A debut match is always a special feeling for any cricketer in the world. It takes years for players to play their first game for their country. However, the pressure during a debut match is just immense. Most of the players get carried away in their maiden game, but some players make their debut game more special.
Especially in the limited over game when the pressure is different. In this article, we will cover the list of batters with the highest score on their ODI debut. There are a total of 16 batters who can score a century on their ODI debut, but we will talk about the ones with the highest score.
Most Runs in ODI on Debut Match
| Batter | Runs | Inn | Team | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond Haynes | 148 | 1 | West Indies | Australia | St John’s | 22 Feb 1978 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 127 | 1 | Afghanistan | Ireland | Abu Dhabi | 21 Jan 2021 |
| Colin Ingram | 124 | 1 | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Bloemfontein | 15 Oct 2010 |
| Mark Chapman | 124* | 1 | Hong Kong | U.A.E. | ICCA Dubai | 16 Nov 2015 |
| Martin Guptill | 122* | 1 | New Zealand | West Indies | Auckland | 10 Jan 2009 |
| Andy Flower | 115* | 1 | Zimbabwe | Sri Lanka | New Plymouth | 23 Feb 1992 |
| Temba Bavuma | 113 | 1 | South Africa | Ireland | Benoni | 25 Sep 2016 |
| Phil Hughes | 112 | 1 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Melbourne | 11 Jan 2013 |
| Abid Ali | 112 | 2 | Pakistan | Australia | Dubai (DSC) | 29 Mar 2019 |
| Rob Nicol | 108* | 2 | New Zealand | Zimbabwe | Harare | 20 Oct 2011 |
5. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 122 not out
Veteran New Zealand opener Martin Guptill is among the top batters from his team in the last decade or so. He is a key member for his team in the white-ball format. Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score (237 not out) for New Zealand and in the World Cup match. He started his superb career with an unbeaten century on his debut against the West Indies on January 10, 2009. He scored 122 not out with eight fours and two sixes. But, the match ended without a result due to rain.
4. Mark Chapman (Hong Kong) – 124 not out
Mark Chapman, who is an active New Zealand cricketer, was born in Hong Kong. In fact, he made his ODI debut for Hong Kong on November 16, 2015, against UAE at the ICCA Dubai in the 13th game of the ICC World Cricket League Championship. And in his very first game, Chapman scored an unbeaten century. He made 124 not out off 116, with 11 fours and two sixes, and helped Hong Kong win by 89 runs. He played for New Zealand for the first time in 2018.
3. Colin Ingram (South Africa) – 124 runs
Former South African opener Colin Ingram is third on the list. The left-hander played 31 ODIs in his three-year-long career. He scored 843 runs at an average and strike rate of 32.42 and 82.32, including three centuries and three half-centuries. His career-best score of 124 runs came in his debut game on October 15, 2010 against Zimbabwe. South Africa won that game by 64 runs.
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) – 127 runs
Rahmanullah Gurbaz made his debut for Afghanistan when he was 19 years and 54 days old, and he smashed a hundred on his debut. He played his first ODI on January 21, 2021, against Ireland in Abu Dhabi and became the sixth-youngest player to score an ODI century. Gurbaz made 127 off 127 with eight fours and nine maximums in his debut inning. Afghanistan made 287/9 and restricted Ireland to 271/9 to win by 16 runs.
1. Desmond Haynes (West Indies) – 148 runs
Desmond Haynes was one of the biggest names that the West Indies produced in the game of cricket. He holds the record for the most runs in a debut game. He made his ODI debut against Australia on February 22, 1978, at St. John’s. Batting first, West Indies made 313/9 in their first inning. Haynes scored 148 runs off 136 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes. In reply, Australia made 181/7 and West Indies won by 44 runs by D/L method.