First Indian Batsman to Hit Century in Australia

In cricket, a batsman is judged by his stats, and in order to be called a great batsman, a player needs to score at home & overseas. During the 19th century, every team used to play more matches on home soil than on foreign grounds. In the 19th century, most of the pitches would be bowling friendly so it was difficult to score runs for batsmen. So, all the batsmen who had made big runs in their career in the 19’s will always be considered best irrespective of home & away grounds. 

one of the best batsmen was Vivian Richards, Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar, Zaheer Abbas, Sir Ian Botham. India has always been known for producing great batsmen. In almost every away tour a player scores at least one century for India. India cricket team tours to Australia every 2-3 years later. Let’s have a gaze at the first Indian batsman to hit century in Australia for India across all formats. 

First Indian Batsman to Hit Test Century in Australia

Vinoo Mankad is the first Indian batsman to hit a Test century in Australia in 1948 for independent India in Melbourne. He scored 116 runs off 187 balls against a good Australian bowling lineup in the first innings of the 3rd test of the tour.

His knock helped India to reach 291 & India declared the innings at 291 runs. Although India lost the test match eventually to Australia (won by 233 runs). It was a six-day match & each over was of eight balls. Australia outplayed India with its spectacular team effort. Don Bradman smashed centuries in both innings (132 & 127).

First Indian Batsman to Hit a ODI Century in Australia

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is probably the first Indian batsman to hit an ODI century in Australia in 2000 at Melbourne. Sourav Ganguly scored 100 runs from 127 balls with the help of 10 fours.

India scored 241 in 50 overs while chasing a score of 270. No batsman of India could stand in front of the lethal bowling line up Australia made of Brett Lee, Glenn Mcgrath, S Lee & DW Fleming. Sourav Ganguly played all the bowlers really well throughout the match. Ricky Ponting of Australia was the man of the match for scoring an outstanding hundred (115).

First Indian Batsman to Hit a T20 Century in Australia

Till date, no Indian has scored a T20 century in Australia. But Indian players have played some outstanding innings in Australia. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 90 off 55 balls in 2016 at Adelaide with a strike rate of 163.64 strike rate.

Australian bowling looked clueless against him. 3 bowlers conceded over 40 runs in 4 overs respectively. In the very next match of the series at Melbourne, Virat Kohli scored 59 0ff 33 balls with a strike rate of 178.79.  Shikhar Dhawan’s innings of 76 run off 42 balls at Gabba (Brisbane) in 2018 is also reckoned one of the best innings in Australia by an Indian batsman.