Debutants Who Started With Virat Kohli: Where Are They Now?
In 2008, Virat Kohli made his mark in the cricket world as he led India to victory in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, following in the footsteps of Mohammad Kaif as the second Indian captain to do so. However, Kohli’s charismatic personality set him apart from Kaif.
The year 2008 marked the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket with the debut of Virat Kohli. However, not everyone who debuted with him was able to reach the same heights. In this article, we take a look at five cricketers who made their ODI debut in the same year as Kohli but failed to make a lasting impact in international cricket. These players were all touted to have promising careers ahead of them, but for various reasons, they were unable to show their full potential on the international stage.
Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan, the older brother of Irfan Pathan, had a delayed start to his international career but quickly made an impact with his explosive batting skills and handy off-spin bowling. He burst onto the scene as a power-hitter in the lower order, earning his place in the Indian team during the inaugural edition of the World T20, which India won. Soon after, he was drafted into the One Day International (ODI) team and made his debut against Pakistan in Dhaka.
Pathan’s consistent and impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) were crucial in his selection, and he soon became a permanent member of the national side. Despite making his debut much later than his younger brother Irfan, Yusuf proved himself to be a valuable asset to the Indian cricket team with his all-round abilities.
Manoj Tiwari
Manoj Tiwari may find himself reflecting on a career filled with missed opportunities. Despite displaying exceptional skills and swiftly rising through the ranks, he was often hailed as a player destined for greatness, particularly among Bengal circles, where he was affectionately called ‘chotta dada.’
Tiwary made his debut in 2008 against the mighty Australian team on their home turf, but his promising start was short-lived. After a single failure in his debut, he had to wait for more than three years to play his next One Day International (ODI), which took place in the Caribbean.
The year 2011 was the highlight of his international career, where he featured in five ODIs for India, including his sole ODI century against the West Indies in December of that year. However, his last appearance for India came in July 2015 in Zimbabwe.
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Manpreet Gony
Manpreet Gony, the speedster from Punjab, also debuted with Virat Kohli. He had a sensational year in 2007, making his debut in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings and in first-class cricket for Punjab. His impressive performances in the IPL earned him a call-up to the One Day International (ODI) side the following year.
With his ability to bowl fast and hit the pitch hard, Gony quickly caught the attention of selectors. He made his ODI debut against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup and played his final ODI just three days later against Bangladesh.
Unfortunately, Gony’s second season in the IPL was far less impressive than his debut year, and he failed to exhibit the qualities that had initially marked him out as a pace sensation. Despite this setback, he still represents Punjab in first-class cricket and has taken 196 wickets for them over the years. In 2019, Gony also played for the Canadian Global T20.
Pragyan Ojha
Despite being in and around the Indian cricket team since his debut, he never quite managed to nail down a permanent spot or a sustained run in the squad. Ojha is a highly talented left-arm orthodox bowler, who has represented India in all three formats of the game.
After putting in a couple of consistent seasons in first-class cricket and a successful debut season for the Deccan Chargers in the IPL, he forced his way into the ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour and Asia Cup in 2008. Although he enjoyed success as a bowler across all formats, Ojha found most of his success in Test cricket, where he claimed over 100 wickets in the period between 2010 and 2013.
Subramaniam Badrinath
Subramaniam Badrinath’s cricketing career has been a heart-wrenching story of unfulfilled potential. A gifted batsman, he was often a victim of circumstance and never seemed to find the right opportunity to shine.
Despite being a regular fixture in domestic cricket, Badrinath’s performances were often overlooked by the national selectors, resulting in him amassing less than 200 runs across all three formats of the game for India. His ODI debut came in the same series as Virat Kohli in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately, he couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity.
Despite his struggles at the international level, Badrinath remained a force to be reckoned with in domestic cricket, piling on the runs and leading his team to several victories. Nevertheless, it remains a bittersweet reality that his talent was never truly appreciated on the international stage.
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