Two hundred and fifty-eight players have represented India in Test cricket, since it first Test against England on June 25, 1932. Here's a look at the famous first eleven, in batting order:
.Janardhan Gyanoba Navle (born: 7/12/02; died: 7/9/79)
India's first wicket-keeper, he faced the first delivery in the 1932 Test and scored the first run for India in Test cricket. Sadly, he struggled after his playing career was over and in the 1950s was reduced to begging for survival.
Tests: 2; Innings: 4; Not Outs: 0; Runs: 42; Highest Score: 13; Average: 10.50; Catches: 1.
Naoomal Jeeomal Makhija (b: 17/4/04; d: 28/7/80)
Born in Karachi, he stayed back after Partition and in the 1950s was a national selector and coach in Pakistan, before moving to India in 1971. He scored 33 and 25 in the 1932 Test.
T: 3; I: 5; NO: 1; R: 108; HS: 43; Av: 27.
Also read: India's greatest Test victories
Syed Wazir Ali (b: 15/9/03; d: 17/6/50)
Elder brother of Nazir Ali and father of Khalid Wazir (who played for Pakistan), he toured England in 1932 and 1936.
T: 7; I: 14; NO: 0; R: 237; HS: 42; Av: 16.92
Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (b: 31/10/1895; d: 14/11/67)
The first superstar of Indian cricket, he was the first Indian cricketer to make money by endorsing products, such was his fame. Though he was captain by default in the 1932 Test, he also led India in its first home series a year later. Despite a badly injured hand, he top scored with 40 in India's first innings in 1932. Tall and powerfully built, he played first-class cricket till the age of 68! His knock of 153 not out for Hindus against MCC in 1926inclusive of 11 fours and 13 sixesplayed a major role in India gaining Test status six years later.
T: 7; I: 14: NO: 0; R: 350; HS: 81; Av: 25; 50s: 2.
Bowling: Balls: 858; Runs: 386; Wicket: 9; Best Bowling (Innings): 3/40; Best Bowling (Match): 3/40; Average: 42.88
Sorabji Hormasji Munchersha Colah (b: 22/9/02; d: 11/9/50)
The middle-order batsman scored over 1,000 runs on the 1932 tour of England. He was discarded after only two Tests.
T: 2; I: 4; NO: 0; R: 69; HS: 31; Av: 17.25
Syed Nazir Ali (b: 8/6/08; d: 18/2/75)
Another batsman who topped 1,000 runs on the first tour, but failed in the Test match and was dropped after just one more Test. He was also a medium pace bowler with all four of his Test wickets coming in the second innings of the 1934 Madras Test against England.
T: 2: I: 4; NO: 0; R: 30; HS: 13; Av: 7.50
Bowling: B: 138; R: 83; W: 4; BBI: 4/83; BBM: 4/83; Av: 20.75.
Phiroze Edulji Palia (b: 5/9/10; 9/9/81)
He played the inaugural Test and another in 1936 (both at Lord's) without much success, a leg injury hampering him in the first Test.
T: 2; I: 4; NO: 1; R: 29; HS: 16; Av: 9.66
Lall Singh (b: 16/12/09; d: 19/12/85)
The only Test cricketer to be born in Kuala Lumpur, he was the best fielder in the 1932 team. His lightning pick up and throw that ran out Frank Woolley in the first innings was one of the highlights of the Test. The first of India's 'One- Test Wonders'. He was a coach and groundsman in Kuala Lumpur where he died in 1985.
T: 1; I: 2; NO: 0; R: 44; HS: 29; Av: 22.00
Mohammad Jahangir Khan (b: 1/2/10; d: 23/7/88)
The youngest member of the 1932 team and the oldest and last survivor. A medium pace bowler, he took four wickets in the second innings of the inaugural Test. He son Majid Khan and grandson, Bazid Khan played for Pakistan as did his nephews, Javed Burki and Imran Khan.
Bowling: Tests: 4; Balls: 606; R: 255; Wickets: 4; BBI: 4/60; BBM: 4/86; Av: 63.75
Ladhabhai Nakum Amar Singh (b: 4/12/10; d: 21/5/40)
"He came off the pitch like the crack of doom," was how England's master batsman Wally Hammond described the bowling of Amar Singh who formed a formidable opening partnership with Nissar. His finest performance came in the first innings of the 1934 Madras Test against England when he returned the brilliant figures of 7 for 86. Also a hard-hitting lower order batsman, he scored India's first Test fifty in the second innings of the 1932 Test. He died tragically young of pneumonia when he had still had plenty of cricket left in him.
T: 7; I: 14; NO: 1; R: 292; HS: 51; Av: 22.46; 50s: 1.
Bowling: B: 2,182; R: 858; W: 28; BBI: 7/86; BBM: 8/141; Av: 30.64; 5WI: 2.
Mohammad Nissar (b: 1/8/10; d: 11/3/63)
Arguably still the fastest Indian bowler of all time. Took five wickets in the first innings of the 1932 Test, including two in his second over. Massively built, he claimed a remarkable haul of 32 wickets in four unofficial 'tests' against Jack Ryder's Australian team that visited India in 1935. He died in Lahore at the age of 52.
Bowling: T: 6; B: 1,211; R: 707; W: 25; BBI: 5/90; BBM: 6/135; Av: 28.28; 5WI: 3.
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