When was the last occasion two Indians marked their debut in same Test?

Hosts India announced the Test debuts of two cricketers in the ongoing series against England. Middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan and keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel were handed over their Test cap for the third Test against England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, which commenced on Thursday, February 15. Sarfaraz earned his opportunity due to KL Rahul’s unavailability owing to a quadriceps strain, while Jurel replaced KS Bharat, who has been struggling with the bat.

It is the first time since July 2023 that two Indians have made their debuts in the same Test match. It was during the India vs West Indies Test match at Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica that opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan were the debutants on that occasion.

Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan making their Test debuts

Jaiswal scored a magnificent hundred on his Test debut, scoring 171 off 387 deliveries, including 16 boundaries and a maximum. His partnership of 229 runs with skipper Rohit Sharma set the tone for India’s dominance in that Test match. Kishan, on the other hand, showcased his abilities behind the stumps with two catches in the first innings and contributed only 1* with the bat. The match concluded with India winning by an innings and 141 runs, with Jaiswal deservingly named Player of the Match for his stellar debut performance.

Rajat Patidar another promising cricketer was also handed over his Test cap in the last Test match in Visakhapatnam.  Returning to the present scenario of the ongoing India-England Test in Rajkot, both Khan and Jurel have impressive records in First-Class cricket, underscoring their potential at the highest level.

Sarfaraz Khan, with a prolific record of 3,912 runs at an average of 69.85 in 45 first-class matches, brings a wealth of experience from domestic cricket. His recent exploits for India A further validate his readiness for Test cricket.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel, with 790 runs at an average of 46.47 in 15 first-class matches, has displayed consistency and promise with the bat. His noteworthy contributions to India A highlight his ability to perform under pressure situations. India is currently batting at 67/3 (at the time of writing) and both these debutants are yet to come to the crease and prove themselves at the highest level.

Also read: Sarfaraz Khan’s father moved to tears after son receives maiden India Test cap