How Many Test Series Has India Won in England?

Shubman Gill leads India's new Test side to England for a challenging five-match red-ball series, aiming for a historic win.

How Many Test Series Has India Won in England?

The Indian team has won only three Test series against England, over the last 90 years. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

India’s new-look red-ball side is all set to embark on a challenging five-match Test tour to England, with the opener to be played at Headingley in Leeds. It will be interesting to see whether newly appointed captain Shubman Gill manages to lead India to a historic Test series win. 

The upcoming England series will be the first one out of the six bilateral series that India will play during the 2025-27 World Test Championship Cycle. For Shubman Gill and Co., it also marks the beginning of a new era, without two of the team’s most experienced stars. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli won’t be part of the Team India squad, having announced their retirement from the longest format last month.

In their absence, India faces a significant challenge in the English conditions. Moreover, the Men in Blue’s Test record in England is concerning. In the 67 Test matches that the Indian team has played there, it has won only nine, while losing 36. Furthermore, over the past 90 years, the Indian Test team has only managed to defeat England in a red-ball series away from home on three occasions.

Looking back into the history of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (previously the ‘Pataudi Trophy’), it first took place in the year 1932, when an ‘All-India’ team led by the Maharaja of Porbandar played England at the Lord’s. Between that first match and 2021, India, which was a British colony until 1947, toured England 19 times. England won an impressive 14 series, while India secured only three victories.

India’s first Test series victory in England came in 1971, when Ajit Wadekar led the team to a 1-0 win in a three-match series. After two drawn matches, India secured its historic first Test win on English soil in the third game, defeating the Three Lions by four wickets. However, the Men in Blue had to wait for another 15 years for victory in England, until 1986, when they once again triumphed 2-0 in a three-match series. 

A star-studded Indian side, led by Kapil Dev, was guided by Dilip Vengsarkar, who scored 360 runs in the three matches and was named the Player of the Series. India’s third Test series win in England came in 2007, with Rahul Dravid at the helm, where they won a three-match series 1-0. In that series, a young Dinesh Karthik impressed with 263 runs, while POTS Zaheer Khan exceptionally took 18 wickets.

Shubman Gill and Co. therefore, will be hoping to turn around India’s fortunes in England. The team can get the much-needed inspiration from India’s 2021 performance in England, when the team led by Virat Kohli came close to victory. The five-match series between the two sides however, ended in a 2-2 draw. 

England reveal playing XI for first Test against India, starting June 20

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the team’s playing XI for the opening encounter of the five-match Test series against India. The Ben Stokes-led side will square off against Shubman Gill-led India for the first match, at Headingley in Leeds, starting June 20. 

England starting XI for India Tests
England have named their starting XI for the first Test against India. (via X)

The Three Lions have stuck with Zak Crawley and the in-form Ben Duckett as openers. Ollie Pope, who endured a dull run last year, will retain his no. 3 spot. He will be followed by the seasoned Joe Root at no.4, Harry Brook at no. 5, skipper Ben Stokes at no. 6, and young wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith at no. 7, to complete the batting lineup. 

At no. 8, England have gone with veteran Chris Woakes. Brydon Carse has been given a spot in the XI, alongside Josh Tongue and spinner, Shoaib Bashir. Jacob Bethell is an notable omission despite the ahis brilliant red-ball form, alongside Samuel James Cook and Jamie Overton.