India Cricket Team’s debutants have had a phenomenal IND vs ENG Test series so far. Five players – Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep and Devdutt Padikkal – made their debuts in the ongoing five-match Test series. Barring Patidar, all debutants have made their mark on their debuts, contributing effectively with bat and ball respectively.
The odd one: Rajat Patidar
The first debutant of the series was Rajat Patidar. Coming in to the series after a prolific domestic season, Patidar was expected to come out with all guns blazing. However, it turned out to be so otherwise.
In the 2nd Test, Patidar managed to score just 32 and 9. It went from bad to worse in the 3rd Test, scoring 5 and 0. A lifeline was handed to Patidar in the 4th Test after he was included in the XI in the absence of Virat Kohli. However, the batter squandered the chance. He made 17 and 0 in the game and was dropped for the 5th Test, paving way for Devdutt Padikkal.
Sarfaraz Khan – a dream come true
Sarfaraz Khan was the next Indian to make his debut in IND vs ENG 3rd Test. He kick-started his international career with a bang, scoring back-to-back fifties in the game. He had a quiet outing in Ranchi, having made just 14 and 0. Sarfaraz recovered quickly and replied with a fast-paced fifty in the 1st innings of the 5th Test.
Dhruv Jurel cements spot in Test side
Dhruv Jurel made his debut alongside Sarfaraz Khan in the 3rd Test. An under-par performance from KS Bharat paved way for Jurel’s debut. Like Sarfaraz, Jurel came into the series riding on the back of good form in the domestic circuit.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been a good find for India and has displayed his abilities with both bat and gloves. He missed out on a well-deserved half-century in his 1st innings on debut as he was dismissed for 46 runs. In the 4th Test, he missed out narrowly on a century as he was dismissed for 90 runs. In the second innings, he played an unbeaten 39-run knock. He was adjudged the Player of the Match for the Ranchi Test.
A fiery Akash Deep
Akash Deep made his dream debut in the India vs England 4th Test, dismissing the top order of the visitors. Having made his Ranji Trophy debut five years ago, the pacer, who hails from Bihar, has finally completed his journey of representing India. He took 3 wickets in the game.
Southpaw success ft. Devdutt Padikkal
Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal is the final Indian to make his debut in the IND vs ENG series. A stellar performance in the Ranji Trophy coupled with a good run for India A saw the southpaw earn his maiden call-up to the Indian side.
Padikkal wasted no time on his debut in the 5th Test as he smashed a magnificient half-century. He made 65 runs off 103 deliveries before he was bowled out by Shoaib Bashir.
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