The Australian soil has been a breeding ground for Indian cricketers, with many making their mark on the international stage. From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, the country has witnessed the rise of several stars. This tradition continues with the current Indian squad, which features promising youngsters who could make their Test or international debuts during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Irfan Pathan (2003)
Pathan’s Test debut in 2003 was a memorable one, with India securing a historic win at Adelaide. He made his mark as an all-rounder, scoring a century and taking a wicket in his debut match. Pathan went on to play 173 matches for India, winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Vinay Kumar (2012)
Kumar made his Test debut in 2012 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. He picked up a wicket in his only Test outing and also played 31 ODIs and nine T20Is for India. After retiring from first-class cricket in 2020, Kumar joined the Mumbai Indians talent scouting team and later became the bowling coach for MI Emirates.
Karn Sharma (2014)
Sharma made his Test debut in 2014 under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. He took four wickets in the match but was overshadowed by Nathan Lyon’s 12-wicket haul. Sharma has since played two ODIs and a T20I for India and continues to be a key domestic cricket player for Railways.
KL Rahul (2014)
Rahul made his international debut in 2014 and has since become a regular in the Indian team. He has scored over 8,000 runs in international cricket, including 17 centuries. Rahul will be looking to make a strong impact in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he has an average of just over 20.
Mayank Agarwal (2018)
Agarwal made his Test debut in 2018 and played a crucial role in India’s victory in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He scored 195 runs in two innings, including a fine 76 in the first innings. Agarwal has since played 21 Tests for India, scoring over 1,400 runs with four centuries.
Mohammed Siraj (2020)
Siraj’s Test debut was a moment of resilience and emotion. He stepped up in the absence of injured senior players and led the pace battery in the final Test at Gabba. Siraj took 5/73 in the match-winning effort, helping India to an inspirational series win. He is now an all-format star for India, having taken 165 wickets in 91 matches.
Navdeep Saini (2021)
Saini made his Test debut in 2021 and has since taken 23 wickets in 21 international matches. He was recently picked for the India A series Down Under and is present in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad as a reserve player.
Shubman Gill (2021)
Gill made his Test debut in 2021 and played a crucial role in India’s 2-1 win over Australia. He scored 259 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries. Gill has since become an all-format star, scoring over 4,700 runs in 97 matches with 12 centuries.
Washington Sundar (2021)
Sundar made his Test debut in the iconic Gabba Test win in 2021. He scored 62 and 22 in the match and took four wickets, including three in the first innings. Sundar has since been picked up as the third spinner for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
T Natarajan (2021)
Natarajan made his debut across all formats during the 2020-21 tour to Australia. He played his first Test at Gabba, picking up three wickets. Natarajan has not played first-class cricket since then and his last international match was against England in March 2021.
