5 instances when Indian cricketers caught and bowled for their first ODI wicket

The India-Australia ODI series is underway and though the visitors have managed to lose their first game, there have been a few takeaways for them from the match. Other than Rohit Sharma's incredible innings, India have also witnessed the arrival of someone who could be the country's new bowling star, Barinder Sran.The left-arm seamer had an impressive debut match at the WACA stadium in Perth and picked up 3 wickets for 54 runs. Sran had been included into the Indian ODI team based on his recent strong performances in the ongoing domestic season.Barinder Sran's maiden wicket in his very first ODI was that of Aaron Finch, whom he dismissed caught and bowled in his 2nd over. However, this was not the first time an Indian cricketer has picked up his first ODI wicket as caught and bowled.Here are 5 other similar instances:

#1 Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly was a useful bowler in seaming conditions

Arguably one of India’s greatest captains ever, Sourav Ganguly, is one of the few Indian cricketers to have picked his first wicket caught and bowled. Ganguly was by no means a regular bowler for India, but he did bowl a few overs every now and then.

Although his maiden wicket came in an Asia Cup final which the Indian team lost badly, the two special things about it were the man he had dismissed and the mode of dismissal. Sourav Ganguly managed to get rid of none other than Sri Lankan icon Aravinda de Silva and he got him out caught and bowled.

#2 Bishan Singh Bedi

Bishan Singh Bedi is one of India’s best spinners ever

India’s legendary left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi did not play too much ODI cricket, just the 10 matches. However, he did pick up a few wickets, the first of which came in Bedi’s debut game against England in the year 1974.

The slow left-armer’s maiden wicket was that of English middle-order batsman Keith Fletcher and the mode of dismissal was caught and bowled making Bedi one of the few Indians to have got their first ODI victim in this manner. Interestingly enough, Bishan Singh Bedi got another wicket in the same match, that of Tony Greig and this time around too, it was caught and bowled.

#3 Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan is a handy off-break bowler

The currently out of favour Indian allrounder, Yusuf Pathan, is another Indian cricketer who claimed his very first wicket in ODIs as caught and bowled. Pathan made his first appearance in Team India colours in a tri-series involving Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Although he went wicketless in his debut match against arch-rivals Pakstan, Yusuf managed to pick up a wicket in his second match which was against Bangladesh. The allrounder bowled just 2 overs and managed to get rid of the dangerous Mohammad Ashraful by dismissing him caught and bowled. In the process, Pathan provided India with a much needed breakthrough as he broke a steady partnership.

#4 Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

Sivaramakrishnan and Shastri were two of India’s heroes in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket

More known now a TV commentator, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan did have a brief ODI career for Team India. He is remembered prominently for his role in India’s 1985 World Championship of Cricket triumph, the same tournament in which he made his debut.

Sivaramakrishnan’s first match was against Pakistan and he managed to grab two important wickets to set up the match for India. The first wicket was that of great Pakistani batsman Zaheer Abbas, who fell caught and bowled to the leggie. The other wicket claimed by Sivaramakrishnan in the match, that of opener Qasim Umar, was also a caught and bowled dismissal.

#5 Lakshmipathy Balaji

Balaji used to be a regular in the Indian team at one point

Lakshmipathy Balaji may be completely out of Team India’s scheme of things at the moment, but he did spend some time as part of the Indian team between 2002 and 2012. Balaji had a forgetful ODI debut against West Indies as he was thrown in front of a young Chris Gayle on a flat pitch and returned figures of 0 for 44 in 4 overs.

The Tamil Nadu medium pacer’s next outing came during a tri-series in Australia, involving the home team and Zimbabwe. Lakshmipathy Balaji picked up his first wicket in a match against Australia, that of the legendary Ricky Ponting, whom he dismissed caught and bowled for 18.