On Thursday, 18-year-old opening batsman Prithvi Shaw, while making his Team India debut against the visiting West Indian side in the first Test match at Rajkot, scored 134 runs in 154 balls on day one, thereby becoming the fourth-youngest to score a debut ton in the game's longest format.
Shaw's sensational innings, laced with nineteen boundaries, was cut short by the Caribbean spinner Devendra Bishoo, who caught and bowled the Mumbai lad in the final over before the tea at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
As per statistician Mohandas Menon, Shaw became India's second youngest opener after Vijay Mehra, who was 17 years 265 days old, while making his senior debut at Bombay's Brabourne Stadium against the Kiwis in December 1955.
The Mumbai lad now has the distinction of scoring a century on Ranji, Duleep and Test debuts.
Among Indians, only Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who was 17 years and 107 days old, when he made a ton against England at Manchester on August 9, 1990, got to three figures in Tests before Shaw.
Shaw joins 14 other Indians who have scored a Test century on debut and is the youngest in the list that also includes GR Vishwanath and Mohammad Azharuddin.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was among those left impressed by Shaw's showing:
Harsha Bhogle also tweeted his appreciation: "Such a beautiful moment for young Prithvi Shaw. Almost a child. Bats like he knows no fear. No inhibitions. This is a different generation!"
Here are the Indian batsmen with tons on Test debut:
Batsman | Innings | Opposition | Date |
Lala Amarnath | 118 | England | 15 December 1933 |
RH Shodhan | 110 | Pakistan | 12 December 1952 |
AG Kripal Singh | 100* | New Zealand | 19 November 1955 |
AA Baig | 112 | England | 23 July 1959 |
Hanumant Singh | 105 | England | 8 February 1964 |
GR Viswanath | 137 | Australia | 15 November 1969 |
S Amarnath | 124 | New Zealand | 24 January 1976 |
M Azharuddin | 110 | England | 31 December 1984 |
PK Amre | 103 | South Africa | 13 November 1992 |
SC Ganguly | 131 | England | 20 June 1996 |
V Sehwag | 105 | South Africa | 3 November 2001 |
SK Raina | 120 | Sri Lanka | 26 July 2010 |
S Dhawan | 187 | Australia | 14 March 2013 |
R Sharma | 177 | West Indies | 6 November 2013 |