3 players who made their ODI debut for India in 2019

The year 2019 is over and it is time for the next decade. We saw some great cricket in 2019 and we hope to see even better in this upcoming year. The year 2019 started with a bang as India created history by defeating Australia in their own backyard for the first time. They had a very good run in the World Cup until those 30 mins in the semi-final which cost us the trophy.

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Moving on from that World Cup, India has taken a huge lead in the World Test Championship as they have won every Test up till now. Talking about the upcoming year, there are many important series lined up. India tour New Zealand in January and February, then there is a T20 World Cup in October before India plays four Test matches in Australia.

India gave a lot of opportunities to youngsters in 2019. There were quite a few players who made their debut for India in the ODI format. There were a few who made their debut just before the World Cup and some of them were tried after the World Cup. So, let’s have a look at the three players who made their ODI debut for India in 2019.

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#3 Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube

With some strong performances for India A and in the absence of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube was first called up for the T20I series against Bangladesh. He got a chance to play in all the three T20Is and did fairly well.

He didn’t get many opportunities with the bat but he bowled well under pressure in the third T20I as he picked up three wickets. In the next T20 series, he scored his maiden half-century against West Indies. Looking at his performances in the shortest format, he was picked up in the ODI series against the Windies.

Interestingly, he made his debut in that series as he played the first ODI at Chennai. He didn’t get a huge opportunity with the bat and he wasn’t at his best with the ball. Unfortunately, he was dropped for the next game and didn’t get a game after that.

But Dube seems to be an exciting prospect and he can be one the future stars for India.

#2 Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini picked up two wickets on his ODI debut

The quick pacer from Delhi impressed the Indian captain when he was part of his IPL team – Royal Challengers Bangalore. Navdeep Saini had a decent IPL which led to his selection in the T20I series against the West Indies.

He was brilliant upon his debut as he picked up three wickets while giving away just 17 runs in his four overs. He bowled a maiden final over which is very rare in the T20 format. In the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies, he was called up as a replacement for the injured Deepak Chahar. He received his cap for the third ODI and he made his debut in that game.

He had a decent start to his ODI career as he picked up two wickets in middle overs which is a crucial period but he leaked a few runs in the death overs. He bowled with pace which was heartening to watch. In the only game that he played, he showed that he has the potential to become a great bowler.

#1 Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar made his ODI debut in January 2019

Isn’t it surprising that the player who was supposed to bat at No.4 for India in the World Cup has made his debut in that year itself? Vijay Shankar had made his T20 debut earlier in the Nidahas Trophy where he struggled, but his ODI debut came much later.

In fact, had Hardik Pandya not be banned, Shankar wouldn’t have got a call-up. Vijay Shankar was called up as Hardik Pandya’s replacement for the ODI series against Australia. He got a chance in the third ODI but there wasn’t much that he could do. In the New Zealand series, he impressed one and all with his composure and technique as he scored a crucial 45 in the fifth ODI.

Even in the ODI series against Australia, he did fairly well. He was picked in the World Cup squad as India’s No.4 and as a 3-dimensional player but when India reached, KL Rahul was in good form and so he batted at No.4. He later got a chance at No.4 but unfortunately injured his toe which ruled him out of the World Cup.

Since then, he hasn’t been picked in any of the series which is a surprise. The player who was backed by the selectors and the team management is suddenly out of contention. He will have to fight his way back if he wants to be a part of the World T20 squad.