June 20 is a special day in Indian cricket history as three legends made their Test debut: Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. Each started their careers in different years and situations but made a huge impact.
In 1996, while touring England, India played the second Test at Lord’s. Changes were happening in the team and that’s when Ganguly and Dravid got their Test caps. Their first performances were memorable. Ganguly batted at No. 3 and scored a brilliant 131 on his debut, making a splash at the famous ground.
His cover drives and poise under pressure caught everyone’s attention. Dravid batted at No. 7 and got a solid 95, just missing out on a debut century. While Ganguly’s innings was flashy, Dravid’s was all about technique and determination — traits that defined his career. This was the start of two great journeys as both became key players in India’s middle order.
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Fast forward 15 years to June 20, 2011 when a young Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston. Fresh from India’s World Cup win earlier that year, he had high expectations but had a tough start with scores of 4 and 15. Test cricket was tough to crack.
But Kohli soon got the hang of it and became one of India’s top Test batsmen and a successful captain, winning big at home and away. He retired as India’s most successful Test captain, scoring 9,230 runs from 123 Tests with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. He made his debut in 2011 against the West Indies and played his last match earlier this year against Australia.
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June 20 may seem like just another day but for Indian cricket it’s the day three amazing careers began. Ganguly, Dravid and Kohli each changed the team and inspired many future players. Their debuts may have been years apart but their legacies are intertwined in Indian cricket’s story.
