
Courtesy: Google
With a 10-wicket win in the fifth Test of a six-match series, India finally ended their drought of a Test series win against Pakistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on January 20, 1980 after a gap of more than 27 years. Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar led from the front with his knock of 166 runs in the first innings, while Kapil Dev shone with his all-round performance of 84 runs and 11 wickets in the match as India scripted a historic Test series win over arch-rivals Pakistan.
India and Pakistan first locked horns in a Test series in 1952 when the Men in Blue come out victorious under the captaincy of Lala Amarnath. After that, both the nations played three Test series in 1955, 1961 and 1978, out of which two series ended in a draw while Pakistan won their first ever series against India in 1978. India were looking for a Test win against Pakistan for 27 years, and they finally ended the drought in 1980.
India defeated Pakistan in Test series after 27 years
Talking about the match, batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for 272 runs in their first innings with Majid Khan top scoring with 56(90) runs. For India, Kapil Dev registered figures of 4/90, while Karsan Ghavri took three and Dilip Joshi put one in his bag. In reply, Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar shone with a knock of 166(373) runs, while Kapil Dev scored 84(98) runs as India posted 430 runs, taking a lead of 158 runs in the first innings.
In the second innings, Kapil Dev stunned Pakistan with a seven-wicket haul as the visitors were bowled out for 233 runs. Kapil registered figures of 7/56, while Dilip Joshi and Karsan Ghavri scalped two and one respectively. After that, Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan put up an unbeaten partnership as India successfully chased the target of 76 runs without losing any wicket. With one match remaining, India took an unassailable lead of 2-0, to ensure a Test series win over Pakistan after 27 years. The sixth match ended in a draw as India clinched the Test series.