side captained by Douglas Jardine. While the result favored the visitors, the match is forever remembered for a moment of individual brilliance that announced the arrival of India’s first great batting hero.
| Detail | Information |
| Match | England vs. India, 1st Test |
| Dates | 15-18 December 1933 |
| Venue | Gymkhana Ground, Bombay |
| Toss | England won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | England won by 9 wickets |
| Match Format | 4 day Test Match |
| Umpires | J. B. Higgins & F. T. Ward |
| Debut | 4-day Test Match |
Team Lineups
| India Team (Playing XI) | England Team (Playing XI) |
| C. K. Nayudu (Captain) | Douglas Jardine (Captain) |
| Rustomji Jamshedji (Wicket-keeper) | Les Ames (Wicket-keeper) |
| Naoomal Jaoomal | Cyril Walters |
| Wazir Ali | Bryan Valentine |
| Lala Amarnath | Charlie Barnett |
| S. M. Kadri | Maurice Leyland |
| L. P. Jai | James Human |
| V. H. Merchant | James Langridge |
| Lall Singh | Hedley Verity |
| Mohammad Nissar | Stan Nichols |
| Amar Singh | Nobby Clark |
England 1st Innings – 438 all out
After winning the toss, England put up a formidable total. Bryan Valentine scored a magnificent 136, supported by fifties from Cyril Walters, Douglas Jardine, and Les Ames. For India, Mohammad Nissar was the standout bowler, claiming another five-wicket haul.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Cyril Walters | 78 | b Nissar |
| Bryan Valentine | 136 | c Wazir Ali b Amar Singh |
| Douglas Jardine (c) | 60 | c & b Nissar |
| Charlie Barnett | 9 | b Amar Singh |
| Maurice Leyland | 6 | b Nissar |
| Les Ames (wk) | 65 | c Lall Singh b Nissar |
| James Human | 10 | b Amar Singh |
| James Langridge | 31 | c Nayudu b Amar Singh |
| Hedley Verity | 18 | Not out |
| Stan Nichols | 11 | c Kadri b Nissar |
| Nobby Clark | 0 | b Jai |
| Extras | 14 | |
| Total | 438 all out | (159.5 overs) |
India 1st Innings – 219 all out
In reply, the Indian batting lineup struggled against the English attack. Debutant Lala Amarnath top-scored with 38, but the team was bowled out for 219, conceding a large first-innings lead of 219 runs and being forced to follow on.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Naoomal Jaoomal | 11 | b Nichols |
| Wazir Ali | 36 | c Ames b Langridge |
| Lala Amarnath | 38 | c Jardine b Langridge |
| C. K. Nayudu (c) | 28 | b Nichols |
| S. M. Kadri | 14 | c Ames b Langridge |
| L. P. Jai | 19 | c Ames b Clark |
| V. H. Merchant | 23 | c Ames b Clark |
| Lall Singh | 2 | b Nichols |
| Mohammad Nissar | 21 | b Clark |
| Amar Singh | 17 | c Ames b Verity |
| Rustomji Jamshedji (wk) | 0* | Not out |
| Extras | 10 | |
| Total | 219 all out | (91.2 overs) |
India 2nd Innings – 258 all out
Following on, India was in danger of a heavy defeat. However, debutant Lala Amarnath played a historic innings, smashing 118 to become the first-ever Indian to score a Test century. His attacking display, along with a fighting 67 from captain C. K. Nayudu, helped India set England a small target.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Naoomal Jaoomal | 2 | b Nichols |
| Wazir Ali | 1 | b Nichols |
| Lala Amarnath | 118 | st Ames b Verity |
| C. K. Nayudu (c) | 67 | b Nichols |
| S. M. Kadri | 28 | b Nichols |
| L. P. Jai | 0 | b Verity |
| V. H. Merchant | 6 | c Human b Clark |
| Lall Singh | 0 | b Clark |
| Mohammad Nissar | 13 | Not out |
| Amar Singh | 2 | c Ames b Nichols |
| Rustomji Jamshedji (wk) | 0 | b Clark |
| Extras | 21 | |
| Total | 258 all out | St Ames b Verity |
England 2nd Innings – 40/1
Chasing a target of just 40 runs, England comfortably reached the total despite losing the wicket of Bryan Valentine to Amar Singh. They secured a 9-wicket victory to win the first-ever Test match on Indian soil.
Highlights of The Match
- The match was the first-ever Test played in India, held at the Bombay Gymkhana.
- Lala Amarnath, on his Test debut, became the first Indian batsman to score a Test century, with a brilliant 118 in the second innings.
- Mohammad Nissar continued his excellent form, taking 5/90 in England’s first innings, his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.
- Bryan Valentine’s 136 for England was the first Test century scored on Indian soil.
- The match drew an enormous and enthusiastic crowd, signaling the arrival of Test cricket as a major sport in the country.
