Related Links: Australia Tour of India 2012/13 | India Vs Australia, 3rd Test Scorecard
A smashing unbeaten century on debut from the 27-year-old Shikhar Dhawan completely demoralized the Australians in the ongoing 3rd Test at Mohali. Shikhar Dhawan raced away to an unbeaten 185 in just 168 balls (with 33 fours and 2 sixes) and Murali Vijay scored a composed 83 to give India a powerful start of 283 for no loss in reply to Australia’s 408 on Day 3.
Shikhar Dhawan became the 13th Indian Cricketer to score a century on debut. The afternoon and the final sessions on Day 3 saw Dhawan’s destructive knock that helped India to cut down the first innings deficit to just 125 runs after 58 overs of batting. India’s run rate thanks to Dhawan’s free flowing strokeplay is just a shade under 5 runs per over. His partner Murali Vijay mixed caution with aggression to collect 83* from 181 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. Both the opening batsmen were sever against the two Aussie spinners – Nathan Lyon (15-3-69-0) and Xavier Doherty (10-2-57-0). Dhawan brought up his century in just one session and took just the 85 balls which is the fastest ever century on Test Debut. This new record of Dhawan surpassed the previously held record of West Indian Dwayne Smith who hit his century in 93 balls against South Africa in 2004.
Early on, India struggled to wrap up the Australian innings quickly. It took almost the morning session to take the remaining three Australian wickets. Steven Smith, one of the overnight batsman got out after an hour, stumped by MS Dhoni after overbalancing in a forward defensive shot and getting beaten comprehensively by a Pragyan Ojha delivery that turned sharply from middle. Steven Smith walked back with a career best of 92 from 185 balls with 10 fours and a six. With Mitchell Starc, Smith rescued the Aussies from 251 for 7 to 348 for 8!
Mitchell Starc ensured that the Aussies got close to the 400-run mark. The no.9 was looking really good to help himself to a maiden Test and first-class century but succumbed to the nervous 90s when MS Dhoni brought the field in and denied him anymore easy singles. Ishant Sharma built the pressure on the young Starc by bowling dot balls and eventually got him to flash at an away swinging sucker ball to have him caught behind for an unlucky 99! Starc’s 99 came in 144 balls with 14 fours. Australia were bowled out for 408 in 141.5 overs.