6 fastest centuries by Indian batsmen in Test cricket

#T1 - Kapil Dev - 74 balls

Kapil Dev scored the joint-fastest century by an Indian batsman in Test cricket

Kapil Dev holds the record for the joint-fastest century by an Indian batsman in Test cricket. He scored this ton off just 74 balls against Sri Lanka in December 1986.

The Indian team took on Sri Lanka in the 1st Test match of the island nation's tour of India at Kanpur. The Sri Lankan captain Duleep Mendis won the toss and elected to bat first.

Sri Lanka posted an impressive score of 420 runs in their 1st innings, with four of their batsmen scoring half-centuries. Kapil Dev came into bat with the Indian score reading 399/5 at the fall of Ravi Shastri's wicket.

The swashbuckling all-rounder sent the Sri Lankan fielders on a leather hunt, smashing the ball to all corners of the ground. He brought up his century off just 74 deliveries, breaking his own record of the fastest century by an Indian batsman.

Kapil Dev stitched together a 272-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Azharuddin before he was dismissed LBW by Ravi Ratnayeke after scoring 163 runs. This knock came off just 165 deliveries and included 19 boundaries and a solitary hit over the fence.

Azharuddin was distinctly unlucky to be dismissed after scoring 199 runs, also LBW to Ratnayeke. The two captains shook hands to signal a draw at the fall of Azharuddin's wicket.

Although Sunil Gavaskar, who had also played a 176-run knock, was awarded the Man of the Match, it was Kapil Dev who had stolen the show with his buccaneering knock.

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#T1 - Mohammad Azharuddin - 74 balls

Mohammad Azharuddin is the other Indian to have scored a Test century off 74 deliveries

Mohammad Azharuddin joined Kapil Dev at the top of the charts for the fastest century scored by an Indian batsman in Test cricket. The wristy Hyderabad player also scored his hundred off just 74 deliveries against South Africa in November 1996.

The Indian team faced South Africa in the 2nd Test of the latter's tour to India at Kolkata. The South African captain Hansie Cronje won the toss and elected to bat first.

South Africa posted a huge score of 428 runs in their first innings, with both their openers Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten hitting centuries. Mohammad Azharuddin walked into bat at the fall of the third wicket with only 77 runs on the board.

He had to retire hurt soon thereafter, struck on the forearm by a Brian McMillan delivery. But with the Indian innings in tatters, he came back to launch a brutal attack on the South African bowling.

He brought up his century off just 74 balls before being finally dismissed by Paul Adams for 109 runs off 77 deliveries. He struck 18 fours and a six during the knock, including 5 boundaries in an over from Lance Klusener.

Azharuddin and Anil Kumble joined forces to add 161 runs for the 8th wicket, with the latter contributing 88 runs to the Indian total of 329 runs. South Africa declared their second innings at the score of 367/3 and rolled over India for 137 runs to register an emphatic 329-run victory.

Although India lost the match, Mohammad Azharuddin wrote his name in the record books with his counter-attacking knock.

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