India's Test Debut at Lord's — CK Nayudu's Side, June 1932

The Bombay Quadrangular tournament had been the spine of Indian cricket since 1912. The Indian Cricket Control Board, formed 1928, had agitated for Test status; the MCC granted it in 1929 conditional on a tour. Several princely sponsors funded the trip; the Maharaja of Porbandar nominated himself captain.

The Maharaja, having scored single figures in most tour matches, withdrew on the morning of the Test. Limbdi was injured. CK Nayudu, the senior cricketer, took over. India fielded six Hindus, four Parsis, three Muslims and a Sikh — a snapshot of the country's pre-Partition cricket landscape.

India had been admitted to the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1926 and granted Test status in 1929 with a tour to follow. The 1932 squad was assembled under the patronage of the Maharaja of Porbandar, a generous administrator and modest cricketer who realised before the Test that he should not pick himself; the vice-captain, the Ghanshyamsinhji of Limbdi, also withdrew through injury, and the captaincy passed to Nayudu, the most respected cricketer in India.

England, captained by Douglas Jardine in his first Test as captain, won the toss and chose to bat. Nissar, opening the bowling at fast-medium with a long, classical run, had Sutcliffe bowled by a ball that kept low and Holmes caught behind early; England were 3 for 19 before Hammond and Jardine added 82. Amar Singh swung the ball both ways and had Hammond caught for 35. England recovered to 259, with the Indian quicks sharing seven wickets between them.

India replied with 189; Nayudu top-scored with 40, Amar Singh punished the short ball for 35. England's second innings of 275/8 declared set a chase of 346. India fell for 187, Amar Singh making a fluent 51 in his country's first Test innings as a Test nation. England won by 158 runs, but Wisden's report noted, 'India's bowling was distinctly above the average; their batting needs more experience of English wickets.'

“India's bowling was distinctly above the average.”

“He was an ornament to the game, and his country's first Test captain.”

India would not host a home Test for another 18 months; the next Indian tour to England was scheduled for 1936. CK Nayudu was confirmed as India's first Test captain. Nissar and Amar Singh were spoken of as world-class quicks for the rest of the decade. Wisden named Amar Singh and Nissar as among the best fast-medium pairs in world cricket.