India National Cricket Team

The India national cricket team, also known as the Men in Blue, is one of the most dominant cricket teams in the world. Managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the team represents India in Tests, One-Day Internationals, and T20Is. As of 2025, India ranks #1 in ODIs and T20Is, and #4 in Tests.

Early History

Cricket was introduced in India in the early 1700s by British colonizers. The first Indian club was established in 1848. India played its first-ever Test match in 1932 at Lord’s against England. Although the team struggled in its early years, it started to build momentum with a historic first Test win in 1952.

Test Cricket Journey

India’s Test journey has been filled with iconic moments. From spin dominance in the 1970s to becoming a WTC finalist in the modern era, the team has come a long way.

Test Stats (as of July 2025) Matches Wins Losses Draws Ties
Total Tests 592 182 186 223 1
World Test Championship 3 Finals 0 Wins 2 Runners-up 1 DNQ

ODI Cricket Success

India’s ODI debut was in 1974. The real breakthrough came in 1983, when India won its first World Cup. The second win came in 2011 on home soil.

ODI Stats Matches Wins Losses Win %
Total ODIs 1,066 567 445 53.18%
World Cups 13 2 Titles (1983, 2011) – –

T20I Achievements

India entered T20Is in 2006 and immediately made history by winning the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007. In 2024, they lifted their second T20 title.

T20I Stats Matches Wins Losses Win %
Total T20Is 247 164 71 66.39%
T20 World Cups 9 2 Titles (2007, 2024) –

  • 2024 T20 World Cup Champions (undefeated)

  • 2025 Champions Trophy Winners

  • 2023 Asia Cup Champions

  • 2022 Asian Games Gold (held in 2023)

  •  Did not qualify for the 2025 WTC Final

Current Captain & Vice-Captain

The leadership group of the India national cricket team has evolved in recent years, with a mix of experience and youth across all three formats.

Format Captain Vice-Captain Appointed
Test Shubman Gill Rishabh Pant May 2025
ODI Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya January 2023 (continues)
T20I Hardik Pandya Suryakumar Yadav November 2024

Legendary Captains

India has had several great captains over the decades:

  • Kapil Dev – Led India to 1983 World Cup victory

  • Sourav Ganguly – Built a fearless and competitive team

  • MS Dhoni – First captain to win all three ICC trophies

  • Virat Kohli – Strong test leader with aggressive style

  • Rohit Sharma – Captained India to 2024 T20 WC and 2025 CT victories

Captain Matches Win %
MS Dhoni 332 53.61%
Virat Kohli 213 63.38%
Rohit Sharma 141* 72.34%

Key Players (2025)

  • Shubman Gill – Test captain and consistent top-order batter

  • Rohit Sharma – ODI captain, powerful opener

  • Suryakumar Yadav – T20I captain and innovative batter

  • Virat Kohli – ODI stalwart and modern-day legend

  • Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh – Fast bowling duo

  • Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya – Trusted all-rounders

  • Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson – Aggressive wicketkeeper-batters

Individual Records

India holds several cricket world records:

  • Sachin Tendulkar – Most Test and ODI runs in history

  • Virat Kohli – 51 ODI centuries (most ever)

  • Rohit Sharma – Highest individual ODI score (264)

  • Anil Kumble – 619 Test wickets, 10 wickets in an innings

  • MS Dhoni – 183* in ODIs (highest by a wicketkeeper), only captain to win WC, CT & T20 WC

India also has the highest ODI World Cup win margin (257 runs vs Bermuda).

