Stats: Highest score by a batsman on T20I debut

#2 David Warner – 89 vs South Africa

David Warner announced himself to the world courtesy of his 43-ball 89 against South Africa. Right then, everyone knew that there was a tough diamond that could shine for years to come. But what few saw was that opening batsman could showcase his incredible hitting prowess on a consistent basis across all formats.

If Warner came into the international arena as a T20 specialist, he has transformed himself into one of the best openers in the world across all formats. It all began with a blitzkreig against South Africa that even his ardent fans couldn’t have foreseen on his T20I debut.

Against a Proteas bowling attack that had Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn, Warner simply smashed his way to the second-highest score by a batsman on T20I debut. Six sixes and seven fours on debut at the MCG was how Warner announced himself in international cricket, but even that wasn’t enough to claim top spot.