Who was the first captain of the Indian Test cricket team after India gained Test status?

Introduction / Context:
India obtained Test status in cricket in the early nineteen thirties. The identity of the first Test captain is an important part of Indian cricket history and appears frequently in sports general knowledge questions. This question asks who led India in its first official Test match, which was played against England.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The format is Test cricket, not ODI or T20.
• The question is about the first captain of the Indian Test team.
• The options are Vijay Hazare, C. K. Nayudu, Lala Amarnath and Vijay Merchant.
• We assume the standard historical record of India s first Test match.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to connect early Test history with the names of prominent pre independence cricketers. India played its first Test match against England at Lords in 1932. The captain of that side, Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, is remembered as C. K. Nayudu. The task is to recall this name and distinguish it from other later captains and star players who led India after independence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that India s first Test match was in 1932 against England at Lords.Step 2: The player who captained India in that historic Test was C. K. Nayudu.Step 3: Check the options and identify C. K. Nayudu as one of them.Step 4: Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath were captains in later periods, mainly after independence.Step 5: Vijay Merchant was a celebrated batsman but not the first Indian Test captain.Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is C. K. Nayudu.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, we can remember the timeline of Indian captains. C. K. Nayudu is repeatedly mentioned in cricket history texts as India s first Test captain. Lala Amarnath is often connected with post independence leadership and India s first Test win, while Vijay Hazare and Vijay Merchant are known for later contributions. This sequence confirms that C. K. Nayudu is the earliest Test captain among the listed players.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vijay Hazare captained India in the nineteen fifties and is not associated with the first Test in 1932. Lala Amarnath captained India later and is important for India s first Test victory, but he was not the first captain overall. Vijay Merchant was a great batsman and occasional captain, yet he did not lead India in the inaugural Test. Hence, they cannot be correct for this specific historical first, leaving C. K. Nayudu as the right option.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up "first Test captain" with "first winning Test captain" or remember more recent legendary names instead of early pioneers. Another pitfall is to choose a more familiar name like Lala Amarnath without considering the exact year. Focusing on the fact that India s first Test took place in 1932 and associating that year with C. K. Nayudu helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The first captain of the Indian Test cricket team was C. K. Nayudu.