The day Indian spinner Narendra Hirwani created history with 16-wickets on Test debut

Narendra Hirwani [Source: @ICC/x]

India’s Test history has been defined by a lineage of legendary spinners who have ruled the longest format with unreal consistency, often delivering performances that stand tall across generations. Long before the likes of Anil Kumble went on to dominate Test cricket for India, one unassuming leg-spinner announced his arrival in the most extraordinary manner, producing a debut performance for the ages that would become one of the most remarkable chapters in the nation’s Test cricket folklore.

The leg-spinner in contention is none other than Narendra Hirwani, who picked up 16 wickets in his record Test debut with twin eight-wicket hauls against West Indies at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk.

When Narendra Hirwani dismantled Viv Richards’ West Indies on debut

Back in January 1988, Team India hosted West Indies in the fourth Test of their four-match series. Trailing 0-1 and going into the decider, the Indian team management decided to hand promising leg-spinner and then 19-year-old Narendra Hirwani his maiden international cap at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk.

Team India captain Ravi Shastri won the toss and opted to bat first. His batters responded with a strong 382-run total in the first innings from 104.1 overs, with legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev smearing an electrifying 109 off 124 balls. Opening batter Arun Lal also made a crafty 69 at the top of the order.

After Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev accounted for both West Indies openers early on Day 2, debutant Narendra Hirwani scythed through the rest of the visitor’s line-up to claim sensational figures of 8-61 in 18.3 overs. Hirwani’s rampage steamrolled West Indies for just 184 in 73.3 overs, thus handing Team India a huge lead of 198 runs.

Then Indian number three Woorkeri Raman unleashed a cautious 83 as India set up a commanding fourth-innings chase of 416 runs for the West Indies.

First-innings hero Narendra Hirwani picked up right where he left off, tormenting the West Indies batters once again with yet another eight-wicket haul, this time picking up figures of 8-75 in 15.2 overs. West Indies succumbed to just 160 all out in 41.2 overs as India clinched a huge 255-run victory to level the four-match series 1-1.

Narendra Hirwani capped his maiden international outing with a staggering match haul of 16-136 in 33.5 overs combined, thus marking the best bowling figures by any cricketer in history on Test debut.

Narendra Hirwani career

Narendra Hirwani ended up playing 17 Test matches for Team India up until his final appearance in December 1996 against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In 28 innings, the legendary leg-spinner picked up 66 wickets at a bowling average of 30.10. After his twin eight-fers on debut, Hirwani claimed two more five-wicket hauls in his career.

He also played a handful of ODIs, 18 to be exact, between the years 1988 and 1992 to pick 23 wickets at an average of 31.26 with three four-wicket hauls. He was part of the Indian team that lifted the third edition of the Asia Cup back in late 1988 in Bangladesh.