The rivalry between India and England is one of the oldest and most celebrated contests in international cricket. It began in 1932 when India played its first-ever Test match against England at Lord's Cricket Ground. Since then, both teams have produced unforgettable performances across Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
From India's historic Test series victory in England in 1971 to the famous NatWest Trophy final in 2002 and Yuvraj Singh's six sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the India vs England rivalry has witnessed several iconic moments.
Over the decades, legendary cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, James Anderson, Alastair Cook, and Joe Root have contributed to this historic competition.
Let's explore the IND vs ENG timeline, including the complete cricket history, head-to-head records, memorable matches, and major achievements.
India vs England Cricket Rivalry: Overview
India and England have competed against each other in all three major international formats. Their rivalry started with Test cricket before expanding into ODIs and T20Is.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First Test Match | June 25, 1932 |
| First ODI Match | July 13, 1974 |
| First T20I Match | September 19, 2007 |
| First Test Venue | Lord's, London |
| First ODI Venue | Headingley, Leeds |
| First T20I Venue | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Major Formats | Test, ODI and T20I |
| Indian Cricket Board | BCCI |
| England Cricket Board | ECB |
| Famous Rivalry Moment | 2002 NatWest Trophy Final |
The first match between these teams was also India's international Test debut. England won that historic encounter by 158 runs, but it marked the beginning of a rivalry that continues to attract millions of cricket fans.
India vs England Head-to-Head Record in All Formats
India and England have faced each other in hundreds of international matches across different formats. England have historically performed strongly in Test cricket, while India have established an advantage in limited-overs cricket.
The following table covers men's international matches through July 2026.
| Format | Matches | India Won | England Won | Draw/Tie/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 141 | 37 | 53 | 51 Draws |
| ODI | 113 | 62 | 46 | 2 Ties, 3 NR |
| T20I | 35 | 18 | 16 | 1 NR |
| Overall | 289 | 117 | 115 | 51 Draws, 2 Ties, 4 NR |
India have a narrow advantage in the combined number of international victories, while England lead the Test head-to-head record.
In ODIs, India have won 62 matches compared to England's 46 victories. The T20I rivalry is also competitive, with India holding a small advantage.
India vs England Test Match Timeline (1932–2026)
Test cricket forms the foundation of the India vs England rivalry. Their first encounter took place in June 1932, when India made its debut in the longest format.
1932: India's First-Ever Test Match
India played its first international Test match against England at Lord's from June 25 to June 28, 1932.
Under the captaincy of C. K. Nayudu, India faced an experienced English side led by Douglas Jardine. England scored 259 in the first innings, while India managed 189.
England added 275 in their second innings before dismissing India for 187. England won the match by 158 runs.
Although India lost its first Test, the match became a historic milestone in Indian cricket.
1952: India Registered Its First Test Victory
India secured its first-ever Test victory against England in February 1952 at Madras, now known as Chennai.
India won the fifth Test of the series by an innings and eight runs. The victory was an important achievement for Indian cricket and demonstrated the team's growing strength in international Test cricket.
1971: India's First Test Series Victory in England
One of the biggest milestones in the IND vs ENG timeline came in 1971.
Under Ajit Wadekar's captaincy, India defeated England in the third Test at The Oval by four wickets. Bhagwat Chandrasekhar produced a remarkable bowling performance, helping India secure its first-ever Test series victory in England by a 1-0 margin.
This achievement changed the perception of Indian cricket and established the team as a serious competitor in overseas conditions.
1986: India Won Another Test Series in England
India achieved another historic success during its 1986 tour of England.
Kapil Dev led the team to a 2-0 series victory in the three-match Test series. India won at Lord's and Headingley, demonstrating its growing ability to compete successfully in English conditions.
2002: India Won at Headingley
The 2002 Test series produced another memorable Indian performance.
At Headingley, India scored 628/8 declared in its first innings, with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly contributing centuries.
India eventually won the match by an innings and 46 runs, registering one of its most impressive overseas Test victories.
2012–13: England Won a Test Series in India
England recorded a significant achievement during its 2012–13 tour of India.
