5 Youngest ODI debutants for India

#4 Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel

Age: 17 years 301 days

Matches: 38

Runs: 736

Average: 23.74

Parthiv Patel made headlines when then-captain Sourav Ganguly scouted him to replace Dinesh Mongia as a regular full-time wicketkeeper. Making his ODI debut at the age of 17 against New Zealand in 2003, his first stint was interrupted when the selectors picked Rahul Dravid over him as a makeshift wicketkeeper to allow the use of an extra batsman or bowler.

In a two year span, Parthiv played only 13 matches usually when Dravid was injured or being rested. His career graph suffered when MS Dhoni became a mainstay in the Indian side for the next decade.

With a total of 38 one-day internationals, Parthiv Patel remains one of India's most underrated batsmen. He did make a comeback in 2010 and hit consecutive half-centuries, but luck did not favour him, and it's been more than six years since he last played a 50-over match for the national side