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Indian Batsmen that have scored test match centuries on debut

India played its first Test in the year 1932. Since then 296 players have represented India in the longest format of the game but only 15 have managed to reach the three-figure mark on their debut. In this article, we will be looking at the 15 Indian batsmen who have scored test centuries on debut.

We have divided the segments into four sections – 1930-1960, 1961-1980, 1981-2000 and 2000s to current.

1930-1960

Test Match Centuries On Debut

The All-England team led onto the field for the opening match of their Tour against Tich Freeman’s XI at the Bat and Ball Ground in Gravesend by their captain, The Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagram (4th from left), on 29th April 1936. Other players include Wazir Ali, Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu and Lala Amarnath. The match ended in a draw. (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

1. Lala Amarnath- 118 v England (1933):

India played the English side at the Bombay Gymkhana in the first Test of England’s tour of India 1933-34. India scored 219 in the first inning of the game followed by a strong batting performance from the Englishmen. They scored 438 and for India not to lose the game with by an innings, they had to score 219 plus in the second innings.

After openers falling shortly, Lala Amarnath alongside CK Nayudu steadied the ship and scored 258 to bring England in to bat again.

Debutant, Amarnath scored 118 with the help of 21 fours before getting out off a Nobby Clark delivery.

Lala Amarnath became first Indian cricketer to score a hundred on Test match debut.

2. Deepak Shoudhan- 110 v Pakistan (1952):

This was India’s first-ever Test series against Pakistan. In the 5th Test at The Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India won the toss and asked the touring side to bat first. Pakistan scored 257 before getting all out.

Almost every single Indian batsman made a good start but the only one who could convert was debutant Deepak Shoudhan. He scored 110 with the help of 15 fours after coming in at 8.

Shoudhan after this knock became first-ever cricketer to score a Test match century coming in at number 8.

**3. AG Kripal Singh- 100* v New Zealand (1955):**

New Zealand was touring India in 1955-56. In the first Test in Hyderabad (Deccan), India won the toss and opted to bat first and scored mammoth 498/4 (dec).

In the innings, all three who came in at 3, 4 and 5 scored centuries. After a double hundred by Polly Umrigar and a hundred by Vijay Manjrekar, AG Kripal Singh came in at 5 and scored an unbeaten 100.

He till the date still holds the record of being the only Indian on the list of “test match centuries on debut” without scoring any boundary.

4. Abbas Ali Baig-112 v England (1959):

India toured England during the English summer of 1959. In the 4th Test at Manchester, trailing England’s 490, India scored 208 in the first innings. England decided to extend their lead and didn’t force the follow-on. They added more 265 to the lead and asked India to chase 547 in the fourth inning.

Chasing a huge total, India got a fine start. Contractor scored 56. Baig on debut came in at three and scored a hundred alongside Polly Umigar.

The debutant scored 112 with 12 fours in front of his name on the scorecard.

Abbas Ali Baig became first Indian to score a century on debut away from home in overseas conditions.

1961-1980

Test Match Centuries On Debut

DELHI , INDIA – DECEMBER 26: India batsman Gundappa Viswanath drives for runs during his century during the 3rd Test Match against England on December 26, 1981 in Delhi, India. (Photo by Adrian Murrell/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

5. Hanumant Singh- 105 v England (1964):

India played England at the Kotla in 4th Test of the series and had asked England to bowl first. Batting first, on back of Hanumant Singh’s ton, India scored 344 in the first innings.

England replied with 451 and India again showed a strong batting performance and scored 463/4. The game ended as a draw.

Singh in his first international outing scored 105 with 16 fours while batting at 5.

6. GR Viswanath- 137 v Australia (1969):

India played against Australia in Kanpur batted first and scored 320, with GR Viswanath scoring a duck. Australia scored 348 in their first inning.

In the second inning unlike his first, Viswanath scored 137 while batting at 4. He scored 25 fours in his first Test hundred.

He went on to become an All-Time Great of Indian Cricket.

7. Surinder Amarnath- 124 v NEW ZEALAND (1976):

In the first Test of India’s 1976’s tour of New Zealand at Eden Park, India were trailing NZ by 266 in the second innings.

Amarnath came in at 3 and scored 124 with help of 16 fours and one six and became 7th Indian to score a century on Test match debut following his father’s footsteps.

1981-2000

Test Match Centuries On Debut

Pravin Amre batting for India during the 3rd Test match between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium in Bombay, February 22nd 1993. The England wicketkeeper is Richard Blakey. India won by an innings and 15 runs to win the series 3-0. (Photo by David Munden/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

8. Md. Azharuddin- 110 v England (1984):

During England’s tour of India 1984-85, the 3rd Test match was played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where Azharuddin made his Test debut.

India scored 437/7 (dec) where the debutant alongside Ravi Shastri scored a ton. Batting at 5, Azhar scored 110 (322) adding 10 fours to his name.

