Srinagar: The stand-in South African captain Wiaan Mulder has created history by becoming the highest individual scorer ever on Test captaincy debut.
The right-handed batter, who replaced injured Keshav Maharaj as skipper, came in at No. 03 with South Africa in a precarious position of 24-2.
Wiaan Mulder reached the milestone on the last ball of the 80th over, smashing Wellington Masakadza for a four over the backward square leg boundary.
Highest Individual Test Score on Captaincy Debut
Wiaan Mulder 264* vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2025
Graham Dowling 239 vs India, Christchurch 1968
Shivnarine Chanderpaul 203* South Africa Georgetown 2005
Earlier, Wiaan Mulder reached his maiden double century on the fourth ball of the 74th over, smashing Wellington Masakadza for a four over midwicket.
With this feat, he became the first player from South Africa and the overall third to score a double century while playing his first match as captain. Previously, New Zealand’s Graham Dowling and West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul have achieved this feat.
Earlier, the 27-year-old also broke the record for the highest individual score on captaincy debut for the Rainbow Nation.
He took a single off the fifth ball of Blessing Muzarabani’s 43rd over to reach the three-figure milestone. With his century, he became the third South African player to score a century on his captaincy debut.
South African Captains With Century on Test Debut
Herbie Taylor vs England, 1913
Jackie McGlew vs England, 1955
Wiaan Mulder vs Zimbabwe, 2025