History of Indian cricket to 1892

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This article describes the history of Indian cricket to 1892. First-class cricket in India began in the 1892-93 season when Lord Hawke's XI made the inaugural overseas tour of the country.

1 Beginnings
2 Early developments
3 Beginning of first-class cricket
4 References

[edit] Beginnings

The entire history of cricket in India and the sub-continent as a whole is based on the existence and development of the British Raj via the Honourable East India Company.

On Wednesday 31 December 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a Royal Charter to the Honourable East India Company, often colloquially referred to as "John Company". It was initially a joint-stock company that sought trading privileges in India and the East Indies, but the Royal Charter effectively gave it a 21 year monopoly on all trade in the region. In time, the East India Company transformed from a commercial trading venture to one which virtually ruled India as it acquired auxiliary governmental and military functions, until its dissolution in 1858 following the Indian Mutiny. The East India Company was the means by which cricket was introduced into India.

In 1639, the Company effectively founded the city of Madras and in 1661 acquired Portuguese territory on the west coast of India that included Bombay. In 1690, an Anglo-Moghul treaty allowed English merchants to establish a trading settlement on the Hooghly River, which became Calcutta. All of these places became major cricket centres as the popularity of the game grew among the native population.

[edit] Early developments

In 1721, the first definite reference to cricket being played anywhere in the sub-continent is a report of English sailors of the East India Company playing a game at Cambay, near Baroda.

In 1792, the earliest known cricket club in India was formed in Calcutta. In 1799, another club was formed at Seringapatam in south India after the successful British siege and the defeat of Tippoo Sultan.

[edit] Beginning of first-class cricket

In 1864, a Madras v. Calcutta match was arguably the start of first-class cricket in India.

An English team led by George Vernon in 1889-90 was the first foreign team to tour India but none of the matches that it played are considered first-class.

First-class cricket definitely began in the 1892-93 season with two Europeans v Parsees matches at Bombay and Poona. In the same season, Lord Hawke captained an English team that played four first-class matches including a game against "All India" on 26-28 January 1893.

CricketArchive list of 1892-93 matches