10 most unlucky Indian cricketers not to have played more (2000-2018)

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Lakshmipathy Balaji

Cricket is sometimes cruel, especially when it comes to opportunities for young and budding cricketers. In a country like India where the game is played in every nook and corner, there is no shortage of talents. Though many were not up to the level to make it to international cricket, some were really unlucky not to have played more.

Some of the most promising careers in cricket were cut short because of injuries, form, and lack of opportunities. Luck also plays an important role. Players like Vinod Kambli, Vijay Merchant, Dheeraj Jadhav, Amol Mazumdar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ashok Dinda, and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan are some of the most talented and unluckiest cricketers to have played for India.

On that note, let’s take a look at the 10 unlucky Indian cricketers not to have played more games (2000 - 2018).


#10 RP Singh

England v India - 5th Natwest One Day International Series
England v India - 5th Natwest One Day International Series

Rudra Pratap Singh came into the limelight during the under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004. He was impressive in the tournament and finished with eight wickets at an average of 24.75. After a string of impressive performances in the domestic cricket, Singh was called into the Indian team in 2005.

He made a stunning start to his ODI career when he picked up three man of the match awards in his first 11 games. He then played a stellar role in India’s T20 World Cup win in 2007 and finished the tournament with 12 wickets in seven games at an average of 12.66.

One of the finest swing bowlers Indian cricket has ever produced, RP Singh lost the way very early in his international career and played just 58 One Day Internationals and 14 Test matches for India.

#9 Naman Ojha

Australia A v India A
Australia A v India A

With an abundant of wicket-keeping talents in the form of M.S Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, and Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha’s international career never really took off. Though he started scoring a lot of runs only in his late 20’s, he did extremely well thereafter.

Having made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2000/01, Naman Ojha has played 135 first-class games and scored 9152 runs at an average of almost 43. He has also played 132 List A games and scored 3933 runs at an average of 32.50.

Ojha played a lot of games for India A and scored heavily. He scored unbeaten 219 for India A at Brisbane that included 29 boundaries and 8 sixes. He should consider himself really unlucky to be fighting with a player like Dhoni for a place in the team. Ojha has played only one ODI and one Test for India.

#8 Lakshmipathy Balaji

Fifth ODI: Pakistan v India
Fifth ODI: Pakistan v India

Unfortunately, he had a severe spine injury and was forced to sit out. He made a miraculous comeback from a career-threatening injury and even made it to the Indian National team. He modified his action and pace reduced a bit. Though he played for quite a while after the return, he was not able to get back to his best.

Having made his ODI debut at the age of 21, Balaji played only eight Tests and 30 One Day Internationals for India. He was phenomenal in the Test series against Pakistan and destroyed them with his accuracy and swing. He was destined for greatness but his career ended prematurely. Balaji finished his career with 106 first-class matches and 100 List A games.

#7 Amit Mishra

India v Sri Lanka - ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Final
India v Sri Lanka - ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Final

When you compete with spinners like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the result could go only one way, especially when you are a young player trying to prove yourself at the highest level. Kumble and Harbhajan together dominated India bowling attack for almost a decade. The pair was extremely consistent and successful for India in Tests and One Day Internationals.

For a bowler with 535 first-class wickets, Mishra must consider him really unfortunate to have played only 22 Tests. Mishra was one of the most successful List A bowlers with 240 wickets in 141 matches. However, he has represented India in only 36 ODIs. He has picked up almost two wickets per game, which is considered unbelievably good.

#6 Robin Uthappa

Sri Lanka v India - Commonwealth Bank Series
Sri Lanka v India - Commonwealth Bank Series

One of the gifted stroke makers to have ever played for India, Uthappa was really unlucky not to have played more international cricket. Uthappa has played 136 first-class games and scored 9118 runs at an average of 41.25. He has also played 187 List A games and scored 6013 runs at an average of 35.37.

However, he has played only 46 One Day Internationals and 13 Twenty20Is for India. He was not given enough chances at the international level and considered far too inconsistent. Though he is a match-winner on his day, Uthappa cannot impress the selectors in the longer run. Uthappa has been an important player for Kolkata Knight Riders and even led them to IPL title in 2014.

#5 Murali Karthik

India v Australia - 7th ODI
India v Australia - 7th ODI

The former Railways spinner is one of the best left-arm spinners to have played for India. Unfortunate for him, he was in his prime when Kumble and Harbhajan did wonders for India in international cricket.

For a bowler with 644 first-class wickets, just 8 Test matches do not justify his phenomenal abilities. Murali Karthik has been a supremely accurate and consistent bowler throughout his playing career.

Though Karthik has played 194 List A games, he has represented his national team in only 37 One Day Internationals. One has to feel extremely sorry for a bowler with exceptional abilities.

#4 Manoj Tiwary

India v England - Twenty20 International
India v England - Twenty20 International

For a player with a first-class average of almost 60, Manoj Tiwary is definitely not the most fortunate player in Indian cricket. He was unlucky to miss out on his international debut in 2007 against Bangladesh in Mirpur when he severely injured his shoulder during fielding practice. He finally made his India debut in 2008 against Australia but failed to make an impact.

His next opportunity came after three years but another failure followed. Though he scored a stunning ODI century against West Indies later in the year, he was mysteriously left out of the team. Even after the unbeaten hundred, Tiwary was made to sit on the bench for 14 successive matches. Though he was given an odd opportunity or two later, he was never really considered for a permanent role.

#3 Ambati Rayudu

England v India: Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series - Game 6
England v India: Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series - Game 6

The 33-year-old should consider himself extremely unlucky to have played only 40 ODI games in his career, especially with an average of almost 50. He has performed really well whenever he was given an opportunity, but somehow he finds himself out of the team.

A member of the Indian Under-19 team at the 2004 World Cup, Rayudu is considered one of the most talented cricketers. However, he made a decision to join the Indian Cricket League (A defunct T20 cricket league) in 2007 and was banned by BCCI.

Though he made a comeback in 2009, he found it hard to get into the team. Rayudu has played 97 first-class games and scored 6151 runs at an average of almost 45.56. He has also played 143 List A games and scored 4600 runs at an average of 41.07.

#2 Subramaniam Badrinath

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Subramaniam Badrinath

With 10245 runs from 145 first-class games at an average of almost 55, Subramaniam Badrinath was one of the most consistent batsmen in the domestic circuit for almost 15 years. A technically gifted player, Badrinath is regarded a lot for his patience and long innings. He was hugely successful for Tamil Nadu but failed to make it big in international cricket.

India boasted a stunning middle order for the most part of last decade. Batting greats like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sachin Tendulkar made it virtually impossible for any young cricketer like Badrinath to get into the team. The former CSK batsman played only seven One Day Internationals and two Tests for India in his international career.

#1 Wasim Jaffer

Second Test - India v South Africa: Day 3
Second Test - India v South Africa: Day 3

One of the most successful batsmen in the history of Indian domestic cricket, Wasim Jaffer has scored a truckload of runs in first-class cricket, 18110 runs from 242 first-class games. Despite his stunning domestic record, Wasim Jaffer could not cement his place in the Indian side and was often ignored.

Jaffer has represented India in just 31 Tests and two One Day Internationals. Jaffer has scored five hundreds and eleven fifties at the international level at an average of 34.10. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir cemented the opening slot for almost a decade and Jaffer did not get enough opportunities to prove his calibre.


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Edited by Rohit Nath