'Dogs And Indians Weren't Allowed..': Story Of India's First Test On Home Soil On Its 90th Anniversary

On what happens to be the 90th anniversary of the historic day, Congress MP and cricket fan Shashi Tharoor shared a picture on his social media from that epic India-England match.

A picture from the first-ever Test match played on Indian soil.

Source : X/@ShashiTharoor

December 15 marks a significant day in Indian cricket history. Precisely on this day, ninety years ago, the first-ever Test match was played on Indian soil in 1933. An year prior to that that, an 'All-India' cricket team had toured to England to play its first-ever Test match. The date was June 25, 1932. However, who knew that when Colonel CK Nayadu and his men would step out to play their first-ever Test in this country, they would be taking the initial strides of playing it in a country which would later go on to become the sport's spiritual home.

While Indian cricket stars are used to playing in front of packed stadium these days, "Indians" were not allowed to step on the premises of the Bombay Gymkhana which is where the first Test match on Indian soil was played prior the country's Independence. On what happens to be the 90th anniversary of historic day, Congress MP and cricket fan Shashi Tharoor shared a picture on his social media from that India-England match in which the touring party was led by Douglas Jardine.

"Today marks the 90th anniversary of the first-ever cricket Test match played on Indian soil, India vs England at the historic Bombay Gymkhana ground on 15 December 1933," Tharoor wrote along with the picture.

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the first-ever cricket Test match played on Indian soil, India vs England at the historic Bombay Gymkhana ground on 15 December 1933. [pic]

Since Indians (& dogs) were not allowed on the Gymkhana premises those days, the Maharaja of Patiala,… pic.twitter.com/1kCJP1M0MR

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 15, 2023

"Since Indians (&dogs) were not allowed on the Gymkhana premises those days, the Maharaja of Patiala, offended by the way his compatriots were treated, then established the Cricket Club of India and the adjoining Brabourne Stadium, in whose pavilion no racist restrictions applied. It was a great venue where I watched many a Test in my childhood," he added.

"Ironically a dispute between CCI grandees & state cricket administrtors led to the building of the Wankhede Stadium forty years later and Tests were shifted there," he further wrote.

What Happened In The Historic Clash?

Talking about the historic match, India were bowled out for 219 with Lala Amarnath being the country's leading run-getter in the first innings, making 38. England, in response, scored 438 with Bryan Valentine scoring 136. However, Mohammed Nisar scalped a five-wicket haul.

In the second innings, Lala Amarnath scored a hundred while captain CK Nayudu made (67) with the duo registering a remarkable partnership. But no other batter put their hand up as India only managed to give a target of 40 runs, scoring 258. England won the match by 9 wickets.