Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar reminisces the historic 1971 season

August 24, 1971 is a date that will live on in the minds of Indian cricket fans. The day that instilled confidence in the team to conquer overseas tours as well. Precisely 50 years ago today, Ajit Wadekar-led India overcame a stern England challenge, claiming the first-ever Test series victory in England.

What was more compelling was that India finished a memorable overseas tour with two consecutive Test series victories over two of the most formidable teams at the time - West Indies and England.

In a video posted by BCCI.TV, Ravi Shastri recollected his fond memories of India’s triumph over England in 1971. 

"I was nine years old and I remember every ball bowled in that Test match because I was listening to the radio. I remember Farokh Engineer getting runs in both innings. Vishy getting some runs, Ajit Wadekar getting some runs in the match. And of course the brilliance of Chandrasekhar, you know, he turned the game on his head, 6 for 38, I still remember the figures," Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying. 

The current head coach of the Indian team stated that the victory over England gave the team confidence to win matches in other countries too.

“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," he added. 

Prior to England series, India tasted their first Test series victory in the Caribbean. The West Indies tour saw the emergence of a few talented youngsters. Sunil Gavaskar was one of them. He piled 774 runs against the potent West Indies bowling attack. The Windies pace attack, whose mere presence instilled fear in the batsman's mind, were at their peak at the time. 

Gavaskar, at the public conversation organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) London, revealed how he prepared to face West Indies' formidable pace attack. He believes that practising against short-pitched deliveries in his early days helped him adapt to facing bouncers.

“Sometimes I wonder myself. I guess, the fact that I was vertically challenged, I still am, meant that whenever I opened the batting at club level or schools level, guys tried to bowl quick at me, had that extra yard or two of pace, sort of energy and tried to bounce me out. So while you would think that it would have around 130 kmph as we say 130-135 kmph mark, it at least got you thinking about how to deal with that kind of delivery (and) what your attitude should be about the bouncer, for example,“ Gavaskar said. 

“Having, at that age, (learnt) how to deal with the short ball was a big help when you went into international cricket. Also before the West Indies series happened, what I used to do was have Mumbai Ranji Trophy bowlers bowl from 20 to 18 yards instead of the regulation 22 yards," the 72-year-old explained. 

[Times of India and BCCI input]