Shikhar Dhawan becomes 3rd Indian opener to score Test centuries in consecutive innings overseas

Sunil Gavaskar has done it more than once!

Shikhar Dhawan scored 173 against Bangladesh at Dhaka and followed it up with another century against Sri Lanka in the ongoing first Test at Galle. In doing so, Dhawan emulated the feats of Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to become the third Indian opener to score consecutive Test hundreds overseas. Dravid has scored consecutive centuries multiple times, but only one such instance was as India’s designated opening batsman. On the other hand, Gavaskar has achieved the feat on as many as three occasions, two of which came overseas and one at home. READ: Ravichandran Ashwin creates history during Day 1, India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test

Gavaskar’s first instance included a run of three back-to-back centuries, two of which came in the same Test. He started his run with 117 not out at Bridgetown, Barbados, and followed it up with 124 and 220 at Port of Spain in the next Test. His next instance of consecutive overseas Test tons came against Pakistan when he scored 111 and 137 at Karachi in the same match. Dravid’s effort came against Pakistan as well, when he scored 128 at Lahore and 103 at Faisalabad. Dhawan made 173 against Bangladesh at Fatullah before his current hundred against Sri Lanka at Galle. Here is a table to further elaborate: READ: Ravichandran Ashwin continues renaissance with six-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in 1st Test at Galle

NOTE: Gavaskar followed his 111 and 137 at Karachi with 205 against West Indies in Mumbai, but since that was in India it does not count here. Gavaskar also scored consecutive centuries in India against West Indies, when he made 107 and 182 not out at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He then scored 103 against Australia at Mumbai and 179 against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in consecutive innings as well. READ: Ravichandran Ashwin’s 6 for 46 the best Test figures for an Indian in Sri Lanka

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)

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