On November 20, 2025, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Mushfiqur Rahim didn’t just play his 100th Test match—he rewrote history. Facing Ireland in the second Test of a two-match series, the 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who made his debut at 18 at Lord’s in 2005, smashed a patient, defiant 106 off 214 balls, complete with five boundaries, to become only the 11th batsman in 148 years of Test cricket to score a century in his 100th match. The crowd fell silent as he nudged Jordan Neill for a single on the first delivery of day two, completing his century. Moments later, he was caught off Matthew Humphries, but the damage was done. Bangladesh, already leading the series 1-0, stood at 387/5 at lunch, thanks largely to Rahim’s masterclass and a 108-run stand with Litton Das.
A Milestone Decades in the Making
Mushfiqur Rahim wasn’t just playing for stats—he was playing for a nation. Born on May 9, 1987, in Khulna, he became the first Bangladeshi to reach 100 Test appearances, a feat that took nearly two decades of resilience. He debuted in 2005 as the youngest player ever to appear at Lord’s in a Test, and since then, he’s weathered the storms of inconsistent team performances, leadership changes, and the pressure of being Bangladesh’s most recognizable cricketing face. His 100 Tests span 183 innings, yielding 6,457 runs, including a career-best 219. This was his 13th Test century, but by far the most symbolic.
What made this century extraordinary wasn’t just the number—it was the context. Only 10 other players in cricket history had achieved this before: legends like Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar’s contemporaries, and more recently, David Warner in 2022. But Tendulkar, despite 200 Tests and 51 centuries, never managed a hundred in his 100th match. Rahim joined an even rarer group: those who were not just their country’s first centurion in Tests, but also the first to reach 100 Tests and then score a century in that very match. Before him, only Colin Cowdrey of England and Javed Miandad of Pakistan had done it.
The Weight of Legacy
The moment was marked with reverence. Before the match, Rahim was presented with a jersey signed by the entire 2005 squad—the group that first took Bangladesh into Test cricket’s elite circle. He wore it proudly. “This isn’t just about me,” Rahim said afterward, voice thick with emotion. “It’s about every kid in Bangladesh who ever picked up a bat believing they could stand on this ground one day.”
His innings was a textbook of grit. With the pitch offering turn and bounce, and Ireland’s spinners probing relentlessly, Rahim played with a calmness rarely seen in modern cricket. He didn’t dominate—he endured. He absorbed pressure, rotated strike, and punished only the loose deliveries. His 56th over saw him reverse-sweep Neill for four, the only true boundary of the day that drew a roar from the stands. The crowd chanted his name in Bengali: “Mush-fi-qur! Mush-fi-qur!”
Where He Stands Among Giants
Consider this: since 1877, only 11 batsmen have scored a century in their 100th Test. That’s fewer than the number of players to have scored a triple century in Tests. The list includes Bradman, Garry Sobers, Sunil Gavaskar, and, more recently, Warner. Yet, even among these names, only Cowdrey and Miandad shared Rahim’s unique distinction: being the first from their country to reach 100 Tests—and then scoring a hundred in that match. Rahim now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them. He’s the first from a Full Member nation outside the traditional cricketing powers to do so.
And it’s not just about the record. It’s about representation. Bangladesh, a Test-playing nation since 2000, has long been seen as an underdog. But Rahim’s century proved that longevity, consistency, and quiet brilliance can match the flash of the traditional powers. His 100th Test wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a national coming-of-age.
What Comes Next?
With Bangladesh leading the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, Rahim’s heroics have put them on the cusp of a historic clean sweep. The final day of the second Test, scheduled for November 24, 2025, could seal not just a series win, but a symbolic victory for Bangladesh cricket. Rahim, now 38, has hinted at retirement after the series. If this is his farewell, he’s chosen the perfect moment.
Even if he continues, this innings will be replayed for generations. It wasn’t the fastest century, nor the highest. But it was the most meaningful. For a country that once struggled to field a competitive team, Rahim’s 106 runs were a declaration: we belong here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is it to score a century in a player’s 100th Test match?
Only 11 batsmen in 148 years of Test cricket have scored a century in their 100th match. The feat is rarer than a triple century—only 37 players have ever scored one. Even legends like Sachin Tendulkar, who played 200 Tests, never achieved this. The last to do it was David Warner in 2022, making Rahim’s achievement the first in over three years.
Why is Mushfiqur Rahim’s achievement special for Bangladesh?
Rahim is the first Bangladeshi to play 100 Tests—and the first from his country to score a century in that milestone match. He’s also only the third player ever to be his nation’s first centurion in Tests and reach 100 appearances, joining Colin Cowdrey and Javed Miandad. For a nation that gained Test status in 2000, this is a landmark moment that validates their place in elite cricket.
Who else has scored a century in their 100th Test?
The list includes Don Bradman, Garry Sobers, Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner, and now Mushfiqur Rahim. Of these, only Cowdrey and Miandad were their country’s first 100-Test player and scored a century in that match—making Rahim’s feat even more exclusive.
What was the significance of the jersey presented to Rahim?
Rahim was gifted a jersey signed by the entire 2005 Bangladesh Test squad—the team that debuted him at Lord’s. That group included players like Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar, who were pioneers of Bangladeshi cricket. The gesture symbolized the journey from underdog status to legitimacy, and Rahim, as the last man standing from that era, became its living legacy.
How does this impact Bangladesh’s cricketing future?
Rahim’s milestone proves that Bangladesh can produce world-class, long-serving cricketers—not just one-off talents. It inspires a new generation to believe in endurance over flash. With Bangladesh now eyeing a clean sweep against Ireland, this series could mark the start of a new era: one where they’re not just participants, but contenders in Test cricket.
Is Mushfiqur Rahim likely to retire after this series?
Rahim has not officially announced retirement, but at 38, and with Bangladesh’s next Test series against Zimbabwe in March 2026, it’s widely expected he’ll step down after this series. His 100th Test century feels like a poetic farewell—ending not with a whimper, but with a roar that echoes across cricketing history.
