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Test cricket is the ultimate level of professional cricket. And a five-wicket haul in a Test is one of the most notable achievements in the sport - just like a century for a batsman.
It is difficult for any player to come on to the ultimate stage and perform right away. However, there have been instances when young and new bowlers have fully grabbed their chance on their Test debut.
It is always a delight to watch new bowlers stamping their brilliance in their very first game in Test cricket. In this segment, we will take a look at Indian bowlers who took a five-wicket haul on Test debut:
#1 Mohammed Nissar (1932)
Mohammed Nissar was the first player from India to take a five-wicket haul on debut in Tests.
India had arrived in England in 1932 to play its first ever Test match, under the captaincy of Col. C K Naidu. Mohammed Nissar and Amar Singh comprised the Indian pace bowling attack on the tour.
Though the long tour featured numerous first-class matches, India was scheduled to play only one Test match. In the first innings, Mohammed Nissar dismissed five English batsmen for 93 runs, thus becoming the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat.
Nissar is also the first Indian to feature on Lord's honor board.
#2 Vaman Kumar (1961)
Vaman Kumar was a leg-break bowler. He made his debut in the last Test of the five-match home series against Pakistan in 1961.
The previous four matches had not produced any result, but India was hopeful of its chances in the last match at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla. India put up a mammoth score of 463 in the first innings, to put the visitors under pressure.
Riding on Vaman's superb bowling spell of 5/64, they then reduced Pakistan to a meager total of 286 and enforced the follow-on. However, India couldn't win the match and they didn't have enough overs to get to the target of 74 in the fourth innings.
Vaman featured in only two Test matches for India.
#3 Syed Abid Ali (1967)
Syed Abid Ali was a medium pace all-rounder who was picked for the 1967 Australian tour in place of MAK Pataudi, who had sustained injuries. Ali's selection was a bit unexpected but he proved handy with his contributions.
In the first Test at Adelaide, he took six wickets for 55 runs in the first innings and scored 33 in both the innings. However, India lost the match by 146 runs.
#4 Dilip Doshi (1979)
Dilip Doshi was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who made the cut into the national side very late in his career. Doshi was in his 30s when he made his Test debut against Australia at Madras Cricket Club, Chennai.
But he announced his arrival with a scintillating performance in the very first Test. He picked up 6/103 in the first innings to register a five-wicket haul in his debut Test.
Doshi performed brilliantly throughout his maiden Test series and also emerged as a hero in the final Test at Bombay.
Doshi is one of only four bowlers who made their Test debut after the age of 30 and picked over 100 Test wickets. The other three are Clairre Grimmett, Saeed Ajmal and Ryan Harris.
#5 Narendra Hirwani (1988)
Narendra Hirwani had a Test debut that any bowler would dream of. He played his first match against the formidable West Indies at Chepauk stadium in Chennai, and walked into the record books by picking 8/61 in the first innings.
But he didn't stop there. He again picked 8 wickets in the second innings, ending with match figures at 16/136.
Hirwani holds the record for the best bowling figures on Test debut in all of cricket history. But he was a short-lived star in Indian cricket, fading quickly after that initial moment of glory.
Hirwani is also the third youngest Indian to pick a five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
#6 Amit Mishra (2008)
Though one can say that Amit Mishra has been unlucky with his non-selection in the Indian team, he started his career with a bang.
Mishra was first picked in the team in 2002, but was not given any starting position. However, he was once again awarded a chance in the place of injured Anil Kumble, and he didn't let that slip.
In the second Test against Australia at Mohali, Mishra picked 5 wickets for 71 and propelled India to a convincing win. However, he was never considered as the first choice spinner, and often lost out to Kumble, Harbhajan or Pragyan Ojha.
#7 Ravichandran Ashwin (2011)
Ravichandran Ashwin is presently India's premier off-break bowler with decent batting ability. He can also be called one of the modern day greats as he goes about his job with precision.
Ashwin's stamp of genius was evident right from his debut Test against West Indies. He picked a five-wicket haul while giving away just 47 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla, and India won the match.
Later in the series, Ashwin picked one more five-wicket haul and scored a century to win the 'Player of the Series' award. He is the fastest Indian bowler to reach the 50-, 100-, 150-, 200-, 250- and 300-wicket mark in Test cricket.
#8 Mohammed Shami (2013)
The Indian cricket team has re-oriented itself and is now a more balanced side. And its improved bowling strength can be attributed to the new crop of bowlers in the team.
Mohammed Shami is one of the spearheads of the Indian bowling attack and looks hostile in all match conditions. He possesses rigorous discipline in his bowling, with a blend of seam and swing.
Shami made his debut in the Test that is fondly remembered as the second last Test of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. When the world was busy pouring adulation on Tendulkar, Shami was performing his job quietly.
He dismissed 4 batsmen in the first innings and bowled brilliant reverse swing to pick 5/47 in the second innings of his debut Test.
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