Indian leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani ran through the West Indies batting line-up on this day back in 1988 at Chennai. After India posted 382 in first innings, the Caribbean team fell like a pack of cards in front of Hirwani’s turning cherry. He picked 8 wickets for only 61 runs: 3rd best bowling figures in an innings of a Test debut. His spin assault helped India dismiss West Indies to 184. Interestingly, Hirwani registered another 8-wicket haul in the second innings for 75 runs with West Indies getting all out this time for mere 160 and India won the contest emphatically by 255 runs. Moreover, Hirwani’s overall figure of 16 for 136 is the record for any bowler on Test debut till date. He bettered Australian pacer Bob Massie’s figures of 16 for 137, which came against England at Lord’s in 1972.
On This Day January 15: Narendra Hirwani mauls West Indies with his 16-wicket haul on debut
