5 Indian players who made their Test debut on June 20

Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid made 95 on his Test debut against England

Till date, 285 players have donned the Indian cap in Test matches since the country officially started playing the game in 1932. The last one of those was Naman Ojha, who played his first and only Test in 2015. Yet, only a few have been able to wade through the testing waters of the game and make a name for themselves. Here’s a list of five Indian players who made their Test debut today, and a look at how their careers took different paths.

Rahul Dravid

India’s most successful No.3 batsman was known for his technical solidity and peerless perseverance. In a 164 Test career that saw him become one of the world's best, Dravid anchored India to some of its most memorable chases, both at home and overseas. With a career best of 270 against Pakistan, Dravid made 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, notching up 36 tons and five double centuries.

He made his debut against England in 1996 at Lord’s. Coming in at No.7, he saw Sourav Ganguly reach his debut ton from the other side. Dravid was unlucky to fall agonisingly close to his own, getting out on 95 to Chris Lewis. That knock was a sign of things to come, as Dravid went on to become the second-highest run getter for India in Tests.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly made a gritty 131 in his first Test.

When on song, Ganguly’s batting made for a delightful watch. Silky and elegant on the off-side, Ganguly played 113 Tests for India, captaining the side in as many as 49 of those. He made 7212 Test runs for the country, with 16 tons to his credit. Incidentally, his Test average never went below 40. After falling out of favour from the side in the mid-2000s, he made a sensational comeback in 2006, scoring an unbeaten 51 in his return Test.

He made his Test debut against England at Lord’s, having got his first ODI cap way back in 1992. Coming in at No.3 with the score reading 25, Ganguly showed his prowess from the first match itself, staying on the crease for more than six hours and notching up his maiden century in his first innings itself. The 131 was studded with 20 fours and laid the foundation for a successful Test career that culminated against Australia

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011.

Kohli started playing for India as a 19-year-old in 2008 but got his Test cap only in 2011. Considered one of the best batsmen in the modern game and in red-hot form at the moment, Kohli is currently India’s Test captain, having taken the mantle of captaincy from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s most successful captain. He has a touch under 3000 runs to his name from 41 Tests, compiled over an average of 44. That includes 11 tons, the first of which was achieved against Australia in 2012.

His Test debut was a forgettable one, managing a mere four runs in the first innings against West Indies. He could only add a further fifteen to his name in the second Test. He returns to the Caribbean next month to captain a team of youngsters for a four-Test series.

Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar has played just six Tests for India.

One of three Indian players to make their debut on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies, was already an established limited overs bowler, having made his ODI debut way back in 2007. With extreme control over the ball, both new and old, Praveen has the knack of swinging his deliveries both ways at a nagging place. Currently, he is out of favour from the national side, having last played a T20 for India in March 2012. Disciplinary issues and erratic form have made it difficult for him to pave his way back in.

He impressed on his Test debut, picking three wickets in both innings. India went on to win that Test in Jamaica and go one-up in the three-match series. Till date, he has picked up 27 wickets from six Tests, at an average of 25.81.

Abhinav Mukund

Abhinav Mukund
Abhinav Mukund managed a solitary fifty in five Tests.

An established batsman in the Tamil Nadu domestic circuit, Mukund made his first-class debut in 2007 but had to wait for a further four years for a national call-up. He was drafted into the side when both Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were ruled out of the Test series following injuries. Mukund went on to play only five Tests(all in 2011), the last of which was against England in India‘s disastrous tour of 2011. He managed a solitary fifty from the five games. In first-class matches, he has more than 7000 runs at an average of 47 with 21 centuries, including a triple ton to his name.

His Test debut was alongside Virat Kohli and Praveen Kumar in the first Test against the West Indies in 2011. He managed 11 in the first innings, and followed it up with 25 in the next one, falling first to Ravi Rampaul, and then to Devendra Bishoo. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan’s continued success at the top of the order has made it difficult for Mukund to find his way back into the team.

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Edited by Staff Editor