It was 22nd June 1996 when Rahul Dravid faced his first-ever Test delivery.
The venue was the Mecca of cricket – Lord’s. India were playing England and there were two Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly who were making Test debuts for India in this very match.
Ganguly went on to smash a superb hundred to go into the history books while Dravid fell just short of a maiden Test ton by 5 runs.
#OnThisDay in 1996, the world witnessed true 𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐀-𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐢 as @SGanguly99 smashed a 💯 on #Test debut! 💥
What’s your favourite memory of Dada in #TeamIndia‘s Test whites? pic.twitter.com/zsK63WPoGb
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 22, 2021
Though, former India skipper scored a Test hundred at Lord’s and eventually scripted his name on the honour’s board but it took him 15 years to achieve that feat.
In a bit of random trivia, Dravid has faced most balls – 31258 & spent most time at the crease – 44152 minutes in the longest format.
Today in 1996, 20 yrs go, Rahul Dravid faced his 1st ball in Tests.
He has faced most balls 31258 & spent most time @ the crease 44152 mins— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) 22 June 2016
New Zealand batsman Devon Conway broke Ganguly’s 25-year-old record of registering the highest Test score on debut at Lord’s when he went past the stylish southpaw’s 131 during the first Test against England on June 3, 2021.
With his opening day exploits, the South African-born 29-year-old became the sixth cricketer to hit a hundred on debut at the iconic venue. Ganguly, who is now the BCCI president, had scored 131 on his Test debut at what is referred to as the Mecca of cricket in 1996.
Interestingly, both Conway and Ganguly share their birthday — July 8 — but are separated by nearly 20 years in age.
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