<P> As of 17 December 2017, India is ranked first in Test, second in ODIs and second in T20Is by the ICC . Virat Kohli is the current captain of the team across all formats, while the head coach is Ravi Shastri . The Indian cricket team has rivalries with other Test - playing nations, most notably with Pakistan, the political arch - rival of India . However, in recent times, rivalries with nations like Australia and England have also gained prominence . </P> <P> The British brought cricket to India in the early 1700s, with the first cricket match played in 1721 . In 1848, the Parsi community in Bombay formed the Oriental Cricket Club, the first cricket club to be established by Indians . After slow beginnings, the Europeans eventually invited the Parsis to play a match in 1877 . By 1912, the Parsis, Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims of Bombay played a quadrangular tournament with the Europeans every year . In the early 1900s, some Indians went on to play for the England cricket team . Some of these, such as Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji were greatly appreciated by the British and their names went on to be used for the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy--two major first - class tournaments in India . In 1911, an Indian team went on their first official tour of the British Isles, but only played English county teams and not the England cricket team . </P> <P> India was invited to The Imperial Cricket Council in 1926, and made their debut as a Test playing nation in England in 1932, led by CK Nayudu, who was considered as the best Indian batsman at the time . The one - off Test match between the two sides was played at Lord's in London . The team was not strong in their batting at this point and went on to lose by 158 runs . In 1933, the first Test series in India was played between India and England with matches in Bombay, Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Madras (now Chennai). England won the series 2--0 . The Indian team continued to improve throughout the 1930s and' 40s but did not achieve an international victory during this period . In the early 1940s, India didn't play any Test cricket due to the Second World War . The team's first series as an independent country was in late 1947 against Sir Donald Bradman's Invincibles (a name given to the Australia national cricket team of that time). It was also the first Test series India played which was not against England . Australia won the five - match series 4--0, with Bradman tormenting the Indian bowling in his final Australian summer . India subsequently played their first Test series at home not against England against the West Indies in 1948 . West Indies won the 5 - Test series 1--0 . </P> <P> India recorded their first Test victory, in their 24th match, against England at Madras in 1952 . Later in the same year, they won their first Test series, which was against Pakistan . They continued their improvement throughout the early 1950s with a series win against New Zealand in 1956 . However, they did not win again in the remainder of the decade and lost badly to strong Australian and English sides . On 24 August 1959, India lost by an innings in the Test to complete the only 5--0 whitewash ever inflicted by England . The next decade saw India's reputation develop as a team with a strong record at home . They won their first Test series against England at home in 1961--62 and also won a home series against New Zealand . They managed to draw home series against Pakistan and Australia and another series against England . In this same period, India also won its first series outside the subcontinent, against New Zealand in 1967--68 . </P>

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