The target was revised to 171 in 39 overs due to rain. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar opened the batting for India. Tendulkar fell early for 4, but Ganguly went on to score an unbeaten 73, while Gautam Gambhir finished with an unbeaten 80 as India secured a nine‑wicket win. Rohit didn’t get a chance to bat that day, but it was the first step in a remarkable international career that has now spanned 273 ODIs, 159 T20Is, and 67 Tests.
Today, on the anniversary of Rohit’s international debut, here’s a look at five players you might not have noticed were also part of that very match:
#5 William Porterfield
Former Ireland captain and opener William Porterfield featured in the match, making 16 runs from 46 balls. He went on to play 148 ODIs for Ireland, scoring 4,343 runs with 11 centuries and 20 half‑centuries. He also featured in 61 T20Is and three Tests before retiring in 2022 after a 16‑year international career.
#4 Kevin O’Brien
All‑rounder Kevin O’Brien, best remembered for his 50‑ball century in the 2011 World Cup against England, also played in Rohit Sharma’s debut match. In that game, he scored 3 from 11 balls and registered bowling figures of 0/25 from four overs. O’Brien retired from international cricket in 2022 after representing Ireland in three Tests, 153 ODIs, and 110 T20Is.
#3 Ajit Agarkar
Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar was also part of the side. He put in a tight spell, finishing with 1/27 from ten overs. Agarkar played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is for India and, like Rohit, hails from Mumbai. Today, he serves as the chief selector for the senior Indian men’s team.
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#2 Piyush Chawla
Leg‑spinner Piyush Chawla was one of the stars with the ball in that match, picking up 3 wickets for 29 runs in ten overs. Chawla played three Tests, 25 ODIs, and seven T20Is for India. He also shared the Mumbai Indians dressing room with Rohit in the IPL from 2021 to 2024, before announcing his international retirement at the age of 36.
#1 Dinesh Karthik
With MS Dhoni not part of the team, Dinesh Karthik kept wickets for India in the match, grabbing a couple of catches. Karthik went on to play 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is for the country, making his final international appearance in the 2022 T20 World Cup under Rohit’s captaincy. The veteran wicket‑keeper also featured alongside Rohit for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL in 2012 and 2013.nine losses.