Under Alastair Cook's captaincy, England won the four-match series 2-1. The visitors produced strong performances with both bat and ball, becoming one of the few teams to defeat India in a home Test series during that period.
2021–2022: Competitive Test Series in England
India and England played an exciting five-match Test series across 2021 and 2022.
India won two matches, England won two, and the final match was drawn, leaving the series level at 2-2.
The series featured outstanding batting and bowling performances and remained one of the most competitive recent chapters in their Test rivalry.
2025: India and England Shared the Test Series
The 2025 Test series in England was another memorable contest.
Both teams won two matches each, while one match ended in a draw. India secured a dramatic six-run victory in the fifth Test at The Oval, finishing the series level at 2-2.
India vs England ODI Match Timeline (1974–2026)
India and England played their first ODI on July 13, 1974, at Headingley, Leeds.
England won the inaugural match by four wickets after successfully chasing India's total of 265 runs.
Since then, the two teams have competed in bilateral ODI series and major ICC tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup and Champions Trophy.
1974: First ODI Between India and England
The first ODI between the teams took place during India's tour of England in 1974.
India scored 265 runs, but England successfully chased the target and won by four wickets. This match introduced a new chapter in the cricketing rivalry.
1983: India Defeated England in the World Cup Semifinal
India faced England in the 1983 Cricket World Cup semifinal at Old Trafford, Manchester.
England scored 213 runs, but India chased down the target by losing just four wickets. Yashpal Sharma played an important innings, helping India reach its first-ever World Cup final.
India eventually won the tournament by defeating the West Indies.
2002: Famous NatWest Trophy Final
The NatWest Series final at Lord's on July 13, 2002, remains one of the most memorable matches in India vs England ODI history.
England posted a massive 325/5 in 50 overs. India initially struggled during the chase but received outstanding contributions from Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.
India reached 326/8 in 49.3 overs and won the final by two wickets.
Sourav Ganguly's famous shirt-waving celebration from the Lord's balcony became an iconic image in Indian cricket history.
2011: World Cup Match Ended in a Tie
India and England played a thrilling group-stage match during the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Bengaluru.
India scored 338/10, while England also finished on 338/10. The match ended in a tie despite outstanding batting performances from both sides.
Sachin Tendulkar scored a century, while Andrew Strauss produced a remarkable 158-run innings for England.
2023: India Defeated England in the World Cup
During the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, India defeated England by 100 runs in Lucknow.
India scored 229/9, while England were bowled out for 129. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah delivered excellent bowling performances to secure a convincing victory.
2025: India Won the ODI Series at Home
India defeated England 3-0 in their three-match ODI series in February 2025.
The series featured strong batting performances from Indian players, including Shubman Gill, who scored a century in the third ODI.
2026: England Won the ODI Series
The 2026 ODI series between India and England produced another competitive contest.
India won the opening ODI at Edgbaston by six wickets. England bounced back in the following matches and secured victories in the remaining two games.
England won the three-match series 2-1, with Ben Duckett scoring a remarkable 141 runs in the final ODI at Lord's.
India vs England T20I Match Timeline (2007–2026)
The introduction of T20 cricket added another exciting dimension to the India vs England rivalry.
Their first men's T20I was played in 2007, during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa.
2007: Yuvraj Singh Hit Six Sixes in an Over
One of the most iconic moments in T20 cricket history happened during the 2007 T20 World Cup match between India and England.
On September 19, 2007, Yuvraj Singh smashed six consecutive sixes against Stuart Broad in one over.
Yuvraj scored 58 runs from just 16 deliveries, helping India post 218/4. England managed 200/6, and India won the match by 18 runs.
This performance remains one of the defining moments of the India vs England T20I rivalry.
2012: India Won the T20 World Cup Group Match
India and England met during the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
India scored 170/4 before bowling out England for just 80 runs. India secured a dominant 90-run victory in the group stage.
2022: England Defeated India in the T20 World Cup Semifinal
England produced a dominant performance against India in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal at Adelaide.
India scored 168/6 in 20 overs, but England chased the target without losing a wicket.
