Cricket in India is next to religion! Although the game was introduced in India by the British, and, Australia has had some of the greats of the game, for example, Sir Don Bradman; the game is more popular in India than in any other country. In India, most of the younger generations are obsessed with cricket; it is like something that runs in their veins. The IPL, being the biggest cricket league in the world, testifies the same. The national players of India are nothing less than a celebrity. Also, India has the best business market of cricket. The craze people show for cricket matches in India has no comparison anywhere in the world. Over time, India has produced gems in the cricket field. We hear stories of comebacks and players emerging over a while, but do you know about the players who became gems in the very first game of their careers? Those who started their careers at the top of the world? The first game is special for any player; they feel excited, happy, and nervous, too. But, there are examples of players who proved that they fear nothing, on the very first day of their careers. This article is all about those players who showcased their talent and capabilities to the highest level in their very first match. We will look into the Top 10 Best Debuts In Indian Cricket.
1. Shikhar Dhawan
He is the name we are all familiar with. Nicknamed as the “Gabbar” of Indian Cricket. Currently, he may not be playing for the national team, but there was a time when he ruled the cricket grounds, and there was a time when his bat roared on the cricket pitches. On his first Test match for the national team in 2013, he scored 187 for 174 balls against the bowling greats of Australia at Mohali, Punjab. He hit the fastest Test century by any debutant.
2. Mohammad Shami
Mohammad Shami, one of India’s finest bowlers, took nine wickets on his test debut against the West Indies in 2013 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Even after ten years, he holds the record for most wickets by any Indian bowler on debut. Shami proved his abilities in the first match itself. Even today, we are captivated by the spells he delivers on the field. The pace and variations he has is of immense importance to the team; we have witnessed captains call for him in critical situations.
3. Narendra Hirwani
He started as a leg spinner in Test cricket; one may not be familiar with the name, but the West Indies would surely remember him for his eight-wicket haul in his debut match in 1988 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. He took the wicket of West Indies great Sir Viv Richards in both innings, helping India win the match.
4. Rohit Sharma
The popular five-time IPL champion, the current captain of the Indian National Cricket Team, started his Test career with a commendable hard-fought century, scoring 177 from 301 balls in 2013 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. We know him as the Hit-Man, but his test debut was a real test in which he qualified with flying colors. People witnessed the patience he has, for he hit only one six in his spectacular century. Hit-Man Sharma is the only player in the world who has hit three double centuries in ODIs.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin
How can we talk about the best debuts without including him on the list? This tremendous spinner not only had a dream debut, he has been unstoppable since then. On his debut against the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi, in 2011, he took six wickets and gave the cricketing world a hint of what was about to unfold. As of today, he has taken 489 wickets in just 94 test matches that he has played so far.
6. Yashasvi Jaiswal
This youngster is the current sensation in the Indian cricket team. After a fantastic IPL season, he made his dream Test debut against the West Indies in 2023 at Port of Spain, hitting 171 off 387 balls and showing us that not only can he hit the fastest fifty in the IPL but, he can also play the longer innings. He also proved his abilities in the shortest format of the game when he hit six fours in the first over of an IPL game, ultimately scoring a fifty off just 13 balls.
7. KL Rahul
KL Rahul is the first Indian batter to score a century on his ODI debut. This wicketkeeper-batsman scored 100 runs off 115 balls and remained unbeaten against Zimbabwe in 2016 at Harare Sports Club. He holds the record for the second-fastest fifty in the IL, which shows the capabilities and potential he carries in himself for the benefit of the country in T20Is as well.
8. Prithvi Shaw
The 2018 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup-winning captain, Prithvi Shaw, was also the IPL sensation playing for the Delhi Daredevils. Then, after being selected for the senior team, he proved his abilities in the first match, scoring 134 runs off 154 balls against the West Indies in 2018 at Rajkot.
9. Barinder Sran
Barinder Saran may not be so famous, but he has the best figures in a T20I debut by any Indian player. He took a four-wicket haul and conceded just ten runs against Zimbabwe in 2016 at Harare Sports Club. Though that was the only T20I series he participated in, he indeed impressed people with his talent.
10. Saurav Ganguly
Famous as Dada, The Prince of Calcutta, and The Bengal Tiger, Saurav Ganguly made his sensational test debut against England, scoring 131 off 301 balls in 1996 at the “Mecca of Cricket,” the Lord’s, England. He was one of the best Indian batters of his time. He is remembered among the best captains of team India. That’s the end of the list of the Top 10 Best Debuts In Indian Cricket; it contains some of the fantastic knocks and some astounding spells of bowling showcased by the players of India in their debut match for the country.
