Duck on ODI Debut: The Rise of Five Legends

Have you ever heard the saying “It’s not how you start, but how you finish”? Well, when it comes to cricket, this couldn’t be more true. In the world of One Day International (ODI) cricket, there have been five legendary batsmen who faced a rough start by getting out for a zero in the first match of their careers. Despite this setback, these batsmen went on to become some of the most iconic and successful cricketers in the history of the sport.

Let’s delve into the journeys of these five remarkable players who turned their early disappointments into spectacular successes on the cricket field:

1. Sachin Tendulkar: The Master Blaster himself, Sachin Tendulkar, made his ODI debut on 18 December 1989 against Pakistan. Unfortunately, Sachin was dismissed for a duck in his first match. However, this setback didn’t deter him, as he went on to become one of the greatest batsmen of all time, amassing a record 18426 runs in ODIs and scoring 100 international centuries.
2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Captain Cool, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, faced a similar fate in his ODI debut against Bangladesh on 23 December 2004. Despite being run out for zero, Dhoni’s resilience and leadership qualities saw him lead the Indian team to numerous victories, playing 350 ODIs and scoring 10773 runs.
3. Suresh Raina: Suresh Raina’s ODI career kickstarted with a duck against Sri Lanka on 30 July 2005. However, Raina’s aggressive batting style and fielding prowess made him a valuable asset to the Indian team, scoring 5615 runs in 226 ODIs.
4. Shikhar Dhawan: Shikhar Dhawan’s maiden ODI innings against Australia in 2010 ended in a duck. Known for his flamboyant strokeplay, Dhawan overcame this initial setback to score 6793 runs in 167 ODIs, including 17 centuries.
5. Krishnamachari Srikanth: Former Indian captain, Krishnamachari Srikanth, faced a tough start in his ODI debut against England in 1981. Despite being dismissed for zero, Srikanth’s aggressive batting style and leadership skills saw him score 4091 runs in 146 ODIs, including 4 centuries.

These five legends prove that a rocky start is just a stepping stone to greatness in the world of cricket.