New Delhi: 
It's not a million-dollar question to answer who introduced cricket to India or the vice-versa. Being under the colonial rule for almost 300 years, India got cricket in legacy from the British. Though for a long time India was represented by Englishmen.
The two teams started playing Tests only in 1932, but their cricketing relations date back to 1877. Pre-Independence, the cricketing tours were mostly obligatory. Politics and diplomacy dictated those tours. Serious cricket was played only after India became a free nation. But even then we saw some genuine Indian talents who became legends, like Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Merchant, CK Nayudu, Lala Amarnath.
CricketNDTV.com takes brief look at the history between the two nations post India's independence. It's worth mentioning that till 1976, England team was known as MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club).
England's tour of India in 1951-52
In 1951-52, England toured India for a five-Test match series. India levelled the series at Madras by winning the final Test. The first three Tests of the series ended in draw. The fourth Test at Kanpur swung in England's favour, as they won by 8 wickets. The first series between the two teams, despite being a draw, had generated enough interest and a new rivalry was born.
India's tour of England in 1952 (England)
India returned the visit in the same year. The Indian team went without their top guns like Vijay Merchant, Mushtaq Ali and Lala Amarnath. England whitewashed the three-Test series. Though Vinoo Mankad joined the team later, but Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser romped over the defensive Indians.
India's tour of England in 1959 (England)
After a sabbatical of seven years, India toured England once again in 1959 but the result was not much different, only the figures were worse. The hosts won the series 5-0. Trueman continued to torment the visitors. Indian batsmen Nari Contractor and Abbas Ali Baig showed some fight but their efforts were not enough.
England's tour of India in 1961-62
Two years later when England toured India, the hosts salvaged some pride and recorded their first series win over their one-time rulers. As India were a weakened side during their 1959 tour, England this time were without the likes of Trueman, Cowdrey. India won the five-Test series 2-0. Their two victories came at Calcutta (by 187 runs) and Madras (by 10 wickets). Salim Durrani and Nawab Pataudi beleaguered the tourists with their bowling and batting respectively.
England's tour of India in 1963-64
This was one of the series that held no meaning and went straight into the record books. The five-Test match series ended in a draw without producing any result. Though batsmen relished the conditions and scored heavily, it was punishing for the bowlers who were asked to bowl on flat pitches in hot conditions. England were on the verge of a win in Kanpur as they had asked the locals to follow-on. Bapu Nandkarni rose up to the challenge and slammed a hundred to see the match ending in a draw.
India's tour of England in 1967
In 1967, India had two teams playing against two teams. One was playing against Pakistan and the other toured England. India fielded a young side and were trounced 3-0 in the series. An interesting incident took place during that tour. Geoffrey Boycott was dropped for Lords Test as he scored an unbeaten 246 at an extremely slow scoring rate.
India's tour of England in 1971
This was a historical tour for India as they won their first series on the English soil. In the three-match series, two Tests were drawn but India won the last Test at The Oval. Spin-trio of Bishen Singh Bedi, Chandrasekhar and Venkataragahavan troubled the hosts throughout the series. India were close to victory at Lord's as were England at Old Trafford. In the last Test, Chandrasekhar picked six wickets to
guide his side home.
England's tour of India in 1972-73
Spin was India's main weapon and they knew it well. Spinners like Bedi, Chandrasekhar, and Prasanna were at their peak and they continued to haunt the England when they visited India in 1972-73. India won the five-match series 2-1. England won their first Test but from thereon the tour became a spinning ordeal. India won the next two Tests, while the last two ended as draws.
India's tour of England in 1974
India were at the peak of their cricket as they had recorded some historical wins at home and abroad. They, however, were grounded by the English team in 1974. India toured for three Tests and two ODIs. This was the first time India were playing One-Day Internationals. They were completely outdone in both formats of the game.
England's tour of India in 1976-77
After two consecutive series defeats against India, England under made a successful tour under Tony Greig. Skipper Greig led from the front and finished the 5-Test series 3-1. They recorded thumping wins in the first three Tests with huge margins - an innings and 25 runs, ten wickets and 200 runs. The fourth Test was drawn. India finally saved some blushes as they won the last Test at Bangalore. Karsan Ghavri was the architect of that win.
India's tour of England in 1979
Post-World Cup in 1979, India went to England for a four-Test series. After the stutter in the first Test in Edgbaston, India drew last three Tests. The series saw some exceptional knocks from batsmen from both the teams and some inspired bowling spells. India came close to winning the final Test at The Oval. India needed 438 runs to win. Sunil Gavaskar's 221 runs took his side close to victory. They were nine runs short of winning the match when the game was declared as a draw.
England's tour of India in 1980
The year of 1980 was marked as the golden jubilee year of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and England, on their way back home from Australia, dropped in for a one-off Test. There was no play on the second day of the Test as the board did not want to risk eyesights of around 90,000 spectators and the Day 2 was played on the third day. Ian Botham was outstanding in that match, picking 13 wickets and guiding his team to a 10-wicket win.
