Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Virat Kohli Led India's Only ODI Win on Independence Day
Every year on August 15, India celebrates Independence Day, the day it became free in 1947.
That means the country had been ruled by another country, Great Britain, for a long time.
Even before independence, India loved playing cricket.
India played its very first Test match against England in 1932.
For 72 years after becoming free, India never won a cricket match on Independence Day.
Finally, in 2019, that changed.
A cricket team led by a famous player named Virat Kohli played against the West Indies.
The game started on the evening of August 14 and finished in the middle of the night on August 15.
India won that match and won the whole series, making it a very special Independence Day win.
India is celebrating its 80th Independence Day on August 15, the day it gained freedom from British rule in 1947.
India's cricket history predates independence, with its Test debut against England at Lord's in 1932.
India played its first Test after independence against Australia.
Seventy-two years after independence, Virat Kohli-led India defeated West Indies in the third and final ODI to clinch the series 2-0 in 2019.
The match started on the evening of August 14 and ended in the early hours of August 15, marking India's first-ever win on Independence Day.
- Who
- The Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team and the West Indies cricket team.
- What
- India registered its first-ever win on Independence Day by defeating West Indies in the third and final ODI to clinch the series 2-0.
- When
- The match began on the evening of August 14 and ended in the early hours of August 15 in 2019; India celebrates its 80th Independence Day on August 15.
- Where
- Venue not specified in the article.
- Why
- To mark India's first-ever cricket win on Independence Day, 72 years after the country gained freedom in 1947.
- Event
- India's 80th Independence Day
- Celebration Date
- August 15
- Independence Year
- 1947, from British rule
- Historic Cricket Feat
- India's first-ever win on Independence Day (2019)
- Match
- Third and final ODI against West Indies
- Series Result
- India won 2-0
- Match Timing
- Started evening of August 14, ended early hours of August 15
- India's Test Debut
- Vs England at Lord's in 1932