Ashwin’s Test debut has come at the cost of Harbhajan Singh. His performance, though, sealed the decision and made selector’s happy, more than anyone else. His 9 wicket haul debut is the second best debut by any Indian bowler in cricket history.
Ashwin grabbed 6/47 in the second innings of West Indies in the first Test at Kotla, besides his 3-wicket haul in the first innings. His debut effort is second only to World Record holder Hirwani, who took 16-wickets on debut, against the same opponent West Indies.
With India playing a test without Kumble or Harbhajan for the first time in 10-years, spinners Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha did not let India feel their absence.
Narendra Hirwani had the best debut. His performance of 16 wickets against West Indies in 1987-88 is the best debut by any Indian bowler as well as any bowler in the world. He grabbed 8 wickets each in both innings, with figures of 8/61 and 8/75.
Following a general trend of players with good debut being less successful in career, world record holder for debut, Hirwani could play only 17 test matches and 18 ODIs for India. He grabbed 66 wickets in test matches with 2 more 5-wicket haul other than his debut performances. In ODIs, he could manage only 23 wickets.
Ashwin has already played 21 ODIs for India grabbing 35 wickets and played 6 T20s taking 4 wickets, besides being one of the key match winner for Chennai Super Kings and Tamilnadu state team.
Kotla recorded fourth exceptional debut. Earlier, Hanumant Singh hit century on debut in 1964, while
John Lever grabbed 10 wicket on debut in 1976 and VV Kumar grabbed 5 wickets on debut in 1961 vs Pakistan.
Overall, Ashwin is the seventh Indian bowler to grab 5 wickets or more in an innings on debut. Here is the list of Indian bowlers with 5-wkt haul or more on debut:
| Player | Spell | Opponent | Place | Date |
| Narendra Hirwani | 8/61 | West Indies | Chennai | Jan 11, 1988 |
| Narendra Hirwani | 8/75 | West Indies | Chennai | Jan 11, 1988 |
| Ashwin | 6/47 | West Indies | Delhi | Nov 8, 2011 |
| Syed Abid Ali | 6/55 | Australia | Adelaide | Dec 23, 1967 |
| Dilip Doshi | 6/103 | Australia | Chennai | Sept 11, 1979 |
| VV Kumar | 5/64 | Pakistan | Delhi | Feb 8, 1961 |
| Amit Mishra | 5/71 | Australia | Mohali | Oct 17, 2008 |
| Mohammad Nissar | 5/93 | England | Lord’s | Jun 25, 1932 |
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