Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid made their Test debuts for India together at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London, England on June 20, 1996. While Ganguly went on to score a brilliant ton on debut, Dravid fell agonizingly short by 5 runs, making 95.

The duo scored willingly against an England pace attack of Chris Lewis, Peter Martin, Alan Mullaly, and Dominic Cork. Ganguly was the first Indian player to register a ton on debut at Lord’s and had to wait four years to play for India again, after his lackluster ODI debut in 1992 against West Indies.

Dominic Cork, the former England fast bowler, praised Ganguly and Dravid for their talent and the way they played during their maiden outing in Tests for India.

Sourav Ganguly reveals he had no fear on his Test debut at Lord's in 1996

“Both Ganguly and Dravid were seriously talented batsmen and up there with the best that have played the game. Even before the Lord’s game, I had in fact bowled to them when they were part of the India ‘A’ side and I was touring with the England ‘A’ team. Ganguly and Dravid batted wonderfully during the ‘A’ games as well,” Dominic Cork told Sportskeeda.

“Both of them were superb timers of the ball. Dravid, who was later known as the ‘Wall’ was just tight and compact, in the Michael Atherton mold. Ganguly was all flourish and timing as well elegant in the middle,” the 48-year-old added.

Both went onto captain the Indian team later in the years with Ganguly playing 113 Tests, making 7,212 runs and 311 ODIs in which he amassed 11,363 runs. Dravid played 164 Tests in which he scored 13,288 runs and 344 ODIs in which he scored 10,889 runs.