Top 5 highest scorers for India on ODI debut

Playing international cricket for their country is every cricketer’s ultimate dream. The pressure on any player stepping out in his first match is immense, which is why very few cricketers manage to score big on their debut.

Some players are lucky to turn out against weak opponents in their first match, which eases the pressure to some extent. Still, nothing can take away from the fact that they did well in their very first match.

Here, we look at the top five highest individual scores by Indians on their ODI debut.

#5 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey

After an agonizingly long wait, the talented Manish Pandey made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe at Harare on 14 July 2015. India batted first in the game, and Pandey walked in at number five with the team under pressure at 68 for 3 (which soon became 82 for 4).

India did not go to Zimbabwe with a strong side, and a top four comprising of Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Robin Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary failed in the match.

The debutant Pandey then featured in a face-saving partnership with Kedar Jadhav. Pandey showed good maturity in his first game, making an 86-ball 71 - an innings which featured four fours and a six.

By the time he was dismissed, India had recovered to 226 for 5. Pandey provided able support to Jadhav, who remained unbeaten on 105.

In reply, opener Chamu Chibhabha made a resolute 82 for Zimbabwe, but there was little else in the form of support. The hosts were all out for 193 in 42.4 overs.

Stuart Binny was the most successful bowler for India with 3 for 55 while Mohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Axar Patel got two scalps each.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

#4 Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu announced himself on the big stage in the 1987 World Cup clash against Australia on 9 October 1987.

Batting first, Australia posted an impressive 270 for 6 on the back of Geoff Marsh’s 110. Coming in at number three, Sidhu hit 73 from 79 balls against a strong attack featuring Craig McDermott, Bruce Reid and Simon O’Donnell.

Kris Srikkanth also scored 70 in the match, and featured in a opening stand of 69 with Sunil Gavaskar.

Sidhu’s dismissal came with the score reading 207 for 3. The standout feature of his innings was the five sixes he hit to go with his four fours.

His wicket, however, sparked a batting collapse as India fell short by just one run. Roger Binny and Manoj Prabhakar were run out while Maninder Singh was cleaned up by Steve Waugh for 4 in the dying moments.

McDermott starred for Australia with 4 for 56.

#3 Brijesh Patel

Brijesh Patel

Brijesh Patel made an impressive 82 from only 78 balls in what was India’s very first ODI match, against England at Leeds on 13 July 1974.

England sent India in to bat first. The visitors lost Sunil Gavaskar, Sudhir Naik and Gundappa Viswanath with the score reading 60 for 3. Skipper Ajit Wadekar (67) and Farokh Engineer (32) set the stage for Patel’s counter-attacking innings.

Coming in at number six, Patel hit eight fours and a six to stun the English attack, which featured Geoff Arnold, Chris Old and Tony Greig. He was the ninth man out, at 265, and India were all out for the same score.

Unfortunately for India, Patel’s excellent innings went in vain as John Edrich’s 90 from 97 balls set the tone for the chase. Cameos from Keith Fletcher (39) and Tony Greig (40) saw England home by four wickets.

#2 Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa

The swashbuckling Robin Uthappa has not enjoyed much success during a stop-start international career. However, the start to his ODI career was as good as it could get.

Uthappa made his debut against England at Indore on 15 April 2006. Batting first, England made 288 all out on the back of half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones. Things could have been worse for India had S Sreesanth not run through the lower order with figures of 6 for 55.

The stage was set for Uthappa to announce his arrival on the international scene. Opening the innings with Rahul Dravid, who himself contributed 69, Uthappa blazed his way to 86 from 96 balls, a quality knock featuring 12 fours and a six.

The opening stand was worth a massive 166. Uthappa seemed set for a hundred on debut when he was run out, but this remained the highest score by an Indian on debut for a decade.

#1 KL Rahul

KL Rahul

The Indian opener, who has been under pressure of late, holds the record for the highest score by an Indian on ODI debut.

KL Rahul made an unbeaten 100 off 115 balls versus Zimbabwe at Harare on 11 June 2016. It was the first ODI of India’s tour of Zimbabwe.

Fielding first after winning the toss, India cleaned up Zimbabwe for 168. Jasprit Bumrah was nearly unplayable, returning with figures of 4 for 28. Dhawal Kulkarni and Barinder Sran picked up two wickets each while Elton Chigumbura top-scored for Zimbabwe with 41.

With a small score to chase, Rahul came in and took on the Zimbabwe bowlers from the very start. The talented youngster hit seven fours during his stay at the crease.

The standout moment came when, on 94, he slammed Hamilton Masakadza for a six over long on to create history, becoming the first Indian to hit a hundred on ODI debut. The stroke also completed an emphatic nine wicket-win victory for India.