Lord’s Diaries: 5 Eye-Opening Stats That Define India’s Love-Hate Story at the Home of Cricket

Watching India play at Lord’s is quite a special occasion – this venerable ground has been significant in the sense of greatness and disaster, and has had many memorable moments. As Rohit Sharma’s team prepares to play the third Test against England in the 2025 series, the time has come to stop counting runs and wickets and focus on the stats that have influenced India’s narrative at Lord’s over the years.

Lord’s: India’s Best Bet on English Soil?

In the surprising statistic, Lord’s is India’s most successful Test ground in England, which has won three of their ten wins here, two of those in the last decade. From Kapil Dev’s unforgettable win in 1986, to Dhoni’s tough win in 2014, and Kohli’s masterly 151 in 2021, Lord’s has transformed from a site of heartbreak to a site of belief. With the series 1-1 in 2025, India will be looking to keep this momentum.

The irony? Despite these three famous wins, India has lost 12 out of 19 Tests at Lord’s. But recent form gives reason for optimism — two wins in the last three appearances are no fluke. Maybe, just maybe, this once-intimidating ground is finally India’s friend.

Dilip Vengsarkar & the Art of Conquering Lord’s

When it comes to India at Lord’s, no name shines brighter than Dilip Vengsarkar — the undisputed “Lord of Lord’s.” In just four matches, he racked up 508 runs, including an unmatched hat-trick of centuries. No other overseas batter has done that. He didn’t just perform here — he ruled.

And if you’re wondering who else joins him on the 300-plus run list, it’s Test greats Rahul Dravid (354), Sunil Gavaskar (340), and Vinoo Mankad (333). Not bad company to keep. Speaking of Mankad…

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Mankad’s Magic & India’s Rare Big Scores

Long before Bazball or DRS, Vinoo Mankad was making noise at Lord’s. His 184 in 1952 remains the highest individual score by an Indian at this ground — and get this — it came while opening the innings and bowling his heart out too. That’s old-school Test greatness. Only one other Indian has crossed 150 at Lord’s: yes, you guessed it — Vengsarkar again, with a classy 157 in 1982.

Strangely enough, both of these monster knocks came in losing causes. Which says a lot about how India used to rely on solo brilliance back then. Thankfully, modern India prefers team performances — but let’s not forget the trailblazers who lit the path.

Record-Breaking Partnerships

India has compiled two partnerships of 200+ at Lord’s, both were vintage. The first 200+ effort came in 1952 when Mankad (again) and Vijay Hazare stitched together 211 for the second wicket. Hazare’s 49 didn’t exactly ring fireworks, but he played a gutsy anchor role in Mankad’s titanic rearguard act.

Then, in 1979, you had Vengsarkar and Viswanath put together 210 runs. That one had a bit more dazzle – two fluent right-handers countering swing and pressure with style. The tragic twist? Neither team brought home a win.

Indian Pace Masters at Lord’s: Siraj, Kapil, and the Bowling Greats

When it comes to bowling brilliance at Lord’s, Mohammed Siraj’s 8 for 126 in 2021 tops the list for India. His fiery spells dismantled England and proved India’s pace battery had truly come of age.

Before Siraj, Kapil Dev wowed crowds in 1982 with his eight-wicket match haul — five wickets in the first innings and three in the second — showcasing his all-round brilliance. Then came Ishant Sharma’s unforgettable 7 for 74 in 2014—a blazing spell that felt like sweet redemption after years of struggle. Venkatesh Prasad in ’96 and RP Singh in ’07 also delivered seven-wicket hauls, proving that Indian fast bowlers can indeed shine on Lord’s famously seamer-friendly pitch.