February 10, 1952, is the day India got off the mark in Test cricket. Nearly 20 years after their induction into the game at an international level, our boys were able to get the taste of victory.
What made it even more special was that it came against England, our former masters who had vacated the country less than 5 years earlier.
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India were trailing the series 1-0 when the two teams met in Chennai or what was then Madras for the 5th and final Test. Vinoo Mankad was the star of the show with 8 wickets which sent the visitors packing for 266.
Now it was required for the hosts to get a big lead. Pankaj Roy did his part with a brilliant 111 at the top but at 216/5, it seemed unlikely that India would get much of an advantage if any.
Then came the innings which would change the course of the match. Polly Umrigar loved a good contest and unleashed his furry on the English bowlers. 130 glorious runs flowed off the bat and he could not be dislodged. The tail wagged sufficiently and the fielders began to drop their shoulders. India amassed 457/9, declaring with a lead of 191, more than a substantial margin.
Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed produced a deadly combination with snapping up 4 wickets each. England capitulated for 183 and India had won by an innings and 8 runs. The match was wrapped up in 4 days and the series was level. But that was not all. India had finally won their first ever Test. It was an occasion to savour and those who were present to witness it can count themselves lucky.
More cricket laurels would follow – winning Test series in England and West Indies, becoming the best Test side and also being unbeaten in 19 consecutive Tests. But all this came from the fire generated by a spark lit 70 years ago by 11 new heroes the country toasted to.