June 20, Friday--the longest day of the year--is turning out to be a landmark date in Indian cricket. The India vs England Test series kicked off at Headingley in Leeds, but what truly makes the day special is its deep connection with memorable Indian debuts. Sai Sudharsan made his Test debut, joining an elite club of Indian cricketers who also started their red-ball journeys on June 20--Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in 1996, and Virat Kohli in 2011.
Also the day witnessed Karun Nair make his much-anticipated return to the Test arena after eight years, while Shubman Gill took charge as India바카라™s Test captain for the very first time.
Sai Sudharsan, after an outstanding campaign in the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2025-where he earned the Orange Cap with 759 runs-was handed his Test debut cap at Headingley by former Indian great Cheteshwar Pujara.
Sai Sudharsan's Test Debut Turns Into A Nightmare
However, the 23-year-old바카라™s debut turned into a nightmare as he was dismissed for a four-ball duck. India were put in to bat first, and openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul got off to a solid start. But just before lunch, Rahul was dismissed for 42, bringing Sai Sudharsan to the crease.
He survived a nervy first ball, but England captain Ben Stokes quickly applied pressure by targeting his legs in the next over. Trying to flick one away, the Chennai-born batter mistimed his shot, and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith pulled off a brilliant diving catch to end Sudharsan바카라™s debut innings prematurely.
June 20: Golden Date for Indian Cricket Debuts
Virat Kohli made his Test debut for India on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies at Sabina Park which was just three years after his white-ball debut. He could managed only 19 runs in his first outing, but Kohli went on to become one of the most influential figures in Test cricket history, finishing with 9,230 runs and leaving a lasting legacy in the red-ball format.
Virat Kohli made his debut for India in test cricket in 2011, June 20 against West Indies at the Sabina Park, just three years after his debut in white-ball cricket. Although Kohli could manage just 19 runs in his first Test, the right-hander ended his career with 9,230 runs and one of the most important character in the red ball format in entire cricket history.
Also on June 20, back in 1996, two other legends of Indian cricket--Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid--made their Test debuts in the same match against England at Lord's, during the second Test of the 1996 series.
The match saw Ganguly scoring a magnificent 131 and becoming only the third player to hit a century on debut at the home of cricket. Dravid, too, impressed with 95, narrowly missing out on a debut hundred. The match eventually ended in a draw.
