OTD | Shikhar Dhawan set the stage on fire with the fastest century on debut against Australia in 2013

Shikhar Dhawan is known for his suave and assertive batting style. On this day he started his Test career in the same way by smashing a century in his debut Test match against the Aussies. It was also the fastest century on debut in Test cricket. 

Shikhar shocks the Kangaroos

Australia won the toss and was elected to bat first. The opening duo of David Warner and Ed Cowan were off to a flying start with a 139-run opening partnership. The Indian spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Pragyan Ojha pulled the game back with quick breakthroughs. India reduced Australia 198/4, for neutralizing the initial advantage that Australia gained. The hosts exerted further pressure with more wickets, pushing Australia to 251/7. The Australians counter-attacked as Steve Smith showed the way. He was assisted by Mitchell Starc. Smith scored 92 runs whereas Starc missed his century by a whisker as he got out on 99. Courtesy of these two knocks Australia posted 408 runs on the board in the first innings. 

The Indian openers retaliated in the same fashion. While Murali Vijay assumed a sterner role, Shikhar Dhawan just kept thrashing the Australian bowlers right from the start. There was nothing adventurous but pure conviction behind his drives and cuts. Shikhar Went on to score a century on his debut and he did not stop there. The explosive batting continued. Meanwhile, Murali Vijay also completed his century. The opening pair added 289 runs for the first wicket. Dhawan scored 187 runs off just 174 deliveries whereas Vijay went back to pavilion after accumulating 153 runs. These two helped India take a 91-run lead in the first innings. 

The Indian bowlers were in much better form in the second innings, wrapping up Australia for 223 runs. The Aussies could only give a target of 133 runs to the home team which they chased without much trouble to win the match by 6 wickets. The debutant, Shikhar Dhawan, was awarded the player of the match for his jaw-dropping batting effort. 

Also read: Navjot Singh Sidhu’s second slowest double century in Tests on a snail-paced pitch in Trinidad in 1997