1997, Colombo. The Sri Lanka team of the 90’s had a certain aura and class about them. They won the World Cup in 1996 and had a formidable leader in Arjuna Ranatunga. In the first Test of the 1997 tour, Sri Lanka put a record 952 on the board. The fans watched in despair as the batters decimated the Indian bowlers.

It was amidst this backdrop Debashish Mohanty first burst on the international scene. Making his debut in the 2nd Test, Mohanty made Jayasuriya, Mahnama, De Silva and Pushpakumara his victims. His swing dazzled the selectors and fans alike. As destiny would have it, he would play just one more test. It's one of those mysteries of Indian cricket which no one has an answer to.

The ODI format was kinder to Debashish. Even batters who were in their prime didn't have answers to his swinging deliveries. In his ODI debut during the Sahara Cup, he castled Saeed Anwar. In fact, he went on to dismiss him thrice in five matches. Tendulkar later revealed how Anwar came to him perplexed and quipped “iske action me question hai”.

His stint at the 1999 World Cup in England earned him further praise and recognition. His dismissals of Alec Stewart & Graham Hick in consecutive deliveries against England helped India secure a Super Six spot. He ended up as the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

Mohanty's bowling action was a thing of beauty. It was simple and easily adoptable. You would be lying if you didn't imitate his bowling action as a 90’s kid. Astonishingly, his bowling action inspired the logo for the 1999 WC. It was the first time ICC decided to have a bowler instead of a batter as a part of its logo.

It's been 25 years since he cleaned up Lance Klusener in Nairobi but the memories of that LG Cup dismissal are still fresh in our minds. He also picked up a ten-wicket haul playing for East Zone In a Duleep Trophy match in 2001. For a bowler of his talent and skill, it was unfortunate that he couldn't go far. But he successfully managed to put Odisha on the world cricket map.