Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Indian cricket team has earned a reputable position in world cricket with their incredible achievements. Currently, this sport is no less than a religion in India, and the credit for this amazing success goes to fans, But along with them, it’s Indian team players that have succeeded in winning the hearts of Indians with their extraordinary performances.
Since 1932, India are playing international cricket and so far in more than 90 years, Indian team supporters have got a lot of glorious memories to revisit. MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning six and Kapil Dev’s iconic catch against Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final are the most common memories that are remembered but along with that, there are some astonishing facts about Indian cricketers that are not much known by Indian team’s supporters.
Here are the 10 shocking facts about Indian cricketers
10. Virat Kohli got his first T20I scalp without bowling a delivery
Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Virat Kohli is known for his exceptional batting skills in international cricket. In his 15-year career, he has served Indian cricket efficiently with his bat. Currently, he is one of the best batters in the international circuit. Back in 2011, when Kohli was striving to solidify his position in Indian cricket, an interesting incident happened that is still fresh in the minds of the Indian cricket team’s supporters.
During India’s tour of England in 2011, the two sides locked horns in the only T20 International (T20I) in Manchester. Batting first after winning the toss, India put up 165 runs on the board, riding on the brisk knocks of Ajinkya Rahane’s 61 off 39 and Suresh Raina’s 33 off 19.
Defending the total, India dismissed Alex Hales and Craig Kieswetter but Kevin Pietersen was looking dangerous with his bat scoring 33 off just 22. In the eighth over, captain MS Dhoni brought Virat Kohli into the attack and the youngster bowled down the leg side against Pietersen, who stepped out to play an attacking shot but got deceived and lost his wicket getting stumped at the hands of MS Dhoni. Kohli, who delivered the breakthrough, picked up his first T20 International (T20I) wicket on the zeroth ball as the umpire declared the delivery a wide.
9. Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi is the only Indian cricketer to represent England and India
Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi played international cricket for 14 years from 1932 to 1946, and during this period, he played six Tests, in which he scored 199 runs with a ton in 10 innings. He is the only India cricketer to represent England and India in international cricket. In the 1932-33 Ashes, Iftikhar made his international debut against Australia in the opening Test in Sydney.
In his debut match, he notched up a scintillating ton in the first innings to help England vanquish the hosts by 10 wickets. During the tour, he played a couple of Tests and scored 122 runs in three innings. The Indian cricket team toured England in 1946 for three Tests and Pataudi was appointed the captain of the side.
Making his India debut, Pataudi scored 55 runs in five innings of three Tests. As a skipper, he couldn’t lead India to a series victory as the hosts won the tournament by a 1-0 margin with their impressive 10-wicket triumph in the first Test at the Lord’s cricket ground.
8. Rahul Dravid played 11 matches for Scotland in 2003
Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former India captain Rahul Dravid is serving Team India as a head coach currently. During his playing days, he was considered one of the most dangerous batters in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The legend is the only the third India cricketer to score more than 20000 runs in international cricket, along with Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
Ardent cricket fans remember Dravid’s immense contribution to the Indian cricket team as a batter but many are unaware that the legendary player also represented Scotland in the English domestic one-day league in 2003. According to Wisden, a group of Non-Residential Indians living in Scotland collected around 45000 pounds through charity dinners and other events. With the collected amount, the group funded Dravid’s stay at The Garage.
Donning the saltire, he scored 600 runs at a fine average of 66.66. Against Somerset, he also hit a century to help Scotland post 296 on the board in 45 overs. However, his excellent knock went in vain as Somerset won the intriguing game by one wicket.
7. Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before making his international debut for India
Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar played for India from 1989-2013 and during this period, he gave his best to the Indian team and became the highest run-scorer in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODIs). In 1989, when India toured Pakistan for four Tests and four ODIs, Sachin got a chance to make his international debut in the first Test in Karachi.
Prior to making his international debut, Tendulkar played for Pakistan against the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in 1987. During the game, when Pakistan players Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir had left the field during the lunch break, Tendulkar came as a standby fielder for Pakistan.
In his autobiography ‘Playing It My Way,’ Tendulkar recalled how he could’ve taken the catch against Kapil Dev but couldn’t reach the ball despite covering a long distance. The Master Blaster also added that if he was deployed at mid-on, the catch would’ve been completed.
6. Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to be given out by third umpire
Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo Source: Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
In 1992, TV umpire was introduced in cricket during India’s first tour of South Africa after the apertheid episode. Taking on the hosts in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, India were fielding first. Riding on Kapil Dev’s 3/43 spell, India folded the Proteas at a low score of 254.
On Day 2, South Africa got early breakthroughs with the dimissals of Ajay Jadeja and Sanjay Manjrekar. Sachin Tendulkar joined Ravi Shastri at the crease and his responsibility was to stabilise India’s innings with his batting. At a score of 11, Tendulkar played a shot towards point to steal a run, but Jonty Rhodes, who was deployed at the area displayed his alacrity and threw the ball towards Andrew Hudson, who was standing at the stumps.
