Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan created a history by becoming the first Indian batsman to score a Test hundred before the lunch break on day 1. The left-handed Indian batsman played a thrashing knock on the opening day of Afghanistan’s historic debutant Test match.

On Thursday morning, Afghanistan makes their Test debut as the 12th Test team where Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to bat first after winning the toss. Dhawan provided a furious start in India’s innings.

Dhawan completed his half-century in 47 balls after hitting 10 fours and only six. Later, he completed his century before the lunch break on day 1 and became the first Indian batsman and sixth overall batsman to achieve that special feat. Dhawan reached the century mark in just 87 balls with 18 fours and 3 sixes.

At the lunch break on day 1, India was 158/0 while Dhawan remained unbeaten on 104 runs and another opener Murali Vijay was not out on 41 runs.

In the early second session of the day, Dhawan was dismissed on 107 runs off 96 balls while their opening partnership was for 168 runs.

Some important stats of Shikhar Dhawan’s innings

• Seventh Test century for Shikhar Dhawan. Third most Test century by an Indian left-handed batsman. The top two batsmen in this list are Sourav Ganguly (16 Test centuries) and Gautam Gambhir (9 Test centuries).
• First Indian batsman to score a hundred before the lunch break on day 1 of a Test match. Previous best by an Indian batsman was 99* by Virender Sehwag against West Indies at Gros Islet in 2006.
• Sixth overall cricketer to score a hundred before the lunch break on day 1 of a Test match.

• Shikhar Dhawan completed his century in just 87 balls. His second fastest Test century. His fastest one is in just 85 balls against Australia at Mohali in 2013.