All you need to know about India's first-ever away Test series wins

After beating the Aussies at their own backyard, skipper Virat Kohli has scripted his name in the pages of history. Virat is now among the few captains who have led their sides to series victories for the first time in history in the backyard of another country.

Let us have a look at which Indian captain led his team to the first-ever series win in each country.

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Australia (2018-19) - Virat Kohli

Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, India went to this Australian tour to play a four-match Test match series. While a win the first Test at Adelaide created pressure on the Kangaroos, the Aussies made a comeback in the second Test to level the series.

However, India held their nerve and went 2-1 up in the Melbourne Test which turned out to be the series decider. Although India looked all set to make it 3-1 in the final Test after ensuring that Australia follow-on in their own country after three decades, the rains played the spoilsport for India and saved Australia from further embarrassment.

This was India’s first-ever series win in Australia in 71 years.

Zimbabwe (2005) and Bangladesh (2001)- Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly is often credited with changing the way India played their cricket

India won their first series in Zimbabwe in 2005 when Sourav Ganguly was the captain. As was expected prior to the series, the visiting side, proved to be too good for the hosts and the Ganguly led Indian team won the series 2-0 totally destroying the host team.

Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman’s hundreds set the tone for the win in the first Test followed by an all-round performance by Irfan Pathan which gave no chance to the host team to make a comeback in the next Test. India took the momentum into the next game and eased past Zimbabwe in the second Test too.

In Bangladesh too, India had managed their first series win under Ganguly’s leadership. India managed to win this series 1-0 and added another feather in the cap in the year 2001.

Pakistan- Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid (2004)

In Dravid, Ganguly had a fine deputy and friend

Against the arch-rivals, Pakistan, India’s first-ever series win came in 2004. In this series, India was led by two captains,- Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. India went for a three-match Test Series in Pakistan in 2004 and Rahul Dravid led India to a win in the first Test before Sourav Ganguly took up the leadership charge and led India to a win in the third Test.

India clinched this series 2-1.

Sri Lanka (1993)- Mohammad Azharuddin

Azhar led India to their first-ever series win in Sri Lanka

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin is remembered for leading India to their first-ever series win in Sri Lanka. In this series, India went on to lift the trophy after defeating the opposition 1-0.

The 1993 series win marked a new chapter in the history of Indian Cricket as the win against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka helped the Indian side play with a lot more freedom and assurance of their own ability.

England and West Indies (1971)- Ajit Wadekar

Wadekar and Gavaskar- two stalwarts of Indian Cricket

The India-England cricket history dates back to 1932. However, for India’s first-ever series win in England, India had to wait for nearly forty years. In 1971, India played a three-match Test Series in England. When the first couple of Tests ended in a draw, India’s charismatic leader, Ajit Wadekar sensed an opportunity for a Test Series win in England. As it turned out, India did manage to win the final Test by four wickets to clinch the series 1-0.

Against the West Indies too, Wadekar’s India played really smart cricket to clinch the series 1-0 although hardly anyone had given India a chance before the start of the tour.

New Zealand (1967) - Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

Pataudi led India to a first series win away from home

In 1967, India recorded their first series win away from home conditions. This was against New Zealand. Led by Pataudi, India had toured New Zealand for four Tests and won the series 3-1.

Pataudi is often looked upon as the architect of modern Indian Cricket.