Prithvi Shaw became the youngest Indian batsmen to score a century on debut at 18 years of age before falling for 134 two minutes before tea.
The young opening batsman was on song for India throughout the first and second sessions of the first Test match against the West Indies in Rajkot.
After India won the toss and elected to bat first, all eyes were on the debutant as he needed just 99 balls to reach his century against an out-of-sorts Windies bowling attack. The young man was full of confidence as he played all his shots with authority and conviction, hitting 19 boundaries all around the ground.
Shaw opened the batting with the struggling KL Rahul and saw his partner dismissed for a duck with the last ball of the first over. Rahul fell to an inswinging delivery from Shannon Gabriel that trapped him plumb in front in a method of dismissal the senior opener has become well accustomed to, having been dismissed either LBW or bowled in each of his last nine Test innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara then joined Shaw at the crease and the two proceeded to dispatch the West Indies bowlers to all parts of the ground. The West Indies are playing without captain Jason Holder through injury, while senior bowler Kemar Roach is also unavailable for personal reasons. The Indian batsmen turned on the style to record a blistering 206-run partnership for the second wicket before the Rajkot-born Pujara was dismissed for a fine 86 off 130 balls (14 fours).
The fairytale debut ended for boy wonder Shaw just before tea, with wrist-spinner Devendra Bishoo gobbling up a return catch from the young right-hander just two minutes away from the break. He finished with 134 runs scored off 154 balls at a strike rate of 87.01.
India are currently 278-3 with Virat Kohli (33 not out off 74 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (15 not out off 47 balls) at the crease.
Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images
