India equal win-loss record in Test matches in massive turnaround

India beat England by an innings and 64 runs to win the fifth and final contest of the series. With the win, India walloped England 4-1 in the series having conceded the opener in Hyderabad. With the win, India have 178 Test match wins and 178 defeats from 579 matches played. 222 of India’s matches ended in a draw and one was a tie. India have a winning/losing percentage of 30.74%.

Of the teams to have played at least 100 Test matches, only Australia (1.78), England (1.209), Pakistan (1.042), South Africa (1.105) have a better win-loss ratio than India (1.00).

India have produced a sensational turnaround in results in the new century. Entering the 20th century, India’s record stood at 63 wins and 112 defeats from 336 matches played. It put the country’s win-loss record in Tests at 0.562.

Since 2001, India have won 115 matches and lost 66, drawing 62 for a win-loss record of 1.74 from 243 games.

If we deep dive further, 2010s witnessed the highest success from the two and a half decades of red ball cricket for India. Under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli (and KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane as step-in skippers), India won 56 of 107 Test matches, losing 29, for a win-loss record of 1.931.

The change in fortunes, however, began under Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble in the previous decade. The trio, plus Virender Sehwag and Dhoni briefly, helped the side to 40 wins from 103 matches, losing 27 and drawing 36 for a win-loss ratio of 1.481.

Under Rohit Sharma, India have picked up where they left off in the previous decade. Appointed skipper in 2022, Rohit has captained India in 16 matches and won 10 of them. The team, meanwhile, has won 21 of 39 Tests, losing 13, drawing five for a win-loss of 1.615.

India will be keen on going into the positive win-loss difference when they take on Bangladesh in September.