The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Moments of Glory

Welcome to Episode 5 of The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Moments of Glory, where we revisit the most iconic moments from this fierce rivalry. In today’s episode, we highlight a memorable and attacking innings by Shikhar Dhawan, as he scored a brilliant 187 on debut.

Shikhar Dhawan, known for his fearless approach and scintillating strokes – India’s swashbuckling opener, has long been a crowd favorite. With a swagger that commands attention and a batting style that combines elegance with raw aggression, Dhawan has a knack for lighting up the field from the very first ball

The revamped Australia, reeling from two consecutive losses, were poised to face a confident and buoyant India in the third Test of the series at Mohali. For India, a victory here would not only seal the series but also retain The Border Gavaskar Trophy. On the other hand, Australia’s pride was on the line as they aimed to defend their reputation and delay a series defeat.

March 14, 2013 – Mohali

Australia won the toss for the third consecutive time in the series and chose to bat first on a wicket favorable for batting. The openers responded effectively to their captain’s decision, putting together a solid 139-run partnership, with both David Warner and Ed Cowan scoring well-crafted half-centuries. As the saying goes, “one brings two,” and Australia quickly lost three wickets, leaving them struggling at 3 for 151. Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc played the rescue act with 92 and 99 respectively. Australia finished their first innings at 408 with the help of four half-centuries.

A Star is Born: The First Ball

Virender Sehwag, India’s regular opener, had returned underwhelming performances in the first two Tests, prompting India to give Shikhar Dhawan the chance to partner Murali Vijay at the top of the order. India’s openers—Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay—walked out to face the Australian bowlers, with Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle starting the attack. Dhawan, known for his attacking style, was calm and composed as he took his stance. The crowd held its breath. They had seen his explosive abilities before, but today was different. Dhawan had already tasted success in his brief career, particularly in the shorter formats of the game. Today, however, he was set to make his mark on the grandest stage of all.

The Flamboyant Start: A Century in 85 Balls

What followed was nothing short of breathtaking. Shikhar Dhawan’s stroke play was a masterclass in timing and aggression. Every Australian bowler who came at him was treated with disdain. Siddle, Starc, and Lyon—they all tried to test him with bouncers, slower balls, and spin, but Dhawan, in full flow, was simply unstoppable. His cover drives were crisp, his pulls brutal, and his footwork impeccable.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Shikhar Dhawan scored 187 runs on test debut against Australia

With each passing over, Dhawan was picking up boundaries at will. He brought up his fifty in no time, and then his hundred came in a mere 85 balls—the fastest century ever scored by an Indian batsman in Test cricket. The crowd was on its feet, chanting his name. For Dhawan, it wasn’t just a personal achievement—it was a statement that he was ready for the big time. Dhawan’s brilliance seemed to lift the entire team. As he reached his century, the look on his face wasn’t one of ecstasy; it was of sheer concentration. The job was far from done. He wasn’t content with just a century; Shikhar Dhawan was playing for something bigger.

The Rise of Shikhar Dhawan: The Onslaught Continues

As the match progressed, Dhawan showed no signs of slowing down. His aggression wasn’t reckless; it was calculated, with an unwavering focus on scoring runs. He dispatched the ball to all parts of the ground, never giving the Australian bowlers a chance to settle. Every shot he played seemed to pierce the field—whether it was the square drive, the flick off the pads, or the pull over midwicket. He wasn’t just accumulating runs; he was attacking Australia’s best bowlers, forcing them into errors.

The runs flowed freely as Dhawan moved past 150. With each boundary, he was rewriting history. The partnership between Dhawan and Vijay was rock-solid, and their steady progress meant India was on track for a massive score. But it was Dhawan who was grabbing all the attention. His 150 came at a blistering pace. It wasn’t just a good knock—it was a spectacular assault.

The Pinnacle: 187 Runs of Pure Class

As the day wore on, Dhawan continued his rampage. But, as is often the case with such explosive innings, a moment of brilliance came to an end. Having reached a stunning 187 runs off just 174 balls, Dhawan was finally dismissed by Lyon, caught at slip. His knock was an innings of pure class, blending aggression with elegance, and it had turned the match in India’s favor. Dhawan and Vijay had put together 289 runs for the first wicket in mere 60 overs. Vijay, who played a second fiddle to Dhawan scored matured innings of 153 runs

Despite his departure, the damage had been done. Dhawan’s innings had put India in a commanding position, and the Australian bowlers, deflated and exhausted, had no answer to his brilliance. India finished their first innings at 499.

Australia had no answers to India’s formidable spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Pragyan Ojha, and they crumbled to 223 in their second innings. This left India with a modest target of 136 runs, which they comfortably chased down, losing just four wickets, and successfully retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Shikhar Dhawan’s knock of 187 was one for the ages, not just for its sheer run count, but for the way it was played. It was a knock that exemplified aggression with purpose. His fearless approach to batting inspired a new generation of cricketers, showing them that Test cricket was not just about patience—it was also about taking the game to the opposition, dictating terms, and making your presence felt.