Welcome, Lykkers! Did you know that over decades, one common theme in the history of Indian cricket has emerged as the team's resilience, especially in the longest format of the game—Test cricket?

While India has evolved into a cricketing powerhouse, there was a time when the team repeatedly faced defeats in their opening Test matches, particularly when touring foreign shores.

Despite these setbacks, the hallmark of Indian cricket has been its ability to fight back and bounce out of trouble, often pulling off remarkable comebacks to win series or restore their pride.

The Challenge of Overseas Conditions

India's early cricketing years, particularly from the 1930s to the 1960s, were characterized by struggles in foreign conditions. Playing in countries like England, Australia, and the West Indies posed significant challenges due to the unfamiliar conditions of seaming pitches, swinging balls, and bouncy tracks. India, being more accustomed to the spin-friendly and slower tracks of the subcontinent, often struggled in the first Test of a series abroad.

For instance, India's tours to England and Australia in the mid-20th century were notorious for starting on the wrong foot. In their 1946 tour to England, India lost the first Test by 10 wickets at Lord's, largely undone by the moving ball in damp English conditions. The trend of losing the first Test continued through many series across the decades, especially when the team played outside of their comfort zone.

However, this wasn't the end of the story. India repeatedly showed that while they might start slow, they had the resilience, tactical acumen, and individual brilliance to find their way back.

1971: A Turning Point

One of the first major turning points in India's Test history came in 1971. India toured the West Indies, a formidable opponent with a fearsome pace attack, and as expected, they were under severe pressure in the first Test. But this series is remembered not for the defeats but for how India, led by Ajit Wadekar, turned the tables. The team bounced back and secured a historic series victory, largely thanks to Sunil Gavaskar's stellar debut and the spin magic of Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

Later that year, they repeated this feat in England, where after a difficult first match, they went on to win their first-ever series on English soil, cementing their reputation as a team that could bounce back from adversity.

The Early 2000s: Resilience in the Dravid-Ganguly Era

Fast forward to the early 2000s, under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly and with key players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Anil Kumble, India saw a resurgence in their Test cricket fortunes. During this period, they continued the trend of losing or drawing the first Test in several series but developed a reputation for strong recoveries.

A key example of this resilience was the 2001 series against Australia. In the first Test in Mumbai, India was convincingly beaten by 10 wickets. The defeat seemed to set the stage for an Australian whitewash, but India produced one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history. In the second Test at Kolkata, after being forced to follow-on, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid's historic partnership led India to an improbable victory. India then won the third Test in Chennai to claim the series 2-1, an incredible turnaround from the first Test defeat.

Similarly, in 2003-04, during their tour of Australia, India lost the first Test in Brisbane but managed to fight back, winning the second Test in Adelaide, thanks to a magnificent double century from Rahul Dravid and brilliant bowling from Ajit Agarkar. The series ended in a 1-1 draw, an impressive result against a dominant Australian team on their home turf.

Modern Era: Kohli and Beyond

Under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India's Test team continued to face difficulties in the first matches of the away series, but the team's fighting spirit was evident. In 2020, during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, India was bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in the first Test at Adelaide, leading to a humiliating defeat. Many critics wrote off India's chances, especially with Kohli returning home for paternity leave and several key players injured.

However, India displayed tremendous character, fighting back to win the series 2-1. Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with a brilliant century in Melbourne, leveling the series. The defining moment came in the final Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, where a depleted Indian side, missing several key players, chased down 328 on the final day to secure a historic victory, handing Australia their first defeat at the Gabba in 32 years.

India's journey in Test cricket has been marked by a unique trait: the ability to bounce back from adversity. While the team has often started series on the wrong foot, especially in overseas conditions, they have repeatedly demonstrated the resilience to fight back, learn from their mistakes, and emerge victorious. This never-give-up attitude, honed over decades, is what makes India a formidable force in Test cricket today.

India recently lost its first Test match against New Zealand, and now we can just wait and see when it will bounce back.