The transition from domestic circuits to the national squad in Indian cricket is an enormous hurdle. With intense competition and a deep talent pool, some cricketers make only a brief appearance in international cricket before fading away.
Here are ten Indian cricketers who played just one game for the national team and then disappeared from the spotlight.
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10. Sudangsu Abinash Banerjee
Debut: December 1948 against West Indies in Kolkata
Career Highlight: Despite a strong performance, including five wickets in his debut match, Banerjee never played for India again. He showcased his talent but did not get another chance to represent the country.
9. MJ Gopalan
Debut: 1933-34 against England
Career Highlight: Gopalan played in just one Test match, where he struggled to make an impact with the ball. He was later offered a chance to tour England for cricket but chose not to, and thus his international career remained limited.
8. Sreenath Aravind
Debut: 2015 T20I against South Africa
Career Highlight: Aravind had a standout IPL season in 2011, but his only T20I appearance was marred by an expensive spell. He continued in domestic cricket but never received another international call-up.
7. Pankaj Dharmani
Debut: 1996 Titan Cup against South Africa
Career Highlight: Dharmani’s only international game came in a tri-series match where he failed to make a significant impact. Despite his domestic success, he was not recalled for further matches.
6. Baqa Jilani
Debut: 1936 against England
Career Highlight: Jilani’s debut was marred by a low performance, managing only a few runs and failing to take wickets. His career was marred by his contentious choice, which reduced his number of international appearances.
5. Kenia Jayantilal
Debut: 1971 Test against West Indies
Career Highlight: Jayantilal played in a Test match due to Sunil Gavaskar’s injury but only managed a modest score. He was a stalwart in domestic cricket but did not feature for India again.
4. Mayank Markande
Debut: 2019 T20I against Australia
Career Highlight: Markande impressed in the IPL but had a forgettable debut T20I where he went wicketless and conceded many runs. Despite his promising start, he hasn’t made a return to the international stage.
3. Iqbal Siddiqui
Debut: 2001 Test against England
Career Highlight: Siddiqui’s debut featured a significant wicket and a decent batting performance. However, he did not play for India again, missing out on further opportunities despite his solid domestic record.
2. Vijay Rajendernath
Debut: 1952-53 Test against Pakistan
Career Highlight: Rajendernath made a notable contribution as a wicketkeeper but did not get a chance to bat. In his lone Test match, he holds the record for most stumpings without a catch.
1. Faiz Fazal
Debut: 2016 ODI against Zimbabwe
Career Highlight: Faiz Fazal was the first Indian to debut in his 30s after a stellar domestic season. Despite a solid first-class career, he did not secure a regular spot in the national team and remains a domestic stalwart.
These cricketers had their moment of fame but were unable to secure a long-term place in the Indian team.
Their stories highlight the competitive nature of cricket and how challenging it is to sustain a spot in the national squad.
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