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Azharuddin scored centuries in his first three Tests, debuting in December 1984 against England at Eden Gardens, then in Chennai and Kanpur.
Mohammad Azharuddin is one of the finest skippers ever to lead India.
On This Day In 1985: One of the finest skippers ever to lead India, Mohammad Azharuddin played 99 Tests and 334 ODIs. Azharuddin made his Test debut against England in December 1984 and he could not have asked for a better start to his career. Playing at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, he scored a fabulous century.
Azharuddin continued the momentum and scored another ton in his second Test in Chennai.
The story continued in the third Test as well with Azharuddin scoring one more hundred in Kanpur. With this, Azharuddin became the first player to record hundreds in each of his first three Tests. He had achieved this sensational feat on this day (February 1) in 1985.
Here we take a look back at Mohammad Azharuddin’s prolific series of performances.
With this bat, I made a world record of three consecutive hundreds in my first three tests against England in 84-85.In a season I scored more than 800 runs with this very bat, chosen by my grandfather. #FondMemories pic.twitter.com/ci8dkc5tzz— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) May 22, 2021
Featuring in his maiden Test innings at the Eden Gardens, Mohammad Azharuddin produced a memorable knock of 110 against England. His patient 322-ball knock comprised 10 boundaries.
Thanks to Azharuddin’s century and Ravi Shastri’s 111, India succeeded in breaching the 400-run total in the first innings. Shivlal Yadav and Chetan Sharma claimed four wickets each for India in the first innings. The Kolkata Test, eventually, finished as a draw.
The next Test, played in Chennai, started with India batting first. Mohammad Azharuddin scored 48 runs off 90 balls in the first innings. Mohinder Amarnath emerged as India’s highest score in the first innings adding 78 runs to the scoreboard. India’s first innings ended at 272.
Mohammad Azharuddin exhibited amazing batting and solid temperament scoring 105 runs off 218 deliveries in the second innings. Mohinder Amarnath once again excelled with the bat but he missed out on his ton by five runs.
Despite Azharuddin and Amarnath’s terrific show, India failed to win the contest. England had won the Chennai Test by a convincing margin of nine wickets.
The fifth Test in Kanpur got off to a similar start with Mohammad Azharuddin producing another hundred. Azharuddin scored 122 runs off 270 balls in the first innings. He was ably supported by Dilip Vengsarkar who scored 137.
Mohammad Azharuddin displayed impressive batting in the second innings as well hitting a half century. He remained unbeaten scoring a quickfire 54 off 43 balls. His gusty knock comprised five boundaries. But Azharuddin’s stupendous and consistent show could not earn a win for India with the fifth Test coming to an end in a draw.
