India's ODI series win in England adds another chapter to some of the previous memorable victories that the visitors have recorded there over the past 31 years. mid-day takes a trip down memory lane...
Kapil Dev, Roger Binny, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Gangul and MS Dhoni
Ajinkya Rahane (left) celebrates after reaching his half-century in the fourth ODI in Birmingham on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Image
1983 World Cup (India winners)
India went into the World Cup having won just one of their previous six matches in the 60-over event. They were not expected to do much in 1983. But for once, India chose a specialist ODI squad with a number of medium-paced all-rounders led by Kapil Dev. The trick worked as they stunned West Indies, the defending champions in the very first match. Thereafter, India beat Zimbabwe and Australia. The most stunning turnaround happened however in the return match against Zimbabwe when reduced to 17 for five, India made 266 for eight. This was all thanks to Kapil's brilliant unbeaten 175. Thereafter, India outgunned England and met the West Indies in the final on June 25. The rest is history!
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1986 ODI series 1-1 (India win on better scoring rate)
In the lead-up to the tour, Kapil Dev's side failed to win three successive one-day tournaments in Sharjah and Australia. But they came up against a struggling England team in a 55-overs-a-side contest. Medium-pacers Chetan Sharma and Roger Binny plotted England's downfall in the first of the two matches. England were shot out for only 162, which India chased down in 47.2 overs for the loss of just Srikkanth. Sunil Gavaskar (65) and Mohd Azharuddin (83) were the heroes. In the next match, India posted 254 for six in their 55 overs. England chased down the target with seven balls to spare thanks to Gower's 81. England may have levelled the series 1-1, but they lost the series owing to the playing conditions which handed India the Texaco Trophy.
1990 ODI series (India win 2-0)
India's 'Team of the 90s' landed in England with a young captain in Mohammed Azharuddin and a fairly younger side than on previous tours to Old Blighty. It was also the very first sighting of young talents like Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar for the English audience in what was just a two-match series. Kumble, nicknamed Apple Crumble on the tour, made England crumble in the very first ODI at Headingley as he picked two for 29. In the second ODI, a Robin Smith hundred inspired England to 281, but India overhauled the target in 53 overs with five wickets to spare. Manjrekar (59) struck another half-century. But it was an uncharacteristic breezy knock from Vengsarkar (54) which turned the tide alongside an unbeaten half-century from Azharuddin.
2002 NatWest tri-series (India win)
Much like in 1990, India landed with a side representing a new era in their cricket. Skipper Sourav Ganguly made a few changes in their ODI plans. His deputy, Rahul Dravid, kept wickets to add depth to the playing XI and Tendulkar batted at number four to hold the innings together. Each side played the other thrice with the top two meeting in the final. India's batting power led by Virender Sehwag's belligerence, Tendulkar's two hundreds, calm approach of Dravid and youthful exuberance of Yuvraj Singh ensured that India won four of their six league games. In the now famous final, India chased down a massive 325 despite being reduced to 146 for five. Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif scripted a massive turnaround with a 121-run stand.
2013 C'Trophy (India winners)
India landed in England with plenty to prove following a spot-fixing scandal in IPL. MS Dhoni was under fire as he led a side sans Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj. A new opening combination in Dhawan and Rohit Sharma was rolled out and they made a rollicking start against SA in the opening match. Thereafter, it was India all the way as the balanced outfit ran over WI and Pak in the other league matches. In the semi-final, India came up against SL and Dhawan scripted the chase with 68. Rain played spoilsport in the final against England. Finally when the rain relented, the 20-over contest that followed saw India posting a modest 129 for seven. England started well, collapsed, then recovered again, but then finally the spinners tightened the screws to win.
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