He also went on to captain India in 221 internationals and became one of India’s greats.

9. Pravin Amre- 103 v South Africa (1992):

In the first Test of the tour, at Durban, India were struggling while trailing South Africa’s 254 when Amre came in at 7 and scored a fighting 103(299). Kiran More also helped him with his 55(214) which was 2nd best score for India of the inning.

Pravin Amre was adjudged as Player Of The Match for his gritty 103 which helped India to draw the match.

10. Sourav Ganguly- 131 v England (1996):

In the second game of series at The Lords, India were batting second and were trailing by 344 runs.

Ganguly after picking up 2 wickets while bowling came in at 3 and scored 131(301) with 20 fours to his name. Rahul Dravid also on his debut missed out to add his name to this list just by 5 runs. India didn’t need to bat again as the game finished off as a draw.

Ganguly also went on to become one of India’s greatest batsman and leader. Perhaps the most famous of all Indian test centuries on debut.

2001- Current

Test Match Centuries On Debut

Suresh Raina is one of the 15 Indian Cricketers who have scored test centuries on debut — Indian cricketer Suresh Raina (R) is congratulated by teammate Sachin Tendulkar upon scoring a century (100 runs) during the fourth day of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and India at The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on July 29, 2010. Raina, 23, who was drafted in for his first Test cap July 28, reached a century in the second day of his debut performance. AFP PHOTO/ Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI. (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)

11. Virender Sehwag– 105 v SOUTH AFRICA (2001):

India were batting first in the first Test at Bloemfontein, as Sehwag came in at 6 where Sachin was already set for a hundred. Batting alongside Tendulkar, the debutant became 11th Indian to feature on the “test centuries on debut” list.

He scored 105(173) scoring 19 fours in the first inning. He is now regarded as one of the best Indian Test openers of all time as he completely changed the way people look at Test cricket with his explosive batting upfront.

Also, Read – Picking India’s All-Time Test XI

12. Suresh Raina- 120 v Sri Lanka (2010):

After Sehwag, it took a further 9 years for an Indian to score hundred on Test debut.

Trailing SL’s 642, India lost Laxman at 241 while still being 401 runs away from the lead and 201 to avoid the follow-on. Raina on debut came in at 6 while Sachin was already showing his class.

The Southpaw batted sensibly and scored 120(228) to became First Indian to score centuries in all three formats of the game.

13. Shikhar Dhawan– 187 v Australia (2013):

After waiting 8 years since making a mark at the U19 stage, Shikhar Dhawan got a chance in Tests as Sehwag and Gambhir got unavailable.

Batting second, India were trailing by 408 runs. Batting with Murali Vijay where they also stitched a 289 run record opening partnership in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shikhar Dhawan scored 187(174) which also became the highest score on test match debut for an Indian.

Watch – Dhawan hits India’s first boundary vs England

He scored 33 fours and 2 sixes which are most for any Indian debut centurion.

14. Rohit Sharma- 177 v West Indies (2013):

During West Indies’ tour of India, 2013, which was Sachin’s farewell series, Rohit Sharma made his debut at Eden Gardens in the first Test.

Batting at 6 while India was trailing WI’s 234, Rohit scored 177(301) alongside Ashwin’s 124 (210) to ensure that team India did not have to bat again.

India won the game and Rohit was adjudged as Player of The Match.

Also, Read – The Best Test Batsmen – Top 5 Across Conditions

15. Prithvi Shaw- 134 v West Indies (2018):

Prithvi Shaw as a captain had already enjoyed a U19 World Cup triumph to his name in the same year.

Batting first on debut, Shaw batted alongside the likes of modern greats in Pujara and Kohli and scored 134(154) with 19 fours after his name.

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja also scored hundreds, as India went on to win the game by an inning and 272 runs and 18 years old was named Man of The Match. The last Indian batsmen to date from this list of players who have scored test centuries on debut.

Watch – Prithvi Shaw Shines In First Australian Innings

Shaw also became India’s youngest batsman to score hundred on test match debut.

Some facts about debut Test centurions for India:

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Shikhar Dhawan of India bats during day two of the Specsavers 3rd Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge on August 19, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

-Lala & Surinder Amarnath are the only father-son duo to feature in this elite list.

-Shikhar Dhawan reached the hundred in 85 bowls which is fastest for anyone who has scored test centuries on debut on this list.

-Shikhar Dhawan is oldest Indian debut centurion at 27 years 100 days

-Suresh Raina & Rohit Sharma are only debut centurions to score tons in all 3 formats.

-Out off 15, only 6 have managed to score a Test century again.

-India has won 5, lost 3 and drawn 7 games combining all test centuries on debut.

-AG Kripal Singh is only player in the list to have scored the century without any four/six.

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