11 surprising moments in cricket which you didn't expect at all in 2013

7. The rise of Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan was in a superb form in 2013

What a year it was for Indian openor Shikhar Dhawan. His 187 on debut against Australia in the 3rd Test at Mohali was just a treat to watch. Scoring freely on both sides of the wicket, racing to his ton in just 85 balls which incidentally is the fastest hundred in Tests on debut. He also holds the Indian record of scoring highest individual runs on the debut.

His form was carried on to the ODIs as he went on to hit as many as 5 hundreds in the ODIs and 4 fifties. After making a comeback, this certainly was one of the pleasant moments in 2013.

6. Rohit Sharma’s 209 off 158 balls against Australia

Rohit Sharma after hitting his double hundred against Australia

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma this year. Three Indians have now hit a double hundred in limited overs cricket. One might blame the short boundaries, flat tracks and new ODI rules in the recent years for this feat. But it should not take away anything from the right-hander from Mumbai who hit as many as 16 sixes(the most ever) in his innings of 209.

A superb year for Rohit Sharma after failing so many times in the past. Other than the double hundred, winning the IPL 2013, scoring a hundred on his debut Test and forming a formidable pair with Shikhar Dhawan as an openor were other notable performances from this year.