Narendra Hirwani: The Indian cricket team is currently busy in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. On the other hand, Pakistan team is also hosting a three-match Test series against England at home. Test cricket has its own importance. And it is every cricketer's dream to participate in it. If a cricketer scores a century or bowls brilliantly in his debut test match. So it makes a place in the hearts of the fans.
Who can forget the Test debut of former Indian cricket team leg spinner Narendra Hirwani. Who is celebrating his 56th birthday today. In January 1988, Hirwani made a splash on his debut against the West Indies in Chennai. Hirwani took 8 wickets for 61 runs in the first innings. Then he took 8 wickets for 75 runs in the second innings.
Hirwani scored 136 runs and took 16 wickets in his first Test match. This was the best bowling by any bowler in his first Test match. This record of his remains intact even today. When Hirwani achieved this feat, he was only 19 years and 85 days old. On the basis of Hirwani's brilliant performance, the Indian team won that match by 255 runs. Ravi Shastri was the captain of the Indian team in that match.
Australia's Bob Massey is second after Hirwani in terms of best bowling in the debut test match. Messi took 16 wickets for 137 runs against England in the 1972 Lord's Test. Whereas Frederick Martin of England is at third place in this list. Martin took 12 wickets for 102 runs against Australia in the Oval Test in 1890.
Apart from this, Narendra Hirwani has another world record in Test cricket. In the Oval Test against England in 1990, Hirwani bowled 59 overs without taking any break. During this period he bowled 18 maiden overs. And took 1 wicket for 137 runs. This was the longest bowling spell by any bowler in a Test match without a break. This record of his remains intact even today.
Narendra Hirwani's international cricket career lasted for 8 years (1988–96). In which he played 17 Test and 18 ODI matches for India. Hirwani took 66 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 30.10. In ODI, Hirwani took 23 wickets at an average of 31.26. But due to his poor performance, Hirwani's international career could not last long. Hirwani's son Mihir is also a leg spinner. 30 year old Mihir Hirwani has played 31 first class, 23 List-A and 24 T20 matches so far.