The beginning of 1955 brought another fascinating chapter in the evolving cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan. The two nations met in Lahore for the opening Test of the 1954–55 series, held from January 29 to February 1, 1955 at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium. Expectations were high, Pakistan was growing rapidly as a Test nation under A. H. Kardar, while India, led by Vijay Hazare, arrived with experience and a strong batting lineup.
Yet, what unfolded was a classic Test of attrition, a slow pitch, batting dominance, and bowlers working tirelessly, resulting in a hard-fought draw that set the tone for a tightly contested series.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs India – 1st Test |
| Dates | 29 January – 1 February 1955 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Toss | Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | Idris Baig & Shujauddin |
| Significance | Opening Test of the 1954–55 India–Pakistan series |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | Pakistan (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (c) | A. H. Kardar (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Hanif Mohammad |
| Polly Umrigar | Alimuddin |
| Vijay Manjrekar | Maqsood Ahmed |
| Madhav Apte | Imtiaz Ahmed (wk) |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Waqar Hasan |
| Dattu Phadkar | Zulfiqar Ahmed |
| Vinoo Mankad | Fazal Mahmood |
| Subhash Gupte | Khan Mohammad |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | Shujauddin |
| Gul Mohammad | Mahmood Hussain |
Pakistan 1st Innings – 331 all out
Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat on a flat Lahore surface ideal for run-making. Openers Hanif Mohammad (124) and Alimuddin (68) provided the perfect start. Hanif’s century was a masterclass in patience and technique, hallmarks of his illustrious career.
India’s spinners finally brought control, with Ghulam Ahmed (4/97) and Subhash Gupte (3/84) leading the fightback. Despite the strong start, Pakistan ended with 331, a competitive but not dominant total.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Hanif Mohammad | 124 | c Mankad b Gupte |
| Alimuddin | 68 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Maqsood Ahmed | 23 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Imtiaz Ahmed (wk) | 11 | c Roy b Gupte |
| Waqar Hasan | 22 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| A. H. Kardar (c) | 21 | lbw Phadkar |
| Zulfiqar Ahmed | 10 | c Tamhane b Gupte |
| Fazal Mahmood | 9 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Khan Mohammad | 12 | c Tamhane b Mankad |
| Shujauddin | 5 | b Mankad |
| Mahmood Hussain | 6* | Not out |
| Total | 331 all out |
India 1st Innings – 235 all out
India’s reply began positively with Pankaj Roy (59) continuing his consistent form. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Fazal Mahmood (4/57) and Khan Mohammad (3/46), kept applying pressure.
Vijay Manjrekar (47) and Polly Umrigar (38) tried to stabilise the innings, but regular wickets prevented substantial partnerships. India were eventually dismissed for 235, giving Pakistan a first-innings lead of 96 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 59 | c Imtiaz b Fazal |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 26 | b Khan Mohammad |
| Polly Umrigar | 38 | c Maqsood b Fazal |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 47 | lbw Zulfiqar |
| Madhav Apte | 13 | b Mahmood Hussain |
| Gul Mohammad | 17 | c Waqar Hasan b Zulfiqar |
| Dattu Phadkar | 12 | b Khan Mohammad |
| Vinoo Mankad | 8 | c Imtiaz b Fazal |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 4 | b Fazal |
| Subhash Gupte | 6 | b Khan Mohammad |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | 5* | Not out |
| Total | 235 all out |
Pakistan 2nd Innings – 175/4 declared
Pakistan extended their advantage with Hanif Mohammad (48) and Maqsood Ahmed (41) guiding them to safety. With time running out and the pitch showing little deterioration, Kardar declared at 175/4, setting India a symbolic target of 272.
Bowling remained difficult, with little assistance from the surface for India’s spin trio.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Hanif Mohammad | 48 | c Tamhane b Phadkar |
| Alimuddin | 29 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Maqsood Ahmed | 41 | lbw Ghulam Ahmed |
| Waqar Hasan | 32* | Not out |
| Kardar | 17* | Not out |
| Total | 175/4 declared |
India 2nd Innings – 85/2 (Match Drawn)
With little time left on the final day, India began cautiously. Pankaj Roy (32)* and Umrigar (27)* ensured stability as India reached 85/2 before both sides agreed to a draw.
The match had been defined by batting discipline, flat conditions, and the inability of bowlers to make breakthroughs in the final stages.
Match Drawn
Highlights of the Match
- Hanif Mohammad’s brilliant 124 anchored Pakistan’s first innings.
- Fazal Mahmood’s 4/57 displayed his mastery over seam bowling.
- India’s batting showed resilience but lacked big partnerships.
- Ghulam Ahmed and Gupte combined for 7 wickets, keeping India competitive.
- The flat Lahore pitch resulted in a classic old-school Test stalemate.
- The match set the tone for a closely fought 1954–55 series.