Barinder Sran: Rookie pacer steals thunder Down Under with memorable debut

New Delhi: A lot was said and written about Barinder Sran ahead of India's crucial 1st ODI vs Australia at the WACA ground in Perth.

Sran, who was handed over his debut cap by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday, didn't let his skipper down as he bowled his heart out against the Steve Smith-led side.

Dhoni backed the youngster right from the start as he gave him the responsibility to bowl first over of the innings ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav.

This is how the 23-year-old picked three wickets on debut:

Aaron Finch (c & b Barinder Sran)

Finch was taken aback with an inswinger, which he played it back to Sran, who took a brilliant return catch in his follow through. It was his first international wicket and he had got India to a great start by getting them the first breakthrough in the third over of the innings.

David Warner (c Virat Kohli b Barinder Sran)

The left-hander has been in sublime form of late and it was crucial from India's perspective to get rid of him as soon as possible. After making a cautious start, Warner looked to punish Sran, when he tried to clear mid-off, but Virat Kohli took an excellent catch to give Sran his second international wicket.

After dismissing the openers inside five overs, Sran had to wait for his third wicket, as Smith and George Bailey stitched a mind boggling 242-run stand for the third wicket. Batting on 149, Smith perished in the final over of the innings.

Steve Smith (c Virat Kohli b Barinder Sran)

Smith had done all the hard work and the crowd was chanting his name as he looked all set to reach 150-run mark in the final over of the innings. Sran offered him width off the first ball, which the Australian skipper hit straight to Kohli at short cover much to the dismay of the crowd.

Barinder Sran's figures on debut: 9.2-0-56-3