The Indian cricketing scene is always bustling with new and fresh talent. Players come through different ranks and aspire to win an Indian cap. Some players win their Indian cap but are unable to accelerate from thereon. They put up an occasional performance here and there but that is never enough to cement their place in the team permanently. Therefore, they do play for India for some time but do not go on to become a legend of the game like Dhoni, Tendulkar, and Kohli.
Their performances taper out and their form drops. This leads to them being dropped and replaced in the squad and the general public does not remember that they ever played for India.
Today, we look at 7 such players who at one point did play for India for a brief period but are not remembered as Indian internationals.
1. Rishi Dhawan
He broke out in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season and became the leading run-scorer by amassing 519 runs in eight games. He also grabbed 13 wickets for Punjab in the 2014 IPL. He was noticed for his ability to bowl medium pace and also hit the ball hard and long. He was picked for the India tour of Australia. He made his ODI debut on that tour and also played a T20 international for India against Zimbabwe. Overall, he has played 3 ODIs and 1 T20I donning the blue jersey for Team India.
2. Sudeep Tyagi
A name almost unrecognizable today, Tyagi played international cricket for India in 2009. After a blockbuster Ranji season in 2007-08 where he picked 41 wickets, he was picked by CSK in 2009. On account of impressive performances, he got a chance in international cricket in 2009 to play against Sri Lanka. He played a total of 4 ODIs and 1 T20I but was unimpressive on the big stage and never made a comeback.
3. S Badrinath
Subramaniam Badrinath was observed by the selectors during the 2011 IPL season, playing an important role in the team’s success and becoming known as “Mr. Dependable” and reliable for Chennai Super Kings. He was picked for the West Indies tour for limited-overs cricket. He also got a chance in the squad after VVS Laxman’s retirement in 2011. However, in the 7 ODIs that he played, he could not put up a performance of repute and was dropped shortly. The selectors moved to better middle-order batsmen coming through the system. Badrinath retired from all forms of cricket in 2018.
4. Jayant Yadav
Yadav had the most rollicking start to his career. He was picked by the Indian test team against New Zealand and England in 2016 and in the Mumbai test against England, he scored a fluent century playing as a full-time spinner. He played a solitary ODI for India and picked Corey Anderson’s wicket as his only scalp. He averaged 73 against England in the series but for some reason fell off the radar and has not been picked by the selectors.
5. Naman Ojha
The talented wicket-keeper batsman got an opportunity to play for India in ODIs in 2010. That was it; his ODI fantasy was only going to last a day. Ojha’s domestic record was proof enough that he possessed the potential to excel at the biggest stage. During his prime days, he even demonstrated his attacking style by playing some excellent knocks in the IPL. He made his domestic debut in 2000-01 and was another player who was forced to sit out owing to Dhoni’s absence.
6. VRV Singh
VRV Singh was touted as one of India’s most genuine fast bowlers and made his debut in tests against West Indies in 2006. He played a couple of ODIs against England but could not retain his place in the team due to recurring injuries and the presence of Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel. He had zero wickets in the Odis and picked 8 wickets in the 5 tests that he played.
7. Venugopal Rao
The most uncelebrated middle-order batsman for India, Rao played in the era of Raina, Dhoni, and Yuvi and hence was completely overshadowed. He represented India in 16 ODIs and also long seasons in Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils, and SRH. He could achieve a meager 218 runs in the 16 ODIs that he played and his performance did not enthuse the selectors to stick with him.
