5 eminent Indian cricketers who made their Test debut in England

Team India are currently touring England to play three-match T20I series, three-match ODI series and five-match Test series, between July and September 2018. India won the T20I series 2-1 and lost the ODI series 1-2. The India Cricket Team are currently playing the 3rd Test of their five-match Test series, in which England have taken a 2-0 lead against them. In the 1st Test, India lost to England by 31 runs at Edgbaston and in the 2nd Test, England beat India by an innings and 159 runs at the 'Home of Cricket', Lord's.

In this tour, the world of cricket has seen a new face, Rishabh Pant for Team India. This left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman played his maiden Test match against England at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday, August 18, 2018. After playing the first ball of his debut Test match defensively to cover, Pant dispatched Adil Rashid for a straight six. In doing so, Pant became the first Indian player to hit a six as the first scoring shot of his Test career and made his Test debut memorable.

However, Rishabh Pant is not the only player who made his debut against England. This slideshow contains a list of 5 Indian players who made their Test debut in England on the English pitch.

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#1 Vijay Hazare

Debut Test: Vs England at Lord's, June 22, 1946

Last Test: Vs West Indies at Sabina Park, March 28, 1953

The man who guided Team India to its first victory in Test, Vijay Samuel Hazare, represented his country in 30 Tests. Hazare made his Test debut for India against England at Lord's, on June 22, 1946. In his debut innings, Hazare scored 31 runs before he was bowled by AV Bedser. Hazare scored 2,912 runs at an average of 47.65 over the course of his 30 Tests.

During his career, Hazare made 18,740 runs at an average of 58.38, with 60 tons and 73 fifties. He was the first Indian player to complete 1000 Test runs. He also took 595 first-class wickets, averaging 24.61 with the ball.

After his retirement, Hazare served as an Indian selector.

#2 Abbas Ali Baig

Abbas Ali Baig (Fielding at slips)

Debut Test: Vs England at Old Trafford, July 23, 1959

Last Test: Vs West Indies at Eden Gardens, December 31, 1966

The man who holds the record of scoring a ton being the youngest player, in his maiden Test match, Abbas Ali Baig, made his Test career debut against England at Old Trafford, on July 23, 1959. In his debut match, Baig scored 112 in the fourth innings of the match for India. He also was the first Indian to achieve that feat outside India.

An interesting fact is there, that is Abbas Ali Baig was the first Indian cricketer to be kissed during a Test match. When Baig reached a half-century against Australia in the third Test, at Brabourne Stadium in 1960, a pretty young girl came running from the North Stand to greet him. The girl kissed Baig on his cheek.

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#3 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble

Debut Test: Vs England at Old Trafford, August 9, 1990

Last Test: Vs Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla, October 29, 2008

India's greatest ever match-winner, Anil 'Jumbo' Kumble made his Test career debut against England at Old Trafford, on August 9, 1990. At his debut match, Kumble took 3 wickets in the first innings for India. Throughout his career, Kumble played 132 Tests and took 619 wickets which makes him one of the greatest spinners of all time in the world cricket history.

Kumble’s biggest achievement was the Delhi Test against Pakistan in 1999, where he destroyed the Pakistani batting line-up single-handedly. Kumble took all the 10 wickets and conceded only 74 runs.

In October 2012, Kumble was appointed as the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

#4 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid

Debut Test: Vs England at Lord's, June 20, 1996

Last Test: Vs Australia at Adelaide Oval, January 24, 2012

Rahul Dravid, also known as 'The Wall', made his Test career debut against England in the 2nd Test match of the series at Lord's, on June 20, 1996, as he replaced injured Sanjay Manjrekar.

At his debut match, Dravid came to bat at No 7 and made an impressive 94-runs partnership for the sixth wicket with another debutante, Sourav Ganguly, who scored an overwhelming 131 runs off 301 balls. Dravid proved himself with a typical Test knock of 95 off 267 balls. Dravid successfully ended his debut Test series with a fascinating average of 62.33 from two matches.

Throughout his career, Dravid played 164 Test matches and made 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31.

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#5 Sourav Ganguly

Debut Test: Vs England at Lord's, June 20, 1996

Last Test: Vs Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, November 06, 2008

The former Indian skipper, the 'Prince of Calcutta', Sourav Ganguly made his Test career debut against England in the 2nd Test match of the series at Lord's, on June 20, 1996, in the same match as Rahul Dravid.

Ganguly played an impressive 131 runs knock off 301 balls in his first innings at Lord’s and became the third player in the world cricket history to achieve such a feat. Ganguly’s 131 runs knock is still the highest by any batsman on his debut at the 'Home of Cricket'.

Throughout his career, Ganguly played 113 Test matches and made 7,212 runs at an average of 42.18. He also took 32 wickets at an average of 52.53.