With the introduction of T20 cricket, batsmen have changed their outlook towards ODIs and Test matches and score at a rapid pace. Scoring a century in an international match is always glorious for any batsman in the world, but the satisfaction is immense when the hundred comes in a Test match.
Runs are scored comparatively slower in Tests compared to ODIs and T20s, but world cricket has always had aggressive players who made test hundreds in quick time. Recently, Brendon McCullum scored the fastest century in Test history ever, a 54-ball effort that broke the record jointly held by Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq.
India is also popular for producing aggressive batsmen over the years. Here we take a look at the top five fastest Test century made by an Indian batsman.
#5 Kapil Dev – 86 Balls
Former Indian skipper, Kapil Dev, popularly known as ‘Haryana Hurricane’ for his aggressive style of batting is one of the most successful all-rounders India has ever produced. As a bowler, he took more than four hundred wickets in his entire Test career.
On 1st February 1981, India played a Test match against England at Kanpur. England made 378 runs in the 1st innings, English legend Ian Botham with a century India made 377 runs in the 2nd innings with the help of Kapil Dev’s quickfire knock of 116 runs.
Kapil Dev took just 86 balls to make it to his ton. In his 173 minutes of innings, he faced a total 98 balls and smashed 16 fours and 2 sixes with a strike rate of 118.36.
Though the match ended in a draw, India won the 6-match series 1-0 and Kapil Dev was the Player of the Tournament in that Test series.
#4 Shikhar Dhawan – 85 Balls
Shikhar Dhawan is one of the finest attacking batsmen in Tests and made an impressive 187 on his Test debut against Australia in Mohali.
On day three of the third test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2013, India came to bat to chase the target of 408 runs set by Australia in the 1st innings.
India made a pretty good score of 499 runs in the 2nd innings with the help two centuries made by their openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay.
Dhawan made the century by taking only 85 balls and smashed 21 fours. It was the fastest hundred made by any debutant batsman in cricket history. He made 187 runs at a strike rate of 107.47.
India won that match by 6 wickets after bowling out Australia for 223 in the second innings. Dhawan was also awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant innings.
#3 Virender Sehwag – 78 Balls
Third on the list is Virender Sehwag – one of the deadliest and most aggressive batsman in Test history. The former Indian opening batsman was known for his aggressive style and it is no surprise that he makes this list.
On India’s tour of West Indies in 2006/07, Sehwag scored a century in just 78 balls. The match was played at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia, West Indies in the 2nd test of the series.
India made a mammoth total of 588 runs in their first innings.Viru spent 287 minutes on the ground, faced 190 balls, made 180 runs, scoring 20 fours and 2 sixes.
Apart from Sehwag, two others Indian batsmen – Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif also made centuries in that match. Though the match ended in a draw, India won the 4 test match series 1-0.
#2 Mohammad Azharuddin – 74 Balls
Former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin played wristy shots with ease and scored runs quickly.
In the second test match of the India-South Africa test series in 1996, Azharuddin scored a spectacular century in front of a packed Eden Garden’s crowd. South Africa made 428 in the 1st innings with the help of two centuries by openers AC Hudson and G.Kirsten, and India in reply made 329 runs.
Mohammad Azharuddin made a quickfire century in the match. He made 107 runs from 77 balls and took 74 balls to reach the hundred. In doing this, he equalled the record made by his senior teammate Kapil Dev in 1986-87 season.
In his 132 minute innings, he scored 18 fours and 1 six with an impressive strike rate of 141.55.
Though India lost the match by 329 runs, the match will remembered by the glorious century made by Azharuddin.
#1 Kapil Dev – 74 Balls
Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj, the former Indian skipper is number 1 on this list. He still holds the record for the fastest test century made by an Indian batsman.
This marvellous knock came in the 1986-87 Test series against Sri Lanka. Kapil smashed the ball to all parts of the ground and brought up his ton in just 74 balls.
Sri Lanka made 420 runs in the first innings at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur and Kapil Dev picked up two wickets in the first innings.
In the second innings, Kapil Dev took 74 balls to reach 100 runs and made 163 runs from 165 balls with a strike rate of 98.78. In the 240 minute innings, he smashed 19 fours and 1 six.
Apart from his outstanding skills as a bowler, Kapil was a brilliant batsman lower down the order. He batted at number 7 most of his career, averaging over 3.
Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin also made a century each in that match and India scored 676 runs, but the match ended in a draw.
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