The Indian cricket team, also known as the Men in Blue, is controlled by the BBCI and has been a Full Member of the ICC since the 31st May 1926.

In this article, we will take a closer look at their history, the colours that they use, notable squad members, what they have won over the years, how they have fared against other nations, and how the team is currently getting on.

A Brief History of Indian Cricket

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Cricket was first introduced to India by British sailors and merchants in the 18th century, with the first club (now known as Kolkata) being created in 1792. However, the national team had to wait until June 1932 to play their very first test match, making them the sixth team to be given test cricket status.

During the next fifty years, they won just 35 test matches from a possible 196. In fact, they had to wait nearly two decades before they earned their first test victory. However, the team improved drastically in quality during the 1970s when players such as Gundappa Viswanath, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar joined the team. Nowadays, they are ranked as the best Test team, the second best ODI team, and the fifth best T20 team.

Their main rivals are obviously Pakistan (who they love to beat in any format), but in recent times, they have forged somewhat of a rivalry with England, South Africa, and Australia. At this moment in time, Ravi Shastri is the head coach, while Virat Kohli is the captain in all three formats.

What Colours Are Associated with Team India?

Different colours are used depending on the format that is being played. We dig deeper into details so you understand each one of them.

Test Cricket

When they are playing Test cricket, they wear cricket whites as these are the traditional clothes worn during this format. In addition to this, when they are fielding, they wear a dark blue cap or a white sun hat that has the BCCI logo on it. When they are batting, they use a dark blue helmet that has the Indian flag stuck on it. The BCCI logo can be found on the left chest of the whites, while the team’s sponsor can be seen on the right chest. Nike manufactures their kits, so you can see the Nike logo on the sleeve of the player’s dominant arm.

ODI and T20 Cricket

When it comes to limited overs cricket, the Indian team has blue as their main colour. The secondary colour that they use if there is a clash of shirts with the home team has changed down the years, but yellow and orange has been dominant. In 2016, it was decided by the ICC that teams would use one kit for ODI matches and another for T20 matches.

The team’s very first T20 kit was a shade of dark blue with thin strips of green and orange added to the lower left and upper right side of the shirt. In 2017, a new ODI kit was revealed, which had a lighter shade of blue on the body and a darker shade on the sleeves. The colours of the Indian flag were added to either side of the upper chest. The caps that they wear in limited overs cricket are dark blue and have the BCCI logo in the centre. Just like with the first-class kits, the BCCI logo can be found on the left chest, while the Nike sign can be seen on the right chest. In the middle of the jersey and on the sleeve of the dominant arm, you will see the team’s sponsor. On the T20 jerseys only, the sponsor’s logo can also be seen on the back, just underneath the player’s number.

"The name and number of each player is printed in orange on the back of the shirt."

Notable Team Members in the Current Squad

Many great players have played for India over the years, but we are now going to take a look at some of their best players at this moment in time.

Virat Kohli

Kohli, it is safe to say, is one the best batsmen in the world at the moment. When it comes to test cricket, he has scored 7,765 runs (27 centuries and 27 half-centuries) in 96 matches, at an average of 51.08. These are impressive figures, but you will be even more impressed by his ODI stats. In 254 matches he has scored 12,169 runs (43 centuries and 62 half-centuries) at an average of 59.07. His T20 stats aren’t too shabby either. He has notched up3,159 runs (28 half-centuries) in 90 matches, with an average of 52.65.

Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah is one of the fastest bowlers that India has ever produced, and he has the skill to match his speed. His international career is still quite short, but he already has some impressive figures to his name. For example, he has played 24 test matches and has already picked up 101 wickets at an average of 22.79. In ODIs, he has played 67 matches and picked up 108 wickets at an average of 25.33. When it comes to his T20 career, he has played 50 matches and picked up 59 wickets at an average of 20.25.

