3 centuries on debut, Mohammad Azharuddin aka Azhar bhai

Mohammad Azharuddin arrived in the Test arena like a monarch. In his debut Test in Kolkata, the wristy Hyderabadi scored a scintillating 110 against England. He scored 105 in his second Test. Yet, it was still not enough for him. On 1st February 1985, Azharuddin completed his third consecutive Test century in the whites in as many Tests He scored 122 runs in that inning. Azharuddin 3 centuries on debut made him a record holder of this only instance in test cricket.

In more than 14 decades of Test cricket, no batsman except Azharuddin has scored 3 centuries on debut (three consecutive centuries in his first three Tests).

Mohammad Azharuddin, starting days

Mohammed Azharuddin is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team. He is considered one of the greatest batsmen in Indian cricket history and is known for his stylish and elegant strokeplay.

Azharuddin made his debut for the Indian cricket team in 1984 and quickly established himself as a key player. He was a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup for more than a decade, and captained the team for most of the 1990s. He was known for his calm and composed demeanor on the field, and was admired by fans and teammates alike for his leadership skills and sportsmanship.

Azharuddin was a versatile batsman, capable of playing a variety of shots all around the wicket. He was particularly strong against spin bowling, and was known for his excellent footwork and ability to rotate the strike. He was also a skilled fielder, and took many spectacular catches in the slips and outfield. His 3 centuries on debut is still a record.

During his career, Azharuddin represented India in 99 Test matches and scored 6,215 runs at an average of 45.03. He also played in 334 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 9,378 runs at an average of 36.92. He was the first Indian cricketer to score over 10,000 runs in ODIs, and is still the third-highest run-scorer for India in this format.

Azhar, the Captain Cool

In addition to his batting and fielding skills, Azharuddin was also an excellent captain. He led India to many victories in both Test and ODI cricket, and is remembered for his innovative strategies and calm leadership under pressure. He was the first Indian captain to win a Test series in South Africa, and also led the team to a memorable victory over Australia in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Azharuddin’s career and controversies

Despite his many achievements on the field, Azharuddin’s career was not without controversy. In 2000, he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal and was banned from cricket for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ban was later overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, but Azharuddin’s reputation was tarnished by the scandal and he retired from cricket in 2000.

In conclusion, Mohammed Azharuddin was a brilliant cricketer and captain who made a significant contribution to Indian cricket. His elegant strokeplay and excellent fielding made him a fan favorite, and his leadership and sportsmanship earned him the respect of his teammates and opponents. Although his career was marred by controversy, he will always be remembered as one of India’s greatest cricketers.

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