From Mayank Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane, Top T20I debuts for Team India

Mayank Yadav's debut for India against Bangladesh in the 1st T20I was like a fireworks show—loud, dazzling, and impossible to ignore. In the very first over, this young speedster threw down a maiden that made everyone sit up and say, "Who’s that?" And if that wasn’t enough, he snagged a wicket right after, sealing his entrance with a flourish. Now, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to meet 5 other Indians who made their own unforgettable debuts in the shortest format of the game.

Ajit Agarkar
What Mayank Yadav pulled off, Ajit Agarkar can say he did it first. The now-retired pacer bowled a maiden in his first over in T20Is. Interestingly, it was also India's first-ever T20I match played in 2006 against South Africa in Johannesburg. Talk about setting the bar high! It seems the spirit of debut brilliance runs in the fast-bowling family.

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane may not be the first name that pops into your head when you think of T20 fireworks, but this guy has a hidden gem of a record. On his T20I debut in 2011, Jinx lit up the pitch with a dazzling 39-ball 61, making him the king of first-timers. To this day, that score stands as the highest by an Indian in their very first game in the shortest format. Who knew the quiet maestro had such a big bang hidden up his sleeve?

Barinder Sran
Another surprise in this list is Barinder Sran. Remember the well-built pacer from Haryana who became a household name after an impressive IPL 2016? Well, he emulated that form to the international stage as he had a dream T20 debut for India the same year. Sran picked up 4 wickets for just 10 runs on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, which is to date the best bowling figure on debut by an Indian. Talk about making an entrance that turned heads and left jaws on the floor.

Pragyan Ojha and Shivam Mavi
It seems that Indian bowlers made it a habit of making a mark in their first T20I outing. Like Sran, Pragyan Ojha and Shivam Mavi too picked up 4 wickets each on their international debut in the shortest format. While Ojha did it against Bangladesh in 2009, Mavi bamboozled Sri Lanka with figures of 4/22 in 2023.

Ishan Kishan
Stepping onto the international stage can be daunting, but not for Ishan Kishan. The southpaw wreaked havoc against England in 2021 when the opening batter smashed a 32-ball-56 in Ahmedabad. That score is the 2nd-highest by an Indian on T20I debut, just 5 runs shy of Ajinkya Rahane’s record. Kishan certainly showed that when it comes to first impressions, he’s all about leaving a lasting mark.