Dattu Phadkar became the first Indian player to score 50+ and take three or more wickets in debut innings when he achieved the double against Australia in 1948.
Dattu Phadkar vs Australia in 1948
It certainly must not have been easy for the Kohlapur-born Dattu Phadkar to make his test debut in the completely foreign conditions of Australia. Phadkar played his first test match at Sydney in December 1947, soon after India got independence.
When Phadkar came out to bat, India were struggling against an Australian bowling line up which comprised Bill Johnston, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. The debutant, batting at number 8, ended up as the top run scorer for the side with 51 runs off 97 deliveries.
In the damp conditions of Sydney, Australia were bowled out for just 107. Vijay Hazare was the main bowler for India and bagged 4 wickets. All-rounder Dattu Phadkar (51 & 3/14 vs Aus, SCG, 1947/48) also played a major role in the Aussie collapse and picked up three wickets while conceding just 14 runs.
India found themselves at 61/7 in the second innings but with the match repeatedly affected by rain, it ended in a draw.
Hanuma Vihari vs England in 2018
With the Indian batsmen struggling to counter the swinging and seaming conditions of India on their last tour of the country in 2018, Hanuma Vihari was added to the squad and played ahead of Karun Nair, who was already in the Indian squad.
Vihari, who had a first class average of over 60, proved his mettle with a half century in his debut innings in the difficult conditions of the Oval. He then dismissed Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Sam Curran but not before Australia set India a 464-run target.
India lost the match by 118 runs but Vihari ensured that he had left a mark on debut with both bat and ball.
Washington Sundar vs Australia in 2021
Washington Sundar was part of the Indian touring party only as a net bowler for the test matches. As it turned out, with injuries to both Ravi Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, he played as India's only spinner in the final test match at the Gabba.
Sundar looked the part with both bat and ball. He first picked up three wickets in Australia's first innings including that of Steve Smith and then struck a brilliant 62 with the bat to play a major role in India's 3-wicket heist.
