Top 5 fastest half centuries on ODI debut

Krunal Pandya’s 26 ball half century on ODI debut is now the fastest by a debutant in International Cricket. He also became the first ever Indian batsman to record a half century on debut batting at No.7.

Here is a look at the Top 5 fastest half centuries on ODI debut:

5. Mohammad Rizwan and Sharjeel Khan – 46 balls

Sharjeel Khan scored 61 runs in 61 balls on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2013 at Sharjah. He reached his half century by smacking a four off Sachitra Senanayake. He became the 8^th Pakistan batsman to score a half century on ODI debut. Pakistan went on to win the match by 11 runs.

Also on joint 5^th spot is Mohammad Rizwan who scored his fifty in 46 balls against Bangladesh in 2015 at Dhaka. Rizwan who walked in at No.5 scored 67 runs in 58 balls on debut, but it came in a losing cause for Pakistan.

4. Nasir Jamshed – 40 balls

Pakistan’s Nasir Jamshed struck a 48 ball 61 on his ODI debut against Zimbabwe. Jamshed reached his half century with a SIX off Elton Chigumbura. Pakistan’s score was 63/1 in 11.1 overs when he reached his domineering half century.

Pakistan went on to win the match by 104 runs.

3. Luke Wright – 39 balls

Luke Wright walked into bat at No.7 on his ODI debut against India at The Oval in 2007 when England were struggling at 137/5 in 30.2 overs. Wright and Owais Shah’s counter attack followed by Dmimitri Mascarenhas slog helped England to 316/6 in 50 overs in that match.

Wright reached his half century in just 38 balls. He was run out the next ball.

This match was known for Robin Uthappa’s heroics with the bat which helped India win the match with 2 balls remaining.

2. John Morris – 35 balls

England’s John Morris walked into bat at No.5 on debut against New Zealand in 1990 at Adelaide. England needed 200 runs to win in the 40 overs  Benson & Hedges World Series fixture. Morris walked into bat with his team at 91/3.  

Morris remained unbeaten on 63 runs in 45 balls with the help of 6 fours as other batsmen around him kept falling which put England 8 runs short of the target.

1. Krunal Pandya – 26 balls

Krunal Pandya made his ODI debut a day before his 30^th birthday. He walked into bat when India were reduced to 205-5 in 40.3 when Ben Stokes removed his brother Hardik Pandya for 1 run.

He put on a partnership of 112 runs in 61 balls with KL Rahul which helped India to a formidable score of 317-5 in 50 overs. Pandya remained not out on 58 runs in 31 balls at the end of Indian innings.

He later came into bowl to pick the wicket of Sam Curran at a crucial juncture of the match. He ended with bowling figures of 1-59 in 10 overs from a stage of 3-0-36-0. India went on to win the match by 66 runs!