India, June 8 -- Starting with their maiden Test in June 1932, India had played 10 matches at Lord's when Kapil Dev led his side to England in the summer of 1986 for a three-Test series. At what's often referred to as the Headquarters of Cricket, India had found little joy - eight losses and two draws. India's form going into that series too was less than encouraging. Their last Test win had come in November 1984, also against England, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, after which they had endured ten winless outings.

Under David Gower, who had masterminded a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph in India in 1984-85, England had a formidable batting unit that included Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting and Allan Lamb, so it came as a bit of a surprise when K...