From Manav Suthar to Rohit Sharma — Indian players who won Player of the Match on test debut: Complete list
A total of nine Indian cricketers have won the Player of the Match award on their Test debut, starting from Pravin Amre in 1992 to Manav Suthar in 2026. The list includes big names like Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Shikhar Dhawan. Manav Suthar is the latest entrant after a sensational all-round performance against Afghanistan.
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Manav Suthar enjoyed a dream start to his international career, producing a sensational performance on his Test debut against Afghanistan in the one-off Test. The left-arm spinner played a pivotal role in India's dominant victory by an innings and 300 runs, the team's biggest-ever win in Test cricket.
Suthar was the standout performer with the ball, claiming impressive figures of 6/33 in 20 overs during Afghanistan’s first innings. His accuracy, flight, turn, and control proved too much for the visitors, making him only the fifth Indian bowler to register a six-wicket haul on Test debut.
After the BCCI announced him as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, the Rajasthan all-rounder also made valuable contributions with the bat and in the field. He scored a brisk 28 off 41 deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes as India piled up 564/8 declared. In addition, Suthar showcased his all-round abilities by taking three catches across the match.
For his outstanding all-round display, Suthar was deservedly named Player of the Match. With the award, he became only the ninth Indian cricketer to win the Player of the Match honour on Test debut, joining an elite group that includes Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and several other Indian greats. Here is the complete list of Indian players who have achieved this rare feat.
Indian players who win Player of the Match on their Test debut
| Sl. No. | Year | Player | Role | Opponent | Match Result | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1992 | Pravin Amre | Batter | South Africa | Draw | Durban Test |
| 2 | 2006 | RP Singh | Bowler | Pakistan | Win | Faisalabad Test |
| 3 | 2011 | Ravichandran Ashwin | All-rounder | West Indies | Win | Delhi Test |
| 4 | 2013 | Shikhar Dhawan | Batter | Australia | Win | Mohali Test |
| 5 | 2013 | Rohit Sharma | Batter | West Indies | Win | Kolkata Test |
| 6 | 2018 | Prithvi Shaw | Batter | West Indies | Win | Rajkot Test |
| 7 | 2021 | Shreyas Iyer | Batter | New Zealand | Draw | Kanpur Test |
| 8 | 2023 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter | West Indies | Win | Roseau Test |
| 9 | 2026 | Manav Suthar | All-rounder | Afghanistan | Win | One-off Test vs Afghanistan |
9. Manav Suthar
Manav Suthar is the latest entrant and the ninth Indian player to win the Player of the Match award on Test debut. The Rajasthan all-rounder made a memorable start to his international career during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. He was drafted into the playing XI after Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were rested for the match.
Suthar quickly grabbed the spotlight with a sensational bowling display in Afghanistan's first innings. The left-arm spinner claimed 6/33 in 22 overs, becoming only the fifth Indian bowler to take a six-wicket haul on Test debut. His figures are also the third-best by an Indian bowler on Test debut, behind Narendra Hirwani's remarkable performance against the West Indies in 1988.
The young all-rounder also contributed with the bat and in the field, helping India dominate the contest. For his outstanding all-round display, Suthar was named Player of the Match as India registered a historic victory by an innings and 300 runs, their biggest-ever win in Test cricket.
8. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of India's brightest young talents and a key member of the current Test side, is the eighth Indian player to win the Player of the Match award on Test debut. The left-handed opener achieved the feat during the first Test against the West Indies in Roseau in July 2023.
Jaiswal announced his arrival on the international stage with a magnificent innings of 171 runs. Displaying remarkable patience and maturity, he batted for more than eight hours and shared a massive opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. His knock helped India post 421/5 declared and take complete control of the match.
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The young opener's marathon innings laid the foundation for a dominant Indian victory. India went on to defeat West Indies by an innings and 141 runs, while Jaiswal was deservedly named Player of the Match for his memorable debut performance.
7. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is the seventh player in this elite list of Indians who won the Player of the Match award on Test debut. The current Indian T20I skipper achieved this feat in 2021 during the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur.
In a rain-affected and closely fought match, Iyer delivered a brilliant batting performance. He scored 105 runs in the first innings and followed it up with a crucial 65 in the second innings. His consistency with the bat played a key role in helping India stay in control of the game.
The match eventually ended in a draw, but Iyer’s outstanding debut effort stood out. For his match-defining performance, he was named Player of the Match, marking a memorable start to his Test career.
6. Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw was once seen as the next “Sachin Tendulkar” of Indian cricket, and he justified the hype with a dream Test debut. The young opener became the sixth player in this elite list of Indians to win the Player of the Match award on Test debut, achieving the feat in 2018 against the West Indies in Rajkot.
Shaw announced his arrival at the highest level with a classy and fearless innings of 134 runs off just 154 balls. His confident stroke play and positive intent helped India take complete control of the match and post a huge first-innings total of 649/9 declared.
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India completely dominated the contest and registered an innings and 272-run victory. For his brilliant debut century and match-winning impact, Prithvi Shaw was named Player of the Match in his very first Test.
5. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, the former India captain, is the fifth player in this elite list of cricketers who won the Player of the Match award on Test debut. He achieved this feat in 2013 during the first Test against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Rohit marked his Test debut in style with a magnificent innings of 177 runs off 301 balls. His elegant batting and controlled stroke play helped India post a strong first-innings total of 453, setting the tone for the match.
India went on to dominate the contest and secured a convincing win by an innings and 51 runs. For his outstanding debut century and match-winning performance, Rohit Sharma was named Player of the Match.
4. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is the fourth player in this elite list of Indian cricketers who won the Player of the Match award on Test debut. He achieved this remarkable feat in 2013 during the third Test against Australia in Mohali, part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Dhawan made a sensational Test debut, scoring a brilliant 187 runs off just 174 balls. His aggressive batting put India in complete control of the match and helped them post a massive first-innings total of 499.
India went on to win the Test by six wickets and take a commanding position in the Border-Gavaskar series. For his explosive debut century and match-winning performance, Shikhar Dhawan was named Player of the Match.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin is the third player in this elite list of Indian cricketers who won the Player of the Match award on Test debut. He achieved this rare feat in 2011 during the first Test against West Indies at Delhi, as part of the West Indies tour of India.
Ashwin made a dream start to his Test career with a match-winning all-round performance, but it was his bowling that stood out. He picked up a total of 9 wickets in the match, including 6/47 in the second innings, as he completely dismantled the West Indies batting line-up.
India went on to win the Test by 5 wickets after a tough chase of 276 runs. For his outstanding debut performance with the ball, Ravichandran Ashwin was named Player of the Match, becoming one of the rare Indian bowlers to achieve this on debut.
2. RP Singh
RP Singh is the second player in this elite list of Indian cricketers who won the Player of the Match award on their Test debut. He made his debut in 2006 during the second Test against Pakistan in Faisalabad, as part of India’s tour of Pakistan.
Singh impressed immediately with the ball, picking up crucial wickets across both innings. He finished the match with a total of five wickets and played an important role in restricting Pakistan in a high-scoring encounter.
The match ended in a draw after a strong fight from both sides, but RP Singh’s bowling performance stood out. For his impactful debut display, he was named Player of the Match and later went on to be part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad.
1. Pravin Amre
Pravin Amre is the first Indian cricketer to win the Player of the Match award on Test debut. He achieved this historic feat in 1992 during the first Test against South Africa in Durban, as part of India’s tour of South Africa.
Amre made an immediate impact in challenging overseas conditions with a composed and determined batting performance. He scored a crucial 103 runs off 299 balls in India’s first innings, holding the innings together when wickets were falling around him.
The match ended in a draw, but Amre’s fighting century stood out as the highlight of the game. For his outstanding debut performance under pressure, he was named Player of the Match, becoming the first Indian to achieve this rare milestone.
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