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Azharuddin in London, relishing English summer and debut record
Mohammad Azharuddin is spending the English summer in London, posting photos on Instagram of architecture and sunshine. The former India captain holds a unique Test record: he is the first and only player to score a century in each of his first three Test matches, all against England in the 1984-85 home series, 110 in Kolkata, 105 in Chennai and 122 in Kanpur.
Azharuddin also enjoyed batting in England, scoring 625 runs in nine Tests at an average of 41.66. His notable knocks include a 111-ball 121 at Lord's in 1990 and a 179 in the Manchester Test of the same series. At 62, he continues to have a special connection with England, where his career began with a historic debut.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Azharuddin's 1984-85 debut hat-trick of centuries remains an unmatched feat in Test cricket, kept alive for nearly four decades by only a handful of near-misses. The record underscores how rare it is for a debutant to dominate a single series against a top team, especially at home. With India's packed international calendar now dominated by the World Test Championship cycle, such a run seems even more improbable. Azharuddin's career later faced a life ban in 2000 for match-fixing, which he successfully appealed in 2012, his unsold status at IPL auctions since 2018 reflects the lasting commercial shadow of those allegations. Watch: if any young Indian batter matches his start in the upcoming home Test series this winter.
Source: rediff.com
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