Jos Buttler and Alex Hales scored unbeaten half-centuries, guiding England to a ten-wicket victory.
England later won the tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final.
2024: India Defeated England in the T20 World Cup Semifinal
India gained revenge for their 2022 defeat during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup semifinal.
India posted 171/7 in 20 overs, while England were bowled out for 103 runs.
India won the match by 68 runs and eventually lifted the T20 World Cup trophy after defeating South Africa in the final.
2025: India Won the T20I Series
India hosted England for a five-match T20I series in January and February 2025.
India won the series 4-1, producing strong performances throughout the competition. Abhishek Sharma's outstanding 135-run innings in the fifth T20I became one of the highlights of the series.
2026: England Won the T20I Series
England hosted India for a five-match T20I series in July 2026.
England won four matches, while the opening match was abandoned. The hosts secured a 4-0 series victory, delivering an impressive performance in the shortest international format.
India vs England Most Memorable Cricket Matches
Several encounters between India and England have become important parts of cricket history.
| Year | Match/Event | Result | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | First Test at Lord's | England won by 158 runs | India's Test debut |
| 1971 | The Oval Test | India won by 4 wickets | First Test series win in England |
| 1983 | World Cup Semifinal | India won by 6 wickets | India reached its first World Cup final |
| 2002 | NatWest Trophy Final | India won by 2 wickets | Historic ODI comeback |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | India won by 18 runs | Yuvraj's six sixes |
| 2011 | World Cup Group Match | Match tied | Both teams scored 338 |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup Semifinal | England won by 10 wickets | Dominant England victory |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup Semifinal | India won by 68 runs | India reached the final |
| 2025 | Fifth Test at The Oval | India won by 6 runs | Series finished 2-2 |
| 2026 | Third ODI at Lord's | England won by 27 runs | England won the ODI series 2-1 |
India vs England Major Cricket Records
The rivalry has produced several outstanding individual and team performances across formats.
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| First India vs England Test | 1932 |
| First India vs England ODI | 1974 |
| First India vs England T20I | 2007 |
| India's First Test Win | 1952 |
| India's First Test Series Win in England | 1971 |
| Famous NatWest Trophy Final | 2002 |
| Six Sixes in an Over | Yuvraj Singh, 2007 |
| 2011 World Cup Match | Tied at 338 runs each |
| 2025 Test Series | Drawn 2-2 |
| 2026 ODI Series | England won 2-1 |
| 2026 T20I Series | England won 4-0, one match abandoned |
Conclusion
The IND vs ENG timeline represents one of the richest histories in international cricket. Starting with India's first Test match at Lord's in 1932, the rivalry has developed through several generations of legendary players and unforgettable performances.
India's historic overseas Test victories, the famous NatWest Trophy final in 2002, Yuvraj Singh's six sixes in 2007, and the dramatic World Cup encounters have made this competition special for cricket fans.
While England have traditionally enjoyed success in Test cricket, India have established themselves as a powerful force in ODIs and T20Is. The latest bilateral contests in 2026 have also shown that both teams remain competitive across formats.
As international cricket continues to evolve, India and England are expected to add many more memorable chapters to their historic rivalry.
For a more detailed year-by-year breakdown, match scorecards, and additional historical records, readers can also explore the India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did India and England first play against each other?
India and England first played against each other in a Test match at Lord's, London, on June 25, 1932. England won the match by 158 runs.
2. Who won the first India vs England Test match?
England won the first Test match against India by 158 runs in 1932. The match marked India's debut in international Test cricket.
3. When was the first India vs England ODI played?
The first ODI between India and England was played on July 13, 1974, at Headingley, Leeds. England won the match by four wickets.
4. When did India and England play their first T20I?
India and England played their first men's T20I on September 19, 2007, during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. India won by 18 runs.
5. Who has won more matches between India and England?
India have won more matches overall across the three international formats, based on the combined figures through July 2026. However, England lead the Test head-to-head record.
6. What was the result of the 2025 India vs England Test series?
India and England finished the five-match Test series level at 2-2, with one match ending in a draw. India won the final Test at The Oval by six runs.
