Sourav Ganguly was named in the squad but due to a packed middle-order, he did not get a chance to bat in the first Test where India suffered a crushing defeat. However, the Southpaw was handed his debut in the 2nd Test in Nottingham after England scored 344 in the first innings.
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- On this day in 1996, Sourav Ganguly made his Test debut at Lord’s
- Ganguly scored a hundred on his debut to join elite list of cricketers
- Ganguly returned to India team after making his ODI debut 4 years ago
Sourav Ganguly had made his international debut in an ODI against West Indies in 1992, however, after failing to make an impression in Brisbane, the Kolkata lad was soon forgotten, until he returned to the Indian squad for the England tour in 1996 and on his debut Test itself, he had shown what the world had missed in all those years.
Ganguly was named in the squad but due to a packed middle-order, he did not get a chance to bat in the first Test where India suffered a crushing defeat. However, the Southpaw was handed his debut in the 2nd Test at Lord’s after England scored 344 in the first innings.
After losing openers early, Ganguly came in to bat at No.3 and played ferociously to help India recover from initial shock. He had hit a stroke-filled 131 in his maiden Test and shone with his elegance, announcing his arrival to international cricket.
With his debut Test hundred, he also became the 10th batsman to score a century on Test debut and the first Indian to achieve the feat at Lord’s. With Ganguly’s valiant hundred, India drew the match but lost the series 0-1 to the hosts.
Recalling his Test debut, Ganguly on Saturday tweeted photos from that match and wrote that it was the best day of his life.
Made my debut today .. life’s best moment @bcci pic.twitter.com/2S9VLSSVzE
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) June 19, 2020
The former Indian skipper has time and again stated that his the hundred he scored on his Test debut at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1996 was the best innings of his illustrious career.
“Lord’s in 1996, the mindset was unbelievable. I had no fear, just went and played. I remember going to Bristol for the first warm-up game and I got a duck in the first innings. Second innings I got a 70-odd not out. As I went into the series I got better and better,” Ganguly had said on India Today Inspiration.
