History of cricket in India from 1918–19 to 1945

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This article describes the history of cricket in British India from the 1918–19 season until the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Events

The Ranji Trophy was launched as India's national championship following a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in July 1934 and the competition began in the 1934–35 season. The trophy was donated by the Maharajah of Patiala but named after KS Ranjitsinhji ("Ranji"), even though he barely played any of his cricket in the country. Ranji had died on 2 April 1933. The first winner was Bombay. Since then India has undergone many changes in its cricket history.

Domestic cricket

Further information: Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament

Bombay Quadrangular winners

1918-19 – Europeans
1919-20 – Hindus
1920-21 – Hindus and Parsees shared
1921-22 – Europeans
1922-23 – Parsees
1923-24 – Hindus
1924-25 – Muslims
1925-26 – Hindus
1926-27 – Hindus
1927-28 – Europeans
1928-29 – Parsees
1929-30 – Hindus
1930-31 – not contested
1931-32 – not contested
1932-33 – not contested
1933-34 – not contested
1934-35 – Muslims
1935-36 – Muslims
1936-37 – Hindus

Bombay Pentangular winners

1937-38 – Muslims
1938-39 – Muslims
1939-40 – Hindus
1940-41 – Muslims
1941-42 – Hindus
1942-43 – not contested
1943-44 – Hindus
1944-45 – Muslims

Ranji Trophy winners

1934-35 – Bombay
1935-36 – Bombay
1936-37 – Nawanagar
1937-38 – Hyderabad
1938-39 – Bengal
1939-40 – Maharashtra
1940-41 – Maharashtra
1941-42 – Bombay
1942-43 – Baroda
1943-44 – Western India
1944-45 – Bombay

Leading players by season

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The lists below give the leading first-class runscorers and wicket-takers in each domestic season.

Batsmen

1918-19:

Bowlers

1918-19

International cricket

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2022)

India's debut in Test cricket was in the 1932 English season when they played England at Lord's Cricket Ground. England won by 158 runs.

International tours of India

MCC 1926-27

The MCC tour was from October 1926 to February 1927. Captained by Arthur Gilligan, the team played 26 first-class matches in India and a further four first-class matches in Ceylon. Team members included Maurice Leyland, Andy Sandham, Bob Wyatt, Arthur Dolphin, George Geary, Ewart Astill and George Brown.

Maharaj Kumar of Vizanagram's XI 1930-31

This team, which also visited Ceylon, played six matches in India. It included Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe.

Ceylon 1932-33

No Tests were played, but India played Ceylon in two matches, both of which were drawn.

For more information about this tour, see: Ceylonese cricket team in India in 1932–33.

England 1933-34

This tour featured the first Test series ever played in India. England won the series 2–0 with 1 match drawn:

1st Test at Gymkhana Ground, Bombay – England won by 9 wickets
2nd Test at Eden Gardens, Calcutta – match drawn
3rd Test at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Madras – England won by 202 runs

For more information about this tour, see: English cricket team in India in 1933–34.

Australia 1935-36

For information about this tour, see: Australian cricket team in Ceylon and India in 1935–36.

Lord Tennyson's XI 1937-38

Lord Tennyson's team of 16 English players played 15 first-class matches, including five against India, between October 1937 and February 1938.

Ceylon 1940-41

For information about this tour, see: Ceylonese cricket team in India in 1940–41.

External sources

CricketArchive – Itinerary of Events in India

Rowland Bowen, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970
Vasant Raiji, India's Hambledon Men, Tyeby Press, 1986
Mihir Bose, A History of Indian Cricket, Andre-Deutsch, 1990
Ramachandra Guha, A Corner of a Foreign Field - An Indian History of a British Sport, Picador, 2001

v t e Indian cricket seasons
History of cricket in India to 1918 1918–19 to 1945 1945–46 to 1960 1960–61 to 1970 1970–71 to 1985 1985–86 to 2000 History of cricket in India from 2000–01 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19

Indian cricket seasons

History of cricket in India to 1918

History of cricket in India from 2000–01

International cricket tours of India

Test and LOI tours
Afghanistan	2016–17 2018 2019–20 2021–22 2023–24
Australia	1956–57 1959–60 1964–65 1969–70 1979–80 1984–85 1986–87 1996–97 1997–98 2000–01 2004–05 2007 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2012–13 2013–14 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2022–23 2023–24
Bangladesh	2016–17 2018 2019–20 2024–25
England	1933–34 1951–52 1961–62 1963–64 1972–73 1976–77 1979–80 1981–82 1984–85 1992–93 2001–02 2005–06 2008–09 2011–12 2012–13 2016–17 2020–21 2023–24 2024–25
Ireland	2016–17 2018–19 2019–20
New Zealand	1955–56 1964–65 1969–70 1976–77 1988–89 1995–96 1999–2000 2003–04 2010–11 2012 2016–17 2017–18 2021–22 2022–23 2024–25
Pakistan	1952–53 1960–61 1979–80 1983–84 1986–87 1998–99 2004–05 2007–08 2012–13
South Africa	1991–92 1996–97 1999–2000 2004–05 2005–06 2007–08 2009–10 2015–16 2019–20 2022 2022–23
Sri Lanka	1982–83 1986–87 1990–91 1993–94 1997–98 2005–06 2006–07 2009–10 2014–15 2015–16 2017–18 2019–20 2021–22
West Indies	1948–49 1958–59 1966–67 1974–75 1978–79 1983–84 1987–88 1994–95 2002–03 2006–07 2011–12 2013–14 2014–15 2018–19 2019–20 2021–22 2025–26
Zimbabwe	1992–93 2000–01 2001–02

Tournaments hosted
World Cup	1987 1996 2011 2023
Men's T20 World Cup	2016 2021
Champions Trophy	2006
Asia Cup	1990–91
Multiple teams	1989 1993 1994–95 1996–97 1997 1997–98 1997–98 1998–99 2003–04

Other tours
Australian	1935–36 1945–46
Ceylonese/Sri Lankan	1932–33 1940–41 1952–53 1955–56 1957–58 1959–60 1961–62 1964–65 1966–67 1968–69 1970–71 1972–73 1974–75 1975–76
Dutch	1994–95 2012–13
English	1889–90 1892–93 1926–27 1937–38 1956–57 1963–64 1994–95 2005–06 2023–24
Kenyan	1999–00 2011–12
Multi-national	1930–31 1949–50 1950–51 1953–54 1961–62 1964–65 1967–68
Tanzanian	2006–07

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