Syed Abid Ali made a memorable impact in Test cricket when he dismissed Roy Fredericks off the very first ball he bowled in a Test match at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, during the 1971 series against the West Indies.

Match: India vs West Indies

Venue: Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Year: 1971

First Ball: Dismissed Roy Fredericks, who was a dangerous opening batsman for the West Indies, off the very first delivery of his Test career.

This first-ball wicket is a rare and remarkable achievement in Test cricket. It was a significant moment for Abid Ali, as dismissing a key batsman like Fredericks off the first ball of a Test match is something very few bowlers have achieved.

Kapil Dev, India’s legendary all-rounder, emulated Syed Abid Ali’s achievement by dismissing a batsman off the very first ball on two separate occasions during his career.

Kapil Dev vs Mohsin Khan (1983-84, India vs Pakistan at Jalandhar, Punjab):

In this instance, Kapil Dev bowled the first ball of the match and dismissed Mohsin Khan of Pakistan, a significant achievement for the Indian bowler.

Kapil Dev vs Jimmy Cook (1992-93, India vs South Africa at Durban):

Again, Kapil Dev achieved the rare feat by dismissing Jimmy Cook of South Africa off the very first ball he bowled in the match, further cementing his legacy.

First-ball wickets are rare and often a sign of an excellent delivery or a batsman’s lapse in concentration. To achieve this against high-quality opposition, especially off the very first ball in a Test match, is considered a remarkable feat in cricket history.

Syed Abid Ali and Kapil Dev remain the few players in history to have achieved this unique feat multiple times, with Kapil Dev standing out for doing it twice in his career.

This moment has become part of cricketing folklore and adds to the fascinating milestones both players achieved during their illustrious careers.