4 times a bowler took hat-trick on his ODI debut

Hat-tricks are rare in any format of the game and even more so, when it comes to players who are making their first appearance in the national colours. Needless to say, the debutant has the advantage of being an unknown entity and that can often work to his advantage.

However, at the same time, it is highly unlikely for a debutante to get a hat-trick and that is the reason why there have only been four such instances so far in the history of ODIs. More importantly, all those hat-tricks were taken in the recent history of the game and perhaps, more such feats may be in the offing in the coming years.

So, let's take a closer look at the individual hat-tricks by debutantes in ODI cricket.

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#4 Taijul Islam against Zimbabwe at Mirpur, 2014

Bangladeshi off-spinner Taijul Islam made his debut for his country in September of 2014 when he played his first Test and in December of the same year, he made his ODI debut in the 5th game of the series against Zimbabwe at home. The Zimbabweans had collapsed badly on a turning wicket at Mirpur and Taijul finished the job by picking up the 7th, 8th and 9th wickets in a split hat-trick.

In the last ball of the 27th over (his 6th), the ball went through the gap between Panyangara's bat and pad to castle him. In the first delivery of his next over, the quicker delivery caught J Nyumbu plumb in front and the next man Tendai Chatara was also castled as he completely missed the ball in his attempt to slog it out of the ground.

Taijul completed his hat-trick and became the first bowler in ODI cricket history to do it on debut.

#3 Kagiso Rabada against Bangladesh at Mirpur, 2015

Kagiso Rabada

The South African youngster is well on his way to becoming one of the world's greatest ever fast bowlers and the glimpses of what Kagiso Rabada could do was visible on his debut against Bangladesh back in 2015.

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat but they were rocked in the game's fourth over as Rabada steamrolled their top order. Off the fourth ball of the over, the ball moved just enough to beat Tamim Iqbal's and hit the off stump.

New batsman Litton Das then flicked a full ball on middle-stump straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. Mahmadullah came in to bat as excitement rose in the prospect of the historic hat-trick.

He bowled it at a good length and Mahmudullah was trapped in front after he had been beaten for pace The historic hat-trick was complete and Bangladesh never recovered from that shock.

#2 Wanidu Hasaranga against Zimbabwe at Galle, 2017

Wanidu Hasaranga

Sri Lanka has always been regarded as the breeding ground of top-class spin bowlers and in 2017, another talent emerged in the form of young leg-spinner Wanidu Hasaranga. In the 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe at Galle last year, Hasaranga was the last bowler to be introduced into the attack but in his 3rd over he finished off the innings with a hat-trick.

He got the first one off his 2nd delivery when MN Weller failed to slog a ball outside off-stump and inside-edged on to the wickets. The next wicket was a thing of beauty as Hasaranga bowled the googly, which was flighted outside the off-stump and completely foxed DT Tiripano, who was caught plumb in front.

The hat-trick ball was another googly outside off and the ball turned back sharply to get through TL Chatara's bat and pad to clean bowl him.

#1 Shehan Madushanka against Bangladesh at Dhaka, 2018

Shehan Madushanka

The 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler got his big break for the Sri Lankan national team earlier this year in the final of the tri-series against Bangladesh. In the final, Sri Lanka batted first and made 221. In their chase, the hosts faltered badly and a superb show was rounded off by Shehan Madushanka's hat-trick on ODI debut.

The hosts had already lost 7 wickets when the fast bowler took his first two wickets off the last two deliveries of his 6th over. Mashrafe Mortaza hit a full toss, that was there to be hit, straight to the fielder in the deep on the leg side, while the first delivery to next man Rubel Hossain was a perfect yorker that cannoned on to the stumps.

In his next over, he induced a mishit from the well-set Mahmudullah to complete the rout and his own remarkable debut hat-trick.