Chepauk memories: Last of the ‘First XI’ on India’s maiden Test win

By V Ramnarayan

The lone survivor among Vijay Hazare’s men who triumphed by an innings and eight runs over a Donald Carr-led

England

to register India’s first Test victory on February 10, 1952 at Chepauk, tall and erect Chingleput Doraikannu Gopinath wears his 90 years lightly. Blessed with a razor-sharp memory, he recalls with quiet pride the joy of that historic moment in the annals of Indian cricket. It was perhaps the first time that Indian cricketers realised their ability to compete on equal terms with their international rivals, even if the visitors they had just defeated were not at their full strength, with stars like Peter May, Colin Cowdrey and Fred Trueman not making the trip.

Read the entire story on TOI+Meet the man who was part of India's first test win at Chepauk in 1952