There are very few records that legendary Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma or for that matter MS Dhoni haven’t achieved in Test cricket. While Kohli had a slow start in Tests before notching up over 9,000 runs, Rohit scored a century on debut.
But it was Delhi superstar batter Shikhar Dhawan, also dubbed as ‘Mr ICC’, who had a remarkable Test debut against Australia in a Border Gavaskar Trophy match in Mohali. Dhawan holds the record for the fastest century on a Test debut by an Indian cricketer. The dynamic left-hander achieved this feat against Australia in 2013, reaching his hundred in just 85 balls. Remarkably, it was also the highest score ever by an Indian on Test debut.
Among Indian cricketers, only Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Azharuddin have scored Test centuries in fewer deliveries, taking 74 and 78 balls respectively in their career. Meanwhile, modern stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit are yet to come close to Dhawan’s extraordinary debut milestone.
Shikhar Dhawan going strong at 39 years of age
The former Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings captain is going strong even at 39 years of age. Dhawan retired from international cricket and IPL earlier this year.
In the 10th T20I match of the Big Cricket League (BCL) 2024 going on at Surat, Dhawan’s Northern Challengers were locking horns with the UP Brij Stars, led by Chirag Gandhi. Batting first, Dhawan set the stage on fire with a record-breaking performance, scoring the fastest century in the tournament’s brief history.
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Fastest
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Leading from the front, Dhawan smashed a scintillating half-century in just 28 balls. His dominance over the bowlers was evident as he continued to unleash powerful shots, keeping the opposition under relentless pressure. The left-hander didn’t stop there – he went on to hammer a stunning 119 off just 63 balls, including 14 boundaries and 5 towering sixes, maintaining a blistering strike rate of 188.89.
The Northern Challengers kicked off the match with a fiery start, courtesy of an explosive opening partnership. Dhawan and Samiullah Shinwari put on a remarkable 207-run stand in just 98 balls. After Dhawan’s dismissal, Shinwari carried the momentum forward with an unbeaten century, scoring a dazzling 111 off just 46 balls.
Adding to the carnage, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, batting at number three, played a short yet impactful knock of 31 runs off only 10 deliveries. Powered by these incredible performances, the Northern Challengers posted a massive total of 271 runs, setting a daunting target for the UP Brij Stars.
Dhawan ended his Test career with 2,315 runs in 34 Tests with 7 hundreds and 5 fifties. He also scored 6,793 ODI runs with 17 centuries and 1,759 runs in T20I cricket.
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