3rd Test: Dhawan announces Test arrival in style

Indian debutant hits 185 not out on third day against Australia.

Shikhar Dhawan announced his arrival on the Test arena with style, smashing an unbeaten 185 off just 168 deliveries as India punished Australia on the third day of their match in Mohali.

The 27-year-old left-hander smashed the fastest century by a Test debutant and took India to 283 without loss in reply to Australia’s first-innings score of 408 all out in the third Test.

Surviving being Mankaded without having faced a delivery, Dhawan took full advantage of the generosity and pummeled Australia bowlers with an innings laced with 33 boundaries and two sixes. It made Murali Vijay’s innings look pale in comparison and laid to waste the Australia bowling attack.

Earlier, Australia resumed on 273 for seven and were indebted to Mitchell Starc’s 99 that enabled them past the 400-run mark. Starc put on 97 for the eighth wicket with Steven Smith with both batsmen unfortunate to miss out on their centuries.

Smith was dismissed for 92 but Starc added another 51 valuable runs with Nathan Lyon.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets apiece.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.