Head-to-Head Record

India has played against almost every major cricketing nation. Here’s a breakdown of how the India national cricket team has performed against each opponent in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Test Head-to-Head

Opponent Matches Won Lost Draw Tie Win %
Australia 112 33 48 30 1 29.46%
England 136 35 51 50 0 25.73%
South Africa 44 16 18 10 0 36.36%
New Zealand 65 22 16 27 0 33.84%
Pakistan 59 9 12 38 0 15.25%
Sri Lanka 46 22 7 17 0 47.82%
West Indies 100 23 30 47 0 23.00%
Bangladesh 15 13 0 2 0 86.66%
Zimbabwe 11 7 2 2 0 63.63%
Afghanistan 1 1 0 0 0 100.00%
Opponent Matches Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Australia 152 58 84 0 10 38.14%
England 110 61 44 2 3 55.45%
New Zealand 120 62 50 1 7 51.66%
Pakistan 136 58 73 0 5 42.64%
South Africa 94 40 51 0 3 42.55%
Sri Lanka 171 99 59 2 11 57.89%
West Indies 142 72 64 2 4 50.70%
Bangladesh 42 33 8 0 1 78.57%
Zimbabwe 71 58 11 2 0 81.81%
Afghanistan 4 3 0 1 0 75.00%
Opponent Matches Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Australia 32 20 11 0 1 62.50%
England 29 17 12 0 0 58.62%
New Zealand 25 12 10 1 2 48.00%
Pakistan 13 9 3 0 1 69.23%
South Africa 31 18 12 0 1 58.06%
Sri Lanka 32 21 9 0 2 65.63%
West Indies 30 19 10 0 1 63.33%
Bangladesh 17 16 1 0 0 94.11%
Zimbabwe 13 10 3 0 0 76.92%
Afghanistan 9 7 0 0 2 77.78%

Team Colours

The India national cricket team wears different kits depending on the format. In Test matches, the team wears the traditional all-white uniform with navy blue caps and helmets. For ODIs and T20Is, the team dons varying shades of blue, often featuring a splash of saffron, white, and green—the colors of the Indian flag.

Over the years, several companies have manufactured and sponsored India’s kits. Here’s a look at the history of kit sponsors:

Kit Sponsorship Timeline

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
1992 ISC –
1999 Asics ITC Limited (Wills)
2001–2005 Omtex Sahara
2006–2013 Nike Sahara
2014–2017 Nike Star India
2017–2019 Nike Oppo
2019–2020 Nike Byju’s
2020–2022 MPL Sports Byju’s
2023 Killer Jeans (KKCL) Dream11 (interim)
2023–2028 Adidas Dream11

Adidas is the current kit manufacturer as of 2025, with a five-year deal that began ahead of the World Test Championship Final in 2023. The official team sponsor is Dream11, while past sponsors have included Star India, Oppo, Sahara, and Byju’s.

Sponsorship for ICC Tournaments

Tournament Kit Manufacturer Sleeve Sponsor
1992 Cricket World Cup ISC –
1996 Cricket World Cup – Wills
1999 Cricket World Cup Asics –
2002 Champions Trophy Omtex –
2003 Cricket World Cup Aamby Valley –
2004 Champions Trophy Sahara –
2006–2016 ICC Tournaments Nike –
2017 Champions Trophy Nike Oppo
2019 Cricket World Cup Nike Oppo
2021 WTC Final & T20 WC MPL Sports Byju’s
2022 T20 World Cup MPL Sports Byju’s
2023 WTC Final Adidas –
2023 Cricket World Cup Adidas Dream11
2024 T20 World Cup Adidas Dream11
2025 Champions Trophy Adidas Dream11

Governing Body

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) oversees all Indian cricket operations. It is the richest cricket board globally. BCCI also influences global cricket scheduling due to its economic strength.

  • Current President: Roger Binny

  • Headquarters: Cricket Centre, Mumbai

  • Official Website: bcci.tv

BCCI also manages the player contracts, domestic competitions, and cricketing infrastructure in India.

Tournament Summary

Tournament Titles Won
ODI World Cup 2 (1983, 2011)
T20 World Cup 2 (2007, 2024)
Champions Trophy 3 (2002, 2013, 2025)
Asia Cup 8 Titles
Asian Games 1 Gold Medal (2023)
World Test Champ 0 (2x Runners-Up)

Fan Base & Rivalries

India’s cricket fan base is one of the largest in the world. Stadiums are packed, and TV ratings are unmatched. The team’s biggest rivalries are with Pakistan, Australia, and England, drawing millions of viewers globally.