Kuldeep Yadav

Is a young spin bowler that definitely has a long international career ahead of him. In the 8 tests that he has played so far, he has taken 26 wickets with a bowling average of 23.84. In the 65 ODIs that he has played, has managed to pick up 107 wickets at an average of 28.34, while in 21 T20 matches he has collected 39 wickets at an amazing average of just 13.76.

How Has the Team Gotten on in World Tournaments?

ICC Cricket World Cup

YearRoundPosition
197516/8
197917/8
1983Champions1/8
1987Semi-Finals4/8
1992Round 17/9
1996Semi-Finals4/12
19992 (Super Six)6/12
2003Runners-up2/14
200719/16
2011Champions1/14
2015Semi-Finals3/14
2019Semi-Finals3/8

ICC T20 World Cup

YearRoundPosition
2007Champions1/12
2009Super 8s7/12
2010Super 8s8/12
2012Super 8s5/12
2014Runners-Up2/16
2016Semi-Finals3/16

ICC Champions Trophy

YearRoundPosition
1998Semi-Finals3/9
2000Runners-up2/11
2002Joint Winners1/12
2004Group Stage7/12
2006Group Stage5/10
2009Group Stage5/8
2013Champions1/8
2017Runners-up2/8

* The ICC Champions Trophy no longer exists.

Asia Cup

YearRoundPosition
1984Champions1/3
1986BoycottedN/A
1988Champions1/4
1990Champions1/3
1995Champions1/4
1997Runners-up2/4
2000First Round3/4
2004Runners-up2/6
2008Runners-up2/6
2010Champions1/4
2012First Round3/4
2014First Round3/5
2016Champions1/5
2018Champions1/6

* India pulled out of the 1986 Asia Cup due to their strained relationship with Pakistan. They were replaced by Bangladesh, who was Asia’s leading associate member at the time. Bangladesh went on to lose both of their games (against Pakistan and Sri Lanka).

Test Record Against Other Full Member Nations

OpponentMatches PlayedWonLostTiedDrawnWin %
Afghanistan11000100.00
Australia102304312929.41
Bangladesh11900281.81
England130314905023.84
New Zealand 60211302635.00
Pakistan 5991203815.25
South Africa 39141501035.89
Sri Lanka 4420701745.46
West Indies 98223004622.44
Zimbabwe 11720263.64

* These stats are correct from the 15th October 2021.

ODI Record Against Other Full Member Nations

OpponentMatches PlayedWonLostTiedNo ResultWin %
Afghanistan3201083.33
Australia143538001039.84
Bangladesh363050185.71
England10355432356.00
Ireland33000100.00
New Zealand11055491552.85
Pakistan13255730442.96
South Africa8435460343.20
Sri Lanka162935711161.58
West Indies13364632450.38
Zimbabwe6351102082.54

* These stats are correct from 15th October, 2021.

T20 Record Against Other Full Member Nations

OpponentMatches PlayedWonLostNo ResultWin %
Afghanistan2200100.00
Australia23139159.09
Bangladesh11101090.90
England19109052.63
Ireland3300100.00
New Zealand1668243.75
Pakistan861181.25
South Africa1596060.00
Sri Lanka20145173.68
West Indies17106162.50
Zimbabwe752071.42

*These stats are correct from 15th October, 2021.

How Are the Indian Team Doing of Late?

When it comes to Test cricket, the Indian team have been showing their quality in 2021. Not only did they get a very good 2-1 win away in Australia, but they then took on England at home in a 4-match series and won 3-1. They then traveled to England to play in five Tests, and they have a 2-1 lead with one Test left to play - the match was postponed due to illness within the Indian camp. They also made it to the final of the World Test Championship, but they were beaten by New Zealand, the number 1 ranked Test team.

They have played just the two ODI series this year, against England and Sri Lanka, and they won both of them 2-1. It is always nice to beat the current holders of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

They also played England in five T20 matches and, in what was a really fascinating series, they came out on top 3-2. They played three T20 matches away in Sri Lanka, but lost the series 2-1.