Twice upon a Time: India’s Fairytale Cricket Victories of 1971

The year 1971 is considered an epochal moment in Indian history. A young nation was finding its feet on the world stage and building confidence to face challenges. On the political front, India took a giant leap with its firm stance in its conflict with Pakistan, which eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh. The same rapid strides were replicated on the cricket field when the Indian team achieved the unthinkable. Ajit Wadekar and his men clinched series victories in West Indies and England, thereby showing the world that India was ready for the big stage. A young Sunil Gavaskar exuded the confidence of the youth, willing to break the shackles. The veteran Dilip Sardesai symbolised India’s inherent grit, while the likes of BS Chandrasekhar and Bishan Singh Bedi represented brilliance in craft. Eknath Solkar, S Abid Ali and S Venkataraghavan represented stability. All these qualities combined to help India achieve its finest hour in its cricket history until then. Indian cricket has achieved a lot since, but it all started with 1971. As we mark 50 years of those great triumphs, this book brings to you a collection of 71 anecdotes from Indian cricket’s special year - 1971.