5 Indian fast bowlers who were not given enough chances at the international level

Zaheer Khan recently announced his retirement from international cricketGood fast bowlers in India are as rare as an oasis in a desert. Zaheer Khan, one of those rare match-winning fast bowlers India has produced, recently announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect and one can only hope that he offers his guidance to the younger fast bowlers that come in far and between from the streets of India. Amongst the fast bowlers that play in the domestic circuit, some of them deservedly get a chance at the highest level while some others are not given a fair treatment with regards to their chances of playing at the top level.So let’s have a look at some of those fast bowlers who didn’t get their fair share of chances in international cricket:

#5 Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh deserved more chances at the highest level

Pankaj Singh, a tall fast bowler who plays for Rajasthan in first-class cricket will always be remembered for his unforgettable Test debut against England where he achieved the dubious distinction of being the most expensive bowler on Test debut without a single wicket.

His maiden wicket came in his second match and with his 416th ball. What was unlucky about his debut was that he could have got the wicket of Alastair Cook much earlier had Ravindra Jadeja not dropped the catch.

Singh was among the top wicket-takers in the Ranji Trophy between 2009 and 2014 and also produced great performances for Rajasthan during their title wins in 2010 and 2011. In the 88 first-class games that he has played, he has picked up 345 wickets at an average of 25.78. He surely deserved more chances at the highest level.

#4 Ranadeb Bose

Ranadeb Bose was unlucky not to have played for India

In 2005, Ranadeb Bose was called up for the conditioning camp held by the newly appointed coach Greg Chappell in Bangalore. It is a bit unlucky that he didn’t represent India during that time even after being called in a shortlisted camp later on.

A couple of years later after the conditioning camp, he took 57 wickets in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy season. Only five bowlers have ever taken more than 57 wickets in a single Ranji Trophy season. Those performances meant he made his way into the Indian Test side for England but remained unused.

Bose picked up 317 wickets in 91 first-class games at an average of 25.80. In 82 List A games, he managed 126 wickets at an average of 24.95. But Bose’s plight is proof that a fantastic record in first-class cricket doesn’t always guarantee chances at the highest level.

#3 Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar could have played more games for India in his prime

Praveen Kumar can swing the ball both ways and that too so prodigiously that only a few in the game can handle it. He burst onto the scene by claiming 10 wickets in his debut ODI series and bowled a fantastic spell against Australia in the final of 2007-08 CB series.

He was the workhorse for India in the Test series against England in 2011 when India suffered a whitewash. His ability to bowl long spells and swing the ball both ways were noticeable during that tour.

In 6 Tests, he has picked up 27 wickets at an impressive average of 25.81 while in 68 ODIs, he has picked up 77 wickets at an average of 36.02. A regular fixture for the Uttar Pradesh team now in first-class cricket, he would have hoped for more chances at the highest level when he was in his prime.

#2 Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra deserves a place in the Indian T20 team

Ashish Nehra is a tall, lanky fast bowler who possesses a good pace and can swing the ball back to the right-handers. His career was constantly affected by injuries but even during times when he was fit and available for selection, the selectors sidelined him on occasions.

The high point of his initial career came in the 2003 World Cup against England where he produced magical figures of 6/23. He then made a comeback in the 2011 World Cup and was a vital player for India until the finals when he unfortunately got injured.

Nehra has played 17 Tests and 120 ODIs for India. He has picked up 44 wickets at an average of 42.40 in Tests and 157 wickets at an average of 31.72 in ODI cricket.

Nehra also performed well in the 2015 IPL where he picked up 22 scalps in 15 matches giving himself a strong case for selection in the 2016 T20 World Cup, but only if selectors give due credit to his performances.

#1 Rajinder Pal

Rajinder played only one Test despite boasting an impressive first-class record

Rajinder Pal was a well-built seamer who played only 1 Test for India having played in an era when India relied more on spinners. Pal took 339 wickets at an average of 21.88 in first-class cricket having featured for teams like Southern Punjab, Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana. In the Ranji Trophy, he captured 298 wickets at an average of 18.88. In the 15 seasons he played on the trot, his average went on the wrong side of 30 only twice and in six of these seasons he kept his average below 20.

His stellar record in first-class cricket and that too in Indian conditions makes everybody wonder why he didn’t play more at the highest level. In another era maybe he would have been a crucial part of the Indian team but as fate would have it, he played only a solitary Test.