England's tour of India in 1981-82
India started the six-Test series with a win in a low-scoring match at Bombay with Madan Lal and Kapil Dev picking ten wickets and bundling England for 102. Rest of the series became a victim of docile pitches and India managed their lead to win the series 1-0.
India's tour to England in 1982
The two teams played another series in the same year and England won the Test and ODI series. Dilip Vengasarkar struck 157 at Lord's but could not save Test as Bob Willis and Botham guided England to a seven-wicket win. At Old Trafford, bad weather resulted in a draw. The third Test at The Oval saw Ian Botham struck his career-best 208 runs.
England's tour of India in 1984-85
India was in a socio-political turmoil in 1984 following Indira Gandhi's assassination and and the murder of the British High Commissioner weeks later. England were the first foreign team to visit India for a full-fledged tour. England waited for nine days in Colombo while the tension eased.
England's Mike Gatting struck his maiden Test hundred but that could stop India from winning the first Test at Kanpur by eight wickets. L Sivaramakrishnan was the star performer picking 12 wickets in the match. England bounced back in Delhi and won by 8 wickets. Third Test in Calcutta ended in a draw while, England won the fourth at Madras by nine wickets.
India's tour to England in 1986
India started the three-Test series with a first win at Lord's. Dilip Vengsarkar scored a hundred there for the third successive time. India won the second Test at Leeds by 279 runs. The third Test at Old Trafford ended in a draw handing India a series win of 2-0.
India's tour to England in 1990
England won the first Test at Lord's by 247 runs with the help of Gooch's 333 and 123. Remaining two games ended in draw and handed England 1-0 series win. At Manchester Sachin Tendulkar made 119 and Mohammad Azharuddin struck his second successive hundred. India asked England to follow on, but David Gower made a brilliant 157 to save the match.
England's tour to India in 1992-93
India won the series 3-0 but it was not the series to remembered for right reasons. England were flayed for selection blunders. Nothing went right for the visitors. At Calcutta, England were beaten by eight wickets. England faced innings defeat at Madras and Bombay. Anil Kumble picked 21 wickets in the three Tests whereas England's nine bowlers managed 28 between them.
India's tour to England in 1996
England avenged their series defeat and clinched the home series 1-0. India were outclassed in the Test series. Skipper Azharuddin failed to motivate his team and could score just 42 runs in five Test innings. India lost the first Test at Birmingham by eight wickets after their batting, with the exception of Tendulkar (122) failed to fire. India bounced back at Lord's and snatched a draw. The third Test at Nottingham saw centuries from Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (India) and Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton (England).
England's tour to India in 2001-02
Many English players were reluctant to tour on security grounds following the 9/11 attacks that happened few weeks before the start). They were cajoled by the two boards. India started the series with a win at Chandigarh. The 10-wicket victory was decisive in the series result as remaining two Tests at Ahmedabad and Bangalore finished in draw. The ODI series were drawn.
India's tour to England in 2002
England started the series with a win at Lord's. The second Test at Trent Bridge was a high scoring one that finished in a draw. The series came alive at Headingley when India leveled the series. They scored 628 runs for 8 with help of centuries hundreds from the batting trinity of Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly - and romped home successfully. The series decider at The Oval ended with a washed out last day, but the match had been decided by a perfect pitch as both sides passed 500. In the one-day NatWest series which preceded the Test, India won a remarkable final, scoring 326 for 8 to win with two balls to spare, and to do so after slumping to 146 for 5.
England's tour to India in 2005-06
The first Test between India and England (that was without skipper Michael Vaughan, spinner Ashley Giles and Marcus Trescothick) finished as a draw. India won the next Test at Moahli. Munaf Patel made his Test debut with a seven-wicket haul. England's bounced back in the third Test at Mumbai. Andrew Flintoff inspired his team to a 212-run win. Shaun Udal, on his 37th birthday, picked 4 for 14.
India's tour to England in 2007
India secured a historic win as they won first series in England since 1986 with the help of their second Test at Trent Bridge. India would have well been one down if the final day of the first Test at Lord's wouldn't have been hampered by the bad weather. The third Test was drawn at The Oval but it became memorable for Anil Kumble's maiden Test hundred that came 17 years and 118 Tests after his debut at Old Trafford in 1990 Zaheer Khan was declared the man of the series who contributed heavily in the series with his left-arm swing. England however won the one-day series.
England's tour to India in 2008
This tour will be remembered for more than cricketing reasons. England under Kevin Pietersen visited India for 7 ODIs and 2 Tests. India had clinched series and were leading by 5-0 when terrorists attacked Mumbai. The tour was truncated and the England team went back. After much cajoling from the boards, the team returned. Their decision was applauded by all.
The first Test in Chennai was won by India. Sachin Tendulkar had slammed a match-winning century in the fourth innings and dedicated it to the victims of the terror attack. The second Test in Mohali was drawn. Gautam Gambhir was named man of the match for his 179 & 97. Zaheer Khan was adjudged Man of the Series. India won the series 1-0.