International Grounds

India is home to some of the most iconic cricket stadiums globally, hosting international matches across all formats. Below are some of the key stadiums:

Iconic Stadiums in India:

  • Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) – The world’s largest cricket stadium.

  • Eden Gardens (Kolkata) – Historic venue with the largest seating capacity in India.

  • Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi) – Known for hosting India’s first Test match after independence.

  • Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) – Hosted the 2011 World Cup Final.

  • Chepauk Stadium (Chennai) – Famous for its spin-friendly conditions.

Test Match Hosts:

India has 21 stadiums that have hosted official Test matches, including landmarks like Eden Gardens and Arun Jaitley Stadium. These venues are considered historic landmarks in the Indian cricket landscape.

Current Squad (2025)

India’s squad for 2025 includes some of the finest cricketing talent, balancing experienced veterans with young stars.

Player Name Age Format Role IPL Team
Shubman Gill 25 Test, ODI Captain (Test) Gujarat Titans
Rohit Sharma 38 ODI, T20I Captain (ODI) Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya 31 ODI, T20I Captain (T20I) Mumbai Indians
Virat Kohli 36 ODI Senior Batter Royal Challengers Bangalore
Ravindra Jadeja 36 Test, ODI All-rounder Chennai Super Kings
Jasprit Bumrah 31 Test Bowler Mumbai Indians
Rishabh Pant 27 Test, ODI Wicketkeeper-Batter Delhi Capitals
KL Rahul 33 Test, ODI Wicketkeeper-Batter Delhi Capitals
Suryakumar Yadav 34 T20I Vice-Captain (T20I) Mumbai Indians
Mohammed Shami 34 Test, ODI Bowler Gujarat Titans
Arshdeep Singh 26 Test, ODI, T20I Bowler Punjab Kings

Pay Grade

BCCI assigns central contracts to Indian cricketers, with salaries based on their grade. The contracts are classified into three main categories: Grade A+, Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.

Grade Salary (INR) Role
A+ ₹7 Crore Top performers (e.g., Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli)
A ₹5 Crore Key players (e.g., Jasprit Bumrah)
B ₹3 Crore Regular squad members (e.g., Shubman Gill)
C ₹1 Crore Emerging players or backups

In addition to salaries, players also receive match fees:

  • ₹15 lakh per Test match

  • ₹6 lakh per ODI

  • ₹3 lakh per T20I

Coaching Staff (2025)

India’s coaching staff plays an integral role in developing the team’s strategy, performance, and growth.

Position Name
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir
Assistant Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate
Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak
Bowling Coach Morné Morkel
Fielding Coach T. Dilip
Strength & Conditioning Coach Adrian le Roux

The support staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, is tasked with shaping India’s strategies and preparing the team for the international stage.

Cricket World Cup

India has had a remarkable history in the ICC Cricket World Cup, winning the prestigious title twice: in 1983 and 2011.

Cricket World Cup Achievements:

Year Position Matches Played Matches Won Title
1975 Group Stage 3 1 –
1983 Champions 8 6 ✔
1987 Semi-finals 7 5 –
1996 Semi-finals 7 4 –
2003 Runners-up 11 9 –
2011 Champions 9 7 ✔
2015 Semi-finals 8 7 –
2019 Semi-finals 10 7 –
2023 Runners-up 11 10 –

India has been one of the most consistent teams in World Cup history, with a 2-time title win (1983 and 2011), a 3-time runner-up, and multiple semifinals appearances.

The India national cricket team is a symbol of pride for the nation. With a legacy of excellence, thrilling victories, and passionate fans, the Men in Blue continue to inspire future generations. Whether in whites or blues, India sets the standard in world cricket.