5 Indian batsmen who became specialists in just one format of the game

Test cricket, the longest format of the game demands the best out of every player. The format has been labeled so because it tests the formidability of players and teams both physically & mentally.

In comparison to T20 and One-day matches, test cricket is considered the highest form of cricket.

The mark of a good test batsman is not when he is hitting the ball outside the park but how well he is timing it to perfection with stroke play. Finally, test cricket is not everyone’s cup of tea.

However, with the advent of One-day and T20 matches in past three decades, test cricket has somewhere lost its charm.

All thanks to major cricketing boards for hosting test matches at regular intervals - the format is still alive and ticking.

Of late, as more and more test matches have started yielding results rather than tame draws which remained a trend in the era of 80s & 90s, test cricket still serves a lot of entertainment, especially in last two days of a test match.

In this edition, we are going to see five specialist Indian batsmen who evolved in just one format of the game. Although these players are household names in the cricketing world, their dominance remained in just one format of the game.

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#1 VVS Laxman (Test Cricket)

VVS Laxman, fondly nicknamed as ‘Very Very Special Laxman’ by his teammates is a veteran of 134 test matches. He had his share of fair chances to play 86 ODIs for India but couldn’t succeed in the format.

His modest average of 30.76 in ODIs doesn’t go in metaphor to the class he displayed in the red ball format.

Laxman never represented India in T20 Internationals. In his career spanning more than 16 years (1996 – 2012), Laxman never got a chance to represent India in any of the world cups.

He is best remembered for his master-class knock of 281 in the 2001 Kolkata Test against Steve Waugh’s all-conquering Australian side.

His effort not only bailed India out of a crisis situation, but it was only the second instance in the history of the game when a team enforced to follow-on went on to win the match.

# 2 Yuvraj Singh (ODI cricket)

Yuvraj Singh has delivered some memorable moments in the 50-over format of the game

Yuvraj Singh is best remembered for three things – hitting 6 sixes in an over of Stuart Broad, becoming Man of the Series in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph and lastly for making a comeback to the national side after battling lung cancer.

It was October 2000 when Yuvraj Singh made his ODI debut as an 18-year-old lad. He was inducted into the test side in 2003 but never made a huge impact.

Playing 40 Test matches in his career, Yuvraj just averages around 33 in the red ball format. Although he scored three centuries with a top score of 169, Yuvraj never got into the good books of selectors for making into the test squad.

With the Fab Five playing a major role in India’s success in home and away series, Yuvraj Singh only remained in the sidelines.

#3 Suresh Raina (T20 cricket)

It remains to be seen if Raina fits into the contention of selectors for India’s 2019 World Cup campaign

In the international circuit, it’s rare to come across batsmen who have scored centuries in all three formats of the game.

Suresh Raina was the first player to achieve this milestone when he scored his first T20 century. He made a memorable debut in the red ball format as well by scoring a century against Sri Lanka.

Gifted with that typical left hander’s elegance, Raina made his debut in 2005. After making a fine start to his ODI career, he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings and still remains their top batsman till date.

He made vital contributions to the team from 2008 to 2011 when Indian team became the No. 1 side under Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni.

Best known to play the finisher’s role, Raina played some fine cameos in the knockout stages of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph. Remaining a vital cog of the Indian batting line-up till 2015, Raina had to lose his spot to other players.

Although he made a comeback in the tour of England in 2018, he couldn’t really capitalize on the opportunities extended to him.

Still branded as a T20 specialist, it remains to be seen if Raina fits into the contention of selectors for India’s 2019 World Cup campaign.

# 4 Rohit Sharma (ODI cricket)

Rohit Sharma is the only batsman to score three double centuries in ODI cricket

Lightning doesn’t strike twice, but Rohit does – not twice but thrice as a matter of fact. Rohit Sharma is the only batsman to score three double centuries in ODI cricket.

Much before he made his debut, it was said that India has found its teenage prodigy who can rightly fit into the shoes of Sachin Tendulkar.

It took a while, but Rohit Sharma came close to living up to those expectations. His hook shots on the front foot which defies the textbook rules of cricket are a treat to watch when he is on song.

When Yuvraj Singh picked up an injury, Rohit made his debut in the inaugural edition of the World T20 tournament in 2007.

He played a matured innings against South Africa and won the match for India. When he made his debut in the ODI circuit, he ran out of form and was eventually dropped from the team.

From 2009 to 2012 he made sporadic appearances with no major impact. He was not a part of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph. In 2012 MS Dhoni tried him as an opener and reaped rich dividends.

Based on his home performances and more importantly after every double century, Rohit was given an opportunity to cement his place in the test team but couldn’t deliver any promising performances.

With three centuries in 25 test matches averaging around 39, Rohit Sharma had an uninspiring career in test matches so far.

Being a batting heavy-weight in the ODI side with seven to eight years still left in his career, Rohit may yet again come in contention for red ball cricket.

#5 Cheteshwar Pujara (Test cricket)

A thorough bottom-handed batsman, his ability to play some wristy shots and focus to play every ball as per its merit make Cheteshwar Pujara a complete cricketer

If there is any batsman who came close to matching the technique and temperament of legendary Rahul Dravid, then it has to be Cheteshwar Pujara who made his debut against Australia in 2010.

A thorough bottom-handed batsman, his ability to play some wristy shots and focus to play every ball as per its merit make Cheteshwar Pujara a complete cricketer.

Pujara grew up scoring his runs on flat tracks of Rajkot and when he failed in some of the overseas series many people raised doubts on his comparison with Rahul Dravid.

However, Pujara was quick to silence his critics by scoring a magnificent 153 at Wanderers and a well fought 50 in the second test at Durban in India’s tour of South Africa in 2013. After a poor tour of England and Australia in 2014, Pujara lost his place in the team.

When Murali Karthik picked up an injury in 2015, Cheteshwar made a comeback to the national side and scored a brilliant 145 against Sri Lanka.

If there are any grey areas in his batting, then it has to be his running between the wickets. He holds the dubious record of running himself out in both the innings in a match against South Africa.

Featured in five ODIs with two ducks and an average of just 10, Cheteshwar Pujara is no longer considered by selectors in any form of white ball cricket.

On the contrary, he averages close to 50 in Test cricket with three double hundreds out of his 15 centuries.