Five Indian all-rounders who faded away after promising starts

Indian cricket during the turn of the millennium underwent a rapid resurrection of sorts with new television deals and an infusion of young players to energize the experienced old heads in the squad.

India's model of cricketing development has been a shining example for the world over the years, but there was a time in the early 2000s when the national side lacked depth.

The role of an all-rounder has been crucial to cricket since its inception and India have always looked weak in that department apart from a few stars like Vinoo Mankad, Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar.

Indian selectors turned to these five players on various occasions, trying to fill the void of the go-to all-rounder the Indian team lacked. The list consists of a host of Indian all-rounders who failed to make a significant impact and hence lost their place in the national team.

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1. JP Yadav

JP Yadav made his debut against the West Indies.

Jai Prakash Yadav, born in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, is a former nationally capped all-rounder who had his first stint with the national team in 2002, against the West Indies. Only appearing in two games against the Caribbean nation, Yadav continued to play well, putting in good all-round displays in the domestic circuit.

Yadav was called up to the Indian team in 2005 for tours against Zimbabwe and New Zealand but failed to make an impact with bat and ball. He was also included in the Indian squad when Sri Lanka toured the country later that year. However, that would be the last time Jai Prakash Yadav played for India.

Despite good performances for the Railways and Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, amassing over 7000 runs and picking up 296 wickets, Yadav faded away as selectors overlooked the Bhopal born cricketer for future tours.

2. Joginder Sharma

Joginder Sharma delivered India their first T20 World Cup

India's 2007 T20 WC-winning hero Joginder Sharma was a surprise inclusion in the squad that went on to claim the first-ever World T20 title in South Africa.

After some good bowling spells against experienced batsmen in the domestic circuit, Sharma caught the eye of selectors and was called up to the 2007 T20 WC squad. However, despite his heroics in the final where he dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq, he has not featured for the national team since.

A right-hand bat and nippy medium pacer, Sharma has played domestic cricket for over 15 years and has also appeared in the IPL. While he did fade away as quickly as he emerged, he will go down in history as the man who took the wicket that won India their maiden T20 WC.

3. Reetinder Singh Sodhi

Sodhi represented India 18 times

Former Indian under-15 and under-19 World Cup winner Reetinder Singh Sodhi was primed to be an Indian national team all-rounder from the outset.

A ferocious batsman and tidy bowler, Sodhi earned his first call-up to the national side in 2000, during Zimbabwe's tour of India. The selection followed his Man of the Match performance in the final of the 2000 under-19 World Cup.

Sodhi made a quick fifty in the last game of his first series whilst also picking up two wickets, helping him retain his spot on the team. During the 2001 season, due to India's lack of a steady all-rounder, Sodhi was the young player everyone turned to. He played 18 times for India, but managed a meagre 280 runs and 5 wickets.

Another player who didn't fulfil his potential, Sodhi never earned another cap, but continued to play domestic cricket and had a short stint in the IPL for KXIP.

4. Laxmi Ratan Shukla

Shukla had a great career for Bengal

Laxmi Ratan Shukla is a Bengal-born right-arm all-rounder who made his mark as an under-19 player when he caught the selectors' eyes. Immediately drafted into the national team, Shukla was hammered on his debut, against Sri Lanka.

The young all-rounder was subsequently selected to attend the national cricket camp but missed it through injury, eventually falling down the pecking order. He continued to play for Bengal in the domestic circuit, and was named the captain in 08-09.

Shukla has also played in the IPL as an all-rounder, going on to win the competition in 2012 with KKR.

5. Sanjay Bangar

Sanjay Bangar celebrates a dismissal

Born in Maharashtra, all-rounder Sanjay Bangar made his international Test debut in 2001 against England, in Mohali. Bangar went on to play 12 Tests, losing only two as part of the team that registered series wins over West Indies, Zimbabwe and England.

Bangar played for the Railways in domestic cricket and is one of the greatest all-rounders on the circuit, given he has notched over 7000 runs and picked up over 300 wickets in Ranji cricket.

Bangar also represented India in 15 ODIs in which he didn't make much of an impact and was not selected again after his final appearance against Zimbabwe. Bangar played in the IPL for various teams before calling an end to a 20-year long career in cricket.