Since 1947, India has only played five Test matches on or around August 15
India celebrates its 79th Independence Day on August 15. Since gaining its freedom 79 years ago, the country has achieved several milestones in the realm of sports, particularly in cricket. And to do so, the country has played nearly 600 Test matches, over 1,000 ODI games, and close to 250 T20 matches. However, you will be surprised to know that the country has played only five Test games on or around August 15, a stat that even we weren’t aware of until we started researching.
England vs. India, 1952
India’s first Test match around its Independence Day was played in 1952, when the country visited England for a Test series. The fourth game of the series was played at the Oval on August 14, which ended in a draw between the two sides.
Sri Lanka vs. India, 2001
Decades later, in 2001, India once again had the opportunity to play a game on August 15. In 2001, the first Test match against Sri Lanka, played in Galle, started on August 14. Unfortunately, the game went in Sri Lanka’s favour, who won it by 10 wickets.
England vs. India, 2014
(Credit - ESPN CricInfo)
Moving on to India’s third Test, played on August 15, the fifth Test match of the 2014 England versus India series was held at the Oval from August 15. India’s third Test match on Independence Day also ended in a defeat, as England won the game by an innings and 244 runs.
Sri Lanka vs. India, 2015
India’s fourth game on Independence Day was another match at Galle against Sri Lanka. The match started on August 12 and finished on August 15, with India losing the game by 63 runs – a record of four games played, four games lost.
England vs. India, 2021
(Credit - News 18)
Virat Kohli led India to its first-ever victory in a cricket match played on Independence Day. In 2021, the second game played at Lord’s took place between August 12 and 16. India won the game by 151 runs, thanks to KL Rahul’s 129 runs in the first innings.
No game at home
Did you notice that India has never played an international cricket match on Independence Day at home? Additionally, all five games have been against either England or Sri Lanka. Even the women’s team has played only two games, and both were against England.
England vs. India, 2002
(Credit - India Today)
Indian women played their second Test of the 2002 series in Taunton between August 14 and 17. The game ended in a draw, but the Indian women’s team hogged all the limelight due to Mithali Raj’s double century. At 19, she was the first Indian to achieve the feat, scoring 214.
England vs. India, 2014
Unlike the men’s team that took five games to register a victory on Independence Day, the women’s team did it in their second game. In the Wormsley Test played between August 13 and 16, the Indian women’s team registered a victory by six wickets.
After all the away games, we sincerely hope to see India play an international match on home turf on August 15.
