Pic courtesy of Cricinfo
Shikhari Dhawan’s century was a not only a bolt from the blue and a joy for cricket watchers! It now stands as the fastest century ever by a Test debutant. … and he is still there with 185 runs to his credit from 168 deliveries. Michael Roberts
Shikhar Dhawan explodes upon Test cricket
byPeter Lalor in Mohali for The Australian, March 16, 2013 10:34PM
SCIENTISTS seem certain the Hadron collider has discovered the God Particle, Indian cricket seems to have found its own in debut centurion Shikhar Dhawan. This 27-year-old high energy particle accelerator has blasted his way into the game with the fastest Test 100 on debut. Dhawan (185no) and Murali Vijay (83no) took the home side to 0-283 at stumps in reply to Australia’s 408. The pair scored at near enough to five runs an over, shutting Australia out of a game in two blinding sessions.
Dhawan’s flashing blade and brilliant off side stroke play stunned an Australian side that had hoped at least a little time to celebrate the tail’s effort in adding 157 runs for the last three wickets. The universe was created in a moment and so too Dhawan’s Test career. He went from 0 to 100 in 85 balls, 84 of the runs coming from boundaries _ the bulk of them delightful cover drives or short arm jabs through the point region.
Very odd that he hadn’t been given an opportunity until now. Been very consistent on the domestic circuit. Scoring a century in a tour match vs England and they still left him out in favour of Gambhir and Sehwag.