Hudson collected the ball and dislodged the bails and there was doubt among players and both on-field umpires whether Tendulkar made it or not. Cyril Mitchley, the square-leg umpire consulted the third umpire Karl Liebenberg and the latter showed the replays that revealed that Tendulkar failed it to make it on time. In the end, Liebenberg declared the right-handed batter out and with this the Master Blaster became the first player to be declared out by the third umpire.
5. RG Nadkarni bowled 21 successive maidens in a row (1964 Chennai Test against England)
RG Nadkarni. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In 1964, England toured India for five Tests but in the end, the tournament concluded in a draw as both the visitors and the hosts failed to win any game. However, for Rameshchandra Gangaram Nadkarni also known as Bapu Nadkarni, the series became memorable as he registered an incredible feat to his name.
Playing the opening Test in Chennai, India scored 457/7 in the first innings, riding on Budhi Kunderan’s 192 and Vijay Manjrekar’s 108. When England came out to bat, they lost their captain Mike Smith early. The England skipper fell to Vasant Ranjane at a score of three.
After a few overs, Nadkarni was also introduced to the bowling attack and he bowled consecutive 131 dot balls in the innings and broke into the record books. So far, no bowler has ever succeeded in shattering his superb feat. Following this spell, he got famous in the cricketing circles for being an economical bowler.
4. Lala Amarnath is the only bowler to dismiss Don Bradman through hit wicket
Don Bradman. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Lala Amarnath was considered the best all-rounder of his time. The legendary player played for India from 1933-52 and during his stint, he strived his best to uplift India’s level in the sport. He made his international debut in style with a spunky ton against England. Scoring the hundred, he also became the first-ever centurion from India in Tests.
In 1947, he became the first skipper of the Indian cricket team after independence and his important assignment came in November when the team toured Australia for the first time. Their opening contest was at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane. Australia skipper Don Bradman won the toss in the match and put his team to bat first.
Throughout the game, the hosts dominated India as Australia skipper Bradman scored 185 runs to help his team amass 382 runs in the first innings. The match easily went in Australia’s favor by an innings and 226 runs but India captain Amarnath created history as he became the first-ever bowler to send the legendary Australia batter Bradman through hit-wicket.
3. Anil Kumble is the only India bowler to pick up 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match
Anil Kumble. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In 1999, Pakistan toured India for two Tests and the series ended in a stalemate with both teams winning one game apiece. After the 12-run defeat against the visitors in the opening Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, India had to win the second Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium (now Arun Jaitley Stadium) in Delhi.
Batting first after winning the toss, India scored 252 runs in the first innings. In reply, Pakistan could accumulate only 172 runs as Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh produced fire with the ball and bundled out Wasim Akram and his men on the low score.
In the second innings, Pakistan got the task to chase 420 runs, and this time, Pakistan openers Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi delivered a solid start to their team, stitching a 101-run partnership. However, after the fall of Afridi on 41, Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed in front of Kumble, who singlehandedly grabbed 10 wickets in the innings and folded Pakistan on 207 to help India pocket the match by a colossal margin of 212 runs. Kumble also became the Player of the Match for his unprecedented match-winning bowling display.
2. Mohammad Azharuddin is the first international and India batter to score centuries in the first three Tests
Mohammad Azharuddin. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Mohammad Azharuddin’s career witnessed several ups and downs but eventually, he broke into the record books as one of the greatest batters that India has ever produced. Back in December 1984, he made his international debut in style during England’s tour of India for five Tests and five ODIs.
After the eight-wicket defeat in the second Test held in Delhi, India gave a chance to the 21-year-old Azharuddin for the Kolkata Test, dropping veterans Kapil Dev and Sandip Patil from the playing XI. Playing his debut game, Azharuddin grabbed a lot of eyeballs with his effective 110-run knock in the first innings. Eventually, the game ended in a draw but the batter got appreciated for his superb innings.
In the fourth Test at Chepauk, England registered a comprehensive nine-wicket victory and with this loss, the Indian team came under fierce criticism. However, Azharuddin again was praised for taking the England bowling unit to the cleaners. In the second innings, he smashed a century again.
After witnessing a couple of tons by the Hyderabad-born batter, expectations were high from him for the last Test in Kanpur. The right-handed batter didn’t disappoint the team as he played a knock of 122 runs in the first innings to help India amass 553 runs. Eventually, India couldn’t save the series as the game concluded in a stalemate but one thing that went positive for the hosts was that they got a match-winning player like Azharuddin.
1. Sachin Tendulkar got dismissed on a duck for the first and the last time in Ranji Trophy
Sachin Tendulkar and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar registered a lot of records to his name in his international career. In November 2013, he bid adieu to his cricketing career but the former India stalwart is still the batter with the most runs in international cricket across all formats, chalking up 34357 runs in 782 innings of 664 matches.
Along with international cricket, Tendulkar’s first-class numbers are brilliant as well. The former India stalwart played for Mumbai in 310 matches and scored 25396 runs in 490 innings. Till January 2009, he also held the record of not getting dismissed on nought in the Ranji Trophy.
However, playing the final of the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy, the then 18-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar got rid of him on nil and became the first and only bowler in history to send him back to the pavilion on a duck in the annals of Ranji Trophy.