The Indian cricket team made its debut in Test cricket in 1932 against England. They became the sixth team to be granted the test cricket status in the world. Their maiden test was granted the Test status even though it was a three-day affair. It was the only Test in the series, and began on June 25 at the Lord’s in London.

Batting first, England put on 259 runs on the board, on the back of Douglas Jardine’s 79 and Les Ames’s 65. Mohammad Nissar picked up a five-wicket haul in the innings. In response, India was bowled out for a 189 runs, with CK Nayudu as the leading run-scrorer in the innings. England capitalised on the 70-runs lead and set India a target of 345 runs. Jahangir Khan took a four-wicket haul in the innings. Team India was bowled for 187 runs, losing the game by 158 runs.

Since their first test, Team India has advanced to be one of the top nations in world cricket. They have a impeccable record at home and have achieved several historic overseas wins. However, the first-ever game will always be a special landmark in India’s cricketing history. On that note, let’s take a look at who the Indian skipper was in their maiden Test.

Who was the first captain of the Indian cricket team?

In their first ever test match, Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu led the Indian team against England in 1932. He is popularly known as Col. CK Nayudu. In 1923, the ruler of Holkar invited him to Indore and made him the captain in his army. He was conferred the honour of a Colonel in Holkar’s Army.

Nayudu was born on 31 October 1895 in Bara Bada Nagpur. He took up the game at an early age of seven, when he was drafted in the Hislop Collegiate High School team in Nagpur. The former cricketer was involved in various sports, but took a keen interest in cricket. He made his first-class debut in the Bombay Triangular in 1916, and also played for the Central Provinces in 1919 and Madras in 1920.

One of his remarkable innings was during the tour of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in December of 1926. He slammed a brisk 153 runs in the match, with 13 fours and 11 sixes. Colonel announced himself in the cricketing world with this knock. The MCC awarded him a silver bat for his performance.

How CK Nayudu became the captain?

In 1926, the Imperial Cricket Council (now known as the International Cricket Council) invited India to become a full-time member. The country then made its Test cricket debut a few years later. Maharaja of Porbandar stepped up as the tour captain, but stepped down, paving way for CK Nayudu to be become India’s first-ever captain.

The former Indian skipper played seven Test matches for the country, scoring 350 runs and taking nine wickets. In 207 first-class matches, he scored 11825 runs, with a highest score of 200, and 26 centuries to his name. He also has 411 first-class wickets, with twelve five-wicket hauls. CK Nayudu made his last appearance in the Ranji Trophy in 1956–57.

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