For close to three decades, Vijay Mehra held the record for being youngest Test debutant for India. An opening batsman with a lot of spunk, he wasn’t physically intimidating but had the heart to fight any battle. Strangely, it took him six years to play a game after his debut Test and although he showed promise with a home fifty against England and an away half-century against West Indies, Mehra found himself in and out of the team on most occasions. In fact, the knock in the Caribbean was hugely appreciated, given that it had come after he had been struck on the thumb. The Delhi man batted through all the pain to conjure a brave innings for his side. Eventually, playing just eight Tests might have been unfair on Mehra, who was a successful opener in the domestic circuit for the multiple teams that he represented.

Written by Hariprasad Sadanandan