India came as favourites for the Test series after beating England one-nil in India in the 1981-82 series. England were also now without fifteen of their potential Test players after the TCCB's decision to ban them from Test cricket for three years because they participated in a South African Breweries-sponsored tour of that country.The 1982 tour could not have taken place had the English counties not agreed to omit these players from the side matches.
The Indian management objected to David Constant umpiring their matches and the TCCB had to withdraw him from their panel of Test umpires. India had lost confidence in him after a match against Yorkshire and a Prudential one-day international but the TCCB said its decision implied no criticism of his work.Constant was given the fee he would have received at Lord’s. The previous winter England had objected to some Indian umpires.
It was the summer of the all-rounder: Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Imran Khan of Pakistan later in the season were arguably their countries’ greatest all-rounders.
The season saw the successful introduction of the minimum 96 overs per day in Test matches, which countered the laboured over rates of recent years.
Sunil Gavaskar did not join the panel because he was playing in a benefit match in Sharjah.
Selection
On 31 January 1982 during the final Test against England, Sunil Gavaskar was unanimously appointed captain for the tour.
Unavailable: None.
Tour Party Announced : 1 April 1982
Not selected:J Arun Lal, Mohinder Amarnath.
The sectors named four stand-bys apart from Arun Lal and Amarnath: Gopal Sharma, Zulfiqar Parkar, Rakesh Shukla and Balwinder Singh Sandhu.
Time between selection and departure from India
x days
(1 April - April 1982)
Travel
After a physical conditioning camp in Bangalore between 13 and 23 April, the team assembled in Bombay.They flew from Santa Cruz Airport to Heathrow Airport, and were taken by coach to their London hotel
•India lost the first Test at Lord's by 7 wickets despite Vengsarkar (157) and Kapil Dev (89) batting brilliantly in the second innings.
•The second Test at Old Trafford, where Sandeep Patil smashed a scintillating century, ended in a draw
•
•
Tour Summary
P
W
L
D
Aban
Test Matches
3
0
1
2
-
Other first-class matches
9
1
0
8
-
† Minor matches
4
1
1
2
-
§ One-day internationals
2
0
2
0
-
All Matches
18
2
4
12
-
Return to India
After the tour Kapil Dev immediately joined Northamptonshire, and Doshi went to league cricket.
Only Vengsarkar and Shivlal Yadav returned home to Bombay on 16 July.At the last minute Randhir decided to remain in London for his ear operation, and Raj Singh stayed to visit friends.
The remainder went on a private tour of the United States, and returned to Bombay on 6 September 1982??
Raj Singh Dungarpur returned to Bombay on 7 September after a long holiday in England.
Time away from India
x days(April to 6 September)
Finances
Published accounts of the tour
"Summer of the All-Rounder" (photographic record of the Tests) Patrick Eager and Alan Ross.