5 Legendary cricketers who made their international debut against India

5) Allan Donald – 1991, Kolkata (then Calcutta)

Allan Donald produced an amazing spell of bowling in his first match

South Africa came to India to play a three-match ODI series in 1991 and were fresh from their lengthy ban due to the apartheid issue. The Proteas had a lot of talent among their ranks and were led by Clive Rice. Donald was drafted into the team to pair with Richard Snell and Brian McMillan, the other pacers. India, on the other hand, had a young team captained by Mohammad Azharuddin.

The home side put their opponents into bat and put in a superb bowling performance to dismiss South Africa for just 177 with Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar picking up two wickets each. South Africa needed wickets to have any sort of chance to win the game and Donald, on his debut, produced a splendid spell of fast bowling that would have done any world class bowler proud.

Donald did not waste time in making his mark with the ball and quickly sent back Ravi Shastri, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sanjay Manjrekar to the pavilion. However, a certain Sachin Tendulkar, along with his friend Pravin Amre, ensured that Donald’s debut would be great only personally and not team wise. Though Donald eventually got the wickets of Tendulkar and Amre to complete a glorious five-wicket-haul, he could not take his team to victory.