4 Best Test Debut Hundreds by Indian Batsmen

The talk around the town is about Prithvi Shaw. Prithvi Shaw became the 15th Indian player and the youngest Indian to score a century on debut. Shaw scored the third quickest century on debut as his century came off 99 balls.

On this grand occasion, we look back at the 4 best debut hundreds scored by Indian batsmen in Tests.

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#1 Mohammad Azharuddin

Azhar created a world record by scoring 3 hundred in his first 3 matches

England was led by David Gower on their tour of India in 1984. India won the first Test match at Mumbai by 8 wickets. England came back in the second Test at Delhi winning by a similar margin of 8 wickets. India should have drawn the second Test but two reckless shots by Sandeep Patil and Kapil Dev led to the collapse in the second innings.

After the second test, both Sandeep Patil and Kapil Dev were dropped from the team. Mohammad Azharuddin was brought into the team as a replacement for Sandeep Patil.

The third Test at Eden Gardens in which Azhar made his debut started in a tense ambiance. The Indian fans could not take the omission of Kapil Dev from the team kindly. There were banners all around the city with slogans that read “No Kapil No Test”.

India batted first and lost both the openers Gavaskar and Gaekwad quickly. Azhar walked to the wicket with the score reading 126 for 3. Vengsarkar left at 124.

Ravi Shastri joined Azhar, who opened his account in Test cricket with an elegant back foot cover-drive. Azhar had his share of luck when wicket-keeper Paul Downton missed an easy stumping chance. Azhar slowly settled down and played a few wristy strokes. He reached his century with the help of 10 fours. Azhar and Shastri put on 214 runs for the fifth wicket. The match ended in a draw.

Azhar went on to score two more hundreds in the next 2 matches at Chennai and Kanpur. Sadly India lost that home series badly.

#2 Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly - Elegance personified

Ganguly made his debut against England at Lord’s in 1996. It was the second Test of the series. England had won the first Test at Birmingham. An injury to Sunil Joshi in the first Test paved the way for Ganguly in the second Test. England batted first in the Lord’s Test and Ganguly made his presence felt by claiming the important wickets of Naseer Hussain and Graham Hick with the ball.

When India batted, Ganguly came in at the fall of the first wicket and scored a brilliant 131 with the help of 20 fours. Ganguly was imperious through the off-side. Ganguly impressed everyone with his cover drives and pull shots. His free-flowing strokes on the off side left the England bowlers stunned. Ganguly made batting look smooth and easy.

A legend for India was born on that day. Before the day was out, India found another legend in Rahul Dravid who was also making his debut in that Lord’s Test match. Unfortunately for Dravid, he got out for 95.

Coming back to Ganguly, he went to score a hundred in his second Test too at Nottingham. Ganguly scored 136 runs with the help of 17 fours and 2 sixes. Both the second and third Tests of the series ended in a draw. England won the series 1-0.

Ganguly played his third Test against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. The Indian fans expected Ganguly to equal Azharuddin’s record of 3 hundred in the first 3 matches. Unfortunately, Ganguly got out for 66.

#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma got a chance to play his first Test match after playing more than 100 one day matches

Rohit Sharma made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2013 on his favourite ground, Eden Gardens, Calcutta. Rohit had played over 100 One Day Internationals before he made his Test debut. That series against the West Indies was termed as the “Tendulkar farewell series”. West Indies batted first and scored 234 in the first innings.

In reply, India were struggling at 82 for 4 when Rohit Sharma walked out to the crease at the fall of Tendulkar’s wicket. The crowd was expecting a century from Tendulkar in his last series but Rohit Sharma replaced him at the wicket. Soon, Virat Kohli too left and India were reduced to 83 for 5.

Rohit, in the company of captain Dhoni, was slowly inching towards the West Indies score of 234. Rohit added 73 runs with Dhoni and reached his 50 off 95 balls with 7 fours.

When Dhoni got out, Rohit was joined by Ashwin and these two added a mammoth 280 runs for the 7th wicket. Rohit reached his hundred off 194 balls. He finally got out for 177. India won that match by an innings and 51 runs.

Rohit Sharma scored another hundred in his second Test match on his home ground at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This was Tendulkar’s 200th and last Test match. In this Test match, Rohit scored 111 off 127 balls.

Rohit Sharma’s third Test match was at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. Like Ganguly, the expectations were high on Rohit to equal Azharuddin’s record of 3 consecutive hundreds in the first 3 matches but he failed at the Wanderers.

#4 Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan scored the quickest debut hundred by an Indian

Shikhar Dhawan made his debut against Australia in 2013 at Mohali. Dhawan had to wait to get into action as the first day of the Test match was washed out. Australia batted first in that Test match and reached a decent score of 408.

In reply, India opened with Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan, playing his first Test match was not at all nervous as he launched into the Australian bowling attack. Dhawan reached his 50 off 50 balls as he slammed 12 fours. Dhawan was equally comfortable against the pace of Mitchel Starc and the off-spin of Nathan Lyon. Dhawan reached his debut hundred off just 85 balls, with 84 runs off his 100 runs coming in the form of boundaries. Dhawan’s hundred was the fastest hundred by an Indian on debut. It was the second fastest in the world.

After reaching his century, Dhawan simply took off. His 150 came off 131 balls. Just as Dhawan was bracing up for his double hundred, he got out to Nathan Lyon for 187. He tore apart the Australian bowling with 33 fours and two sixes. In the first wicket partnership of 289 with Murali Vijay, Dhawan’s contribution was a massive 187. India won that Mohali Test by 6 wickets.