How many times have India won a Test match at Lord's against England?

India didn’t play the first Test against England too badly but the result didn’t go their way. Ben Duckett’s 149-run knock off 170 was instrumental in helping England chase down a 371-run target on the final day of the Test match. A 1-0 lead meant the hosts went to Birmingham with loads of confidence. India were under pressure as another loss would dampen their chances of winning the series. Captain Shubman Gill knew the importance of winning the second Test and he rose to the occasion. A double-century followed by another century in the second innings helped him register his first win as India’s Test captain. 

India won the second Test match by 336 runs and the series is now locked at 1-1 with the third Test match scheduled to be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground. India’s record on this ground has been disappointing, to say the least. In 19 Tests, they have only managed to secure three wins. However, India have given a tough fight to the hosts at Lord’s over the last decade or so. They have won two out of three matches played at Lord’s in the last decade. 

Let’s delve deeper into India’s three Test wins at Lord’s Cricket Ground: 

1. India vs England, 1986- India win by five wickets 

India played their first Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1936 and couldn’t win a single Test at Lord’s for more than four decades. Their first Test win finally arrived on their historic tour of 1986 under the leadership of Kapil Dev. The iconic Lord’s cricket ground hosted the first Test match of the series. Chetan Sharma and Roger Binny ripped through England’s batting, getting them out for 294 in the first innings. A magnificent unbeaten knock of 126 off 213 from Dilip Vengsarkar helped India pile up a 341-run total in the second innings. 

England, once again, put in a disappointing show with the bat in their second essay. Kapil Dev broke their back by leaving them tottering at 3 for 35 and eventually bowling them out for just 180. In pursuit of a 134-run target, India romped home with five wickets left. Another win in the second Test helped India script their first-ever Test series win in England. 

2. India vs England, 2014- India win by 95 runs  

India’s next Test win at Lord’s since 1986 came on the 2014 tour of England under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Ajinkya Rahane’s one of the best Test knocks of 103 powered India to a respectable 295 in the first innings. England, in reply, piled on 319, taking a significant lead going further into the Test match. 

India’s top order was brilliant in the second innings. Murali Vijay played a terrific knock of 95 off 247, while Pujara (43) and Shikhar Dhawan (31) made decent contributions too. However, it was Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 99-run partnership for the eighth wicket that stretched India’s total to 342, setting England a target of 319. Ishant Sharma then produced one of the most memorable spells in Test cricket as his 7 for 74 ended England’s innings on 223. India won the Test match by 95 runs. 

3. India vs England, 2021- India win by 151 runs 

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul put in masterclass performances in the Lord’s Test on the 2021 tour of England. A 126-run opening partnership in the first innings laid the foundation for the win. On the back of that, India posted a formidable score of 364 but England responded well with the bat. Joe Root, once again, delivered when it mattered. His 180 powered England to 391.

India's middle-order chipped in with vital contributions and they managed their way to 298 for 8 before declaring the innings. India’s fast bowling unit wreaked havoc in the fourth innings. Five English batters got out on ducks, while only three of them could reach double figures. England were bowled out for a paltry 120, losing the game by a massive margin of 151 runs.