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Xtra Time Web Desk: August 24, 1971 will remain a historic day in Indian cricket. Exactly fifty years back on this day, Ajit Wadekar led India scripted history by winning its maiden test and series win over England at the Oval. It was a monumental effort from the Indian team as they went on to script two famous series win in West Indies and England in the same calendar year.

Batting first England scored 355 runs and in reply, India managed 284 runs on the board. Bhagwat Chandrashekar spun a web around the English batsmen as they were bundled out for only 101 runs in the second innings, giving India a victory target on 173 runs. Chandrasekhar returned with figures of 6 for 38. Indian batsmen held their nerves to pull off an incredible 4 wickets win. Farokh Engineer scored a valiant 28* while Abid Ali hit the winning runs.

Reminiscing the great victory of 1971, Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri said, “I was nine years old and I very distinctly remember every ball bowled in that test match. I was listening to the radio and had great commentators like John Arllot, Brian Johnson broadcasting on the BCC Test match special. It was riveting stuff, especially when it got close to the wire in the third innings and the fourth innings.”

He recalled the electrifying scenes at the ground as soon as Abid Ali hit the winning runs, cutting Lockhurst through point.

According to Shastri, “It was Abid Ali who hit the winning run, I still remember through point hit it for four. The crowd invaded the Oval, they started running.”

“The 1971 series win in England lifted spirits of Indian cricket in a huge manner. It gave them the belief that they can go overseas and win. And to do it in England is always historic. 50 years have gone by, and those players really set the tone. Hats off to all of them,” Shastri signed off.