CRICKET
3 Indian players who debuted on Boxing Day Test
Boxing Day Test is the biggest day of a calendar year in Tests. The cricketing nations that have their summers in December, mostly those teams that celebrate Christmas in the period in the Southern hemisphere of the globe host Test matches in the period. It is one of the ways of celebrating the festival. Teams like Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand have hosted a lot of teams in the Boxing Day Test matches in the past and continue to do so.
In 2023, 2 teams are hosting the Boxing Day Test matches. While Australia is hosting Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, South Africa is hosting India at Super Sport Park in Centurion. The players feel the Boxing Day Test to be the best match they can probably start their career in. Many players in the past have found their occasion on the big day to start their career. Some of the Indian players have also got the opportunity to do so in the past.
In the ongoing Test, a player has got an opportunity to do so. The Indian team has given the maiden Test cap to a pace bowler in order to replace the injured Mohammed Shami in the Test series. India has played Australia and SA in the Boxing Day Tests frequently in the last few years. The Indian team has not lost a Boxing Day Test match in the period, which is a great feat. In the last 10 years, 3 players have debuted for India in Test cricket on the Boxing Day Test. Here are them.
3. Prasidh Krishna (2023)
Prasidh Krishna (Source: Twitter)
Prasidh Krishna has got his maiden chance to represent India in Test cricket. In the absence of Shami, the right-arm pacer will be bowling for India at Centurion. Shami is one of those pacers who is considered as an entity very hard to be replaced. Having got his cap from an established great bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, Krishna would be looking forward to giving his best performance as a bowler on his debut.
2. Mayank Agarwal (2018)
Mayank Agarwal (Source: Twitter)
Mayank Agarwal got his maiden India cap in 2018. The event was the Boxing Day test match between India and Australia at the MCG with the series being on line at 1-1. In the lead up to the match, Indian openers struggled to stay in the middle. Mayank did not just make a huge impact in the match but also dominated the Australian attack consisting of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
1. KL Rahul (2014)
KL Rahul (Source: Twitter)
KL Rahul got his maiden cap in 2014 in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia. The series was getting nervy with a young Virat trying to dominate the home side with his batting with some support from Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay. Rahul brought a different dimension to the lineup with his calm and composure. Although he could not impress many, Rahul had his debut at the biggest stage and is now one of the biggest players in Test cricket.