5 unknown bowlers who destroyed the Indian batting line-up in ODIs

The Indian batting line-up may be one of the most feared in world cricket, but there has been the tendency of them producing tame performances every now and then. The most recent occasion came in the first T20I of the 3-match series against Sri Lanka.Making his debut, unknown Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha rocked the Indian batting line-up by claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in his very first over. The debutant ended with figures of 3 for 29 and helped his team fold up India for 101, which they chased down with 2 overs left.Indian batsmen have had their own set of issues with bowlers who are unknown quantities for them. There are a number of instances in ODI cricket when a new face has managed to demolish one of the world’s strongest batting units. Here are 5 then unknown bowlers who did the damage:

#5 Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) - 4/41 at Sharjah

Henry Olonga was in devastating form.

Among one of the many triangular tournaments which were played in Sharjah in the late 90s was Coca-Cola Champions Trophy featuring India, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankans were in poor form at the time and lost all their matches making an India-Zimbabwe final a foregone conclusion.

In what would serve as a dress rehearsal for the final, India and Zimbabwe met in the last group match. Having been put in to bat, the Zimbabweans managed to give India a competitive target of 206 to win the match.

Despite boasting of a great batting line-up, the Indians got off to a disastrous start thanks to a fiery spell by unknown fast bowler Henry Olonga. The Zimbabwe speedster dismissed Ganguly, Dravid and Tendulkar in quick succession to leave India reeling at 28 for 3.

Olonga returned to take another wicket and finished with 4 for 46 as Zimbabwe edged out India by 13 runs. Unfortunately for the bowler, though, he was taken to the cleaners by Sachin Tendulkar in the final as India won by 10 wickets.

#4 Matt Henry (New Zealand) - 4/38 at Wellington

Matt Henry enjoyed a great debut against India

India were on the receiving end of a hammering at the hands of New Zealand in the ODI series on their 2013/14 tour to the island country. Having already conceded the series 0-3, the Indian team were only playing for pride in the final ODI.

A brilliant Ross Taylor century ensured that the Kiwis posed a target of 304 for the visitors to chase. However, they were reduced to 78 for 4 courtesy of a spirited bowling performance by debutant Matt Henry who took the wickets of Dhawan, Rahane and Rayudu.

Henry returned later to claim another wicket in the death overs and finished off with figures of 4 for 38 in his very first ODI. His team completed a comfortable 87-run victory and took the series 4-0.

#3 Douglas Hondo (Zimbabwe) - 4/37 at Kochi

Hondo had a great first outing against India

Not many people knew who Douglas Hondo was before he burst onto the scene with a 4-wicket haul in an ODI against India. The Zimbabwean pacer acheived this feat in the 3rd ODI of a 5-match series between the two sides, played at Kochi.

The series was square at 1-1 after the first 2 ODIs and India chose to bat first. The Indians were up against it quickly as Douglas Hondo ran through the top order, claiming the wickets of Dinesh Mongia, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman and reducing them to 49 for 3.

India never recovered from this predicament and ended posting just 191 on the board, which the Zimbabweans chased down with 6 wickets intact. Hondo received the Player of the Match award for his figures of 4 for 37.

#2 Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) - 5/50 at Dhaka

Mustafizur’s teammates are all over him as he bags another one

Bangladesh played some great cricket at home last year as they beat Pakistan, India and South Africa in back-to-back ODI series. Rookie left-arm medium-pacer Mustafizur Rahman played a pivotal role in their triumphant run, especially with his exploits in the series against India.

The Indians got their first taste of young Mustafizur in the first ODI of a 3-match series. Batting first, Bangladesh put up a confident 307 on the board, thanks to a combined effort from the openers and the lower middle order.

However, everyone trusted India to win the encounter considering they were 95 for no loss at one stage. The turnaround was started by Bangladeshi pacer Taskin Ahmed when he picked up Dhawan and Kohli in quick succession.

It was a=the Mustafizur Rahman show all the way post that as he broke India’s backbone by dismissing Rohit, Rahane, Raina, Jadeja and Ashwin, ending with figures of 5 for 50. Team India suffered a 79-run defeat owing to Rahman’s special effort.

#1 Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) - 6/13 at Karachi

Mendis appeals successfully against another Indian batsman

The 2008 Asia Cup final was a forgettable one for Indian in more ways than one. Firstly, they were pummelled by their nemesis in the Sri Lankan team, Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 125 and helped his team post a formidable 273 on the board.

Despite being Tendulkar-less, the Indian batting line-up looked to have enough firepower to help skipper Dhoni lift the Asia Cup trophy. However, Sri Lanka had an ace in their ranks, a mystery spinner named Ajantha Mendis, who had played against other teams in the tournament but had been concealed from India.

Virender Sehwag was threatening to take the game away as he had already scored a quick-fire 60. Mendis, however, claimed Sehwag in his very first over and went on to take 5 more as India were bowled out for 173.