England tour win in 1971 put India on cricketing map: Farokh Engineer

Former cricketer Farokh Engineer went down memory lane while talking to the Times of India and said the 1971 tour of England put India on the cricketing map.

“Do people still remember that victory? I’d like to think that we put India on the cricketing map. 1971 was a great year for Indian cricket. Earlier that year, we beat the West Indies in their own den for the first time,” he said. 

India were in a spot of bother in the first innings of the third Test at Kennington Oval when Engineer and Eknath Solkar chipped in with an important partnership to help the visitors come out of a tricky position. 

While Farokh notched up a half-century, Solkar scored 44 during the course. Talking about the stand with Solkar, the former India cricketer explained how the two batsmen resisted the English bowling attack. 

“What a series that was, especially that Oval Test. We had a great chance to win on the last day. I remember we were in trouble in the first innings before my partnership with Eki [Solkar] saw us through. I told Eki, let’s fight for every run and he responded brilliantly,” Engineer added. 

After the first two matches ended in a draw, India registered a win by 4 wickets in the third and final Test to clinch the series 1-0.