This article describes the history of cricket in British India from the 1918–19 season until the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Events The Ranji Trophy was launched as India's national championship following a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in July 1934 and the competition began in the 1934–35 season. The trophy was donated by the Maharajah of Patiala but named after KS Ranjitsinhji ("Ranji"), even though he barely played any of his cricket in the country. Ranji had died on 2 April 1933. The first winner was Bombay. Since then India has undergone many changes in its cricket history.

Domestic cricket

Bombay Quadrangular winners 1918-19 – Europeans 1919-20 – Hindus 1920-21 – Hindus and Parsees shared 1921-22 – Europeans 1922-23 – Parsees 1923-24 – Hindus 1924-25 – Muslims 1925-26 – Hindus 1926-27 – Hindus 1927-28 – Europeans 1928-29 – Parsees 1929-30 – Hindus 1930-31 – not contested 1931-32 – not contested 1932-33 – not contested 1933-34 – not contested 1934-35 – Muslims 1935-36 – Muslims 1936-37 – Hindus

Bombay Pentangular winners 1937-38 – Muslims 1938-39 – Muslims 1939-40 – Hindus 1940-41 – Muslims 1941-42 – Hindus 1942-43 – not contested 1943-44 – Hindus 1944-45 – Muslims

Ranji Trophy winners 1934-35 – Bombay 1935-36 – Bombay 1936-37 – Nawanagar 1937-38 – Hyderabad 1938-39 – Bengal 1939-40 – Maharashtra 1940-41 – Maharashtra 1941-42 – Bombay 1942-43 – Baroda 1943-44 – Western India 1944-45 – Bombay

Leading players by season

The lists below give the leading first-class runscorers and wicket-takers in each domestic season.

Batsmen 1918-19:

Bowlers 1918-19

International cricket

India's debut in Test cricket was in the 1932 English season when they played England at Lord's Cricket Ground. England won by 158 runs.

International tours of India

MCC 1926-27 The MCC tour was from October 1926 to February 1927. Captained by Arthur Gilligan, the team played 26 first-class matches in India and a further four first-class matches in Ceylon. Team members included Maurice Leyland, Andy Sandham, Bob Wyatt, Arthur Dolphin, George Geary, Ewart Astill and George Brown.

Maharaj Kumar of Vizanagram's XI 1930-31 This team, which also visited Ceylon, played six matches in India. It included Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe.

Ceylon 1932-33 No Tests were played, but India played Ceylon in two matches, both of which were drawn.

For more information about this tour, see: Ceylonese cricket team in India in 1932–33.

England 1933-34 This tour featured the first Test series ever played in India. England won the series 2–0 with 1 match drawn: 1st Test at Gymkhana Ground, Bombay – England won by 9 wickets 2nd Test at Eden Gardens, Calcutta – match drawn 3rd Test at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Madras – England won by 202 runs For more information about this tour, see: English cricket team in India in 1933–34.

Australia 1935-36 A privately organised Australian team toured Ceylon and India, playing 17 first-class matches between October 1935 and February 1936, including four unofficial Tests.

For more information about this tour, see: Australian cricket team in Ceylon and India in 1935–36.

Lord Tennyson's XI 1937-38 Lord Tennyson's team of 16 English players played 15 first-class matches, including five against India, between October 1937 and February 1938.

For more information about this tour, see: Lord Tennyson's XI cricket team in India in 1937–38.

Ceylon 1940-41 For information about this tour, see: Ceylonese cricket team in India in 1940–41.

External sources CricketArchive – Itinerary of Events in India

Further reading Rowland Bowen, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 Vasant Raiji, India's Hambledon Men, Tyeby Press, 1986 Mihir Bose, A History of Indian Cricket, Andre-Deutsch, 1990 Ramachandra Guha, A Corner of a Foreign Field - An Indian History of a British Sport, Picador, 2001