Rohit Sharma’s Test debut, which was long overdue, marked a significant moment in Indian cricket history. The highly talented batsman, who had already established himself in white-ball cricket, finally made his Test debut in November 2013 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
This debut coincided with the farewell series of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was retiring after a record-breaking career spanning 24 years. The focus was on Tendulkar’s farewell rather than individual performances, but Rohit made his delayed Test debut count by scoring a magnificent hundred (177).
Rohit’s 177 was one of the highest scores by an Indian on debut, and it underscored his potential to succeed in the longest format of the game. In the second Test, played at Tendulkar’s home ground in Mumbai, Rohit again went on to hit a hundred – this time an unbeaten 111 as India won by an innings and 126 runs.
Rohit’s Test debut marked a symbolic transition in Indian cricket. While the country was bidding farewell to its greatest-ever batsman, Rohit’s entry into Test cricket hinted at the emergence of another extraordinarily gifted player. Rohit, already successful in limited-overs cricket, showed his ability to adapt to Test cricket, and over the years, he would go on to become one of the key players for India in all formats.
This moment in cricket history was significant, as it represented both the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma’s Test debut, delayed by a freak injury and overshadowed by Tendulkar’s farewell, marked the arrival of a new star in Indian cricket.
