5 Indian stars who made their debut in a format in Harare versus Zimbabwe before 2024 ft. Virat Kohli
India, the World Champions in T20Is, suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in Harare on July 6. This was India's first game post their win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on June 29.
Saturday's game against Zimbabwe witnessed three players making their T20I debuts for India viz. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel. While Jurel has played Test matches for India, Sharma and Parag represented India for the very first time.
Over the last couple of decades, India have allowed their fringe players and youngsters to be on the plane to Zimbabwe. Hence, many cricketers have made their debut in Harare.
On that note, here is a look at five Indian stars who made their debut in a format in Harare versus Zimbabwe before 2024.
#1 Virat Kohli
The former Indian skipper tops this list. Virat Kohli made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in June 2010.
Having made a name for himself in ODIs and the IPL, Kohli announced his arrival in the shortest format in Harare. He batted at number five during the game and helped India chase down the target of 112 and displayed his maturity.
He played a calm and composed inning of 26 from 21 balls, including three boundaries and a maximum. He added 64 runs for the fifth wicket with Yusuf Pathan to guide India to a win.
Kohli ended his T20I career as the second-highest run-getter (4188) in the format and played many match-winning knocks for India.
#2 Ravichandran Ashwin
The wily off-spinner made his T20I debut in the same game in which Virat Kohli made his debut. He bowled four overs and picked up the solitary wicket of Tatendra Taibu. He had an economical spell and conceded just 22 runs in his quota of four overs.
Ashwin went on to play 65 T20Is for India over 12 years from 2010 to 2022. He last featured for India in the shortest format against India during the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022 against England. He bowled two wicketless overs conceding 27 runs.
#3 KL Rahul
Rahul made his ODI and T20I debut in Harare during India's tour of Zimbabwe in 2016.
June 11, 2016, was a red-letter day for Rahul as he scored a century on his ODI debut in Harare. Chasing a modest target of 169 set by the hosts, Rahul played a dominant knock (100*) from 115 balls including seven boundaries and a maximum. He added 162 runs for the second wicket with Ambati Rayudu and guided India to a win by nine wickets.
A week later, he made his T20I debut on the same ground i.e. Harare Sports Club. He had a forgettable debut as he was dismissed on the first ball without opening his account. India failed to chase the target of 171 and fell short of the target of two runs.
Rahul is a vital part of the Indian middle-order in ODIs. However, he last played his T20I for India in November 2022 and since then has been overlooked for the shortest format.
#4 Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg-spinner made his ODI and T20I debut simultaneously with KL Rahul on June 11, 2016. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled an economical spell of 27 runs from 10 overs and picked up the wicket of Richmond Mutumbami. His tidy figures helped India to restrict and bowl out the hosts for a paltry total of 168.
He was a tad expensive on his T20I debut in Harare and had an economy rate of 9.50 from four overs. He picked up the wicket of Malcolm Waller in the said game.
Chahal last played an ODI for India in January 2023. He was a part of the victorious Indian squad that won the T20 World Cup 2024, but he didn't feature in the playing XI in any of the games. He is, to date, the highest wicket-taker for India in the shortest format (96).
#5 Axar Patel
Axar Patel played a vital role in India's success at the T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and the USA. He was the three-dimensional player for India during the tournament and one of the architects of India's win.
Patel had a sensational T20I debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2015. He first dismissed the experienced Hamilton Masakadza and thereafter clean-bowled Elton Chigumbara and Sikandar Raza. He was named Man of the Match for his heroics with the ball picking up three wickets for 17 runs in his four overs.