Five Players Who Represented India In The Past Have Gone Off The Radar

The Indian cricket team has been performing admirably well on the world stage in the past few years. There a lot of healthy competition within the squad, for places in the playing XI, while it’s even more difficult to get into Team India’s squad, in the first place.

While some players manage to find a place in the national squad, others fail to make the cut. Although the fight doesn’t end here for those who get selected, as retaining your place in the squad is an entirely different struggle.

Due to the intense competition of places, every player needs to be on their toes all times.

In the past decade itself, various players made their debut for Team India but failed to cement their place in the national team.

Here are five such players who represented Team India in the past but are anonymous nowadays:

5) Pankaj Singh

One of the superstars of India’s domestic circuit in the past, former Rajasthan skipper Pankaj Singh was a talented player in his prime. On the back of his consistent performances in Ranji Trophy, Pankaj was selected in the Indian team.

The 34-year-old made his test debut against England in 2014 but was unable to leave a lasting impression. Subsequently, Pankaj was dropped from the national side, and he wasn’t given further opportunities to impress.

Therefore, he features on this list of players who represented India in the past but are anonymous nowadays.

4) Sudeep Tyagi

On the back of his impressive displays with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sudeep Tyagi forced his way into the Indian team.

He had played under the captaincy of MS Dhoni in IPL, joined the list of players who after impressing with CSK went on to play for Team India under Dhoni.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Tyagi played four ODIs and one T20I match in national colours but failed to make those chances count.

The 32-year-old was never ever considered by the selectors again. Having represented India in the past, the right-arm pacer is living an anonymous life nowadays.

3) Gurkeerat Singh Mann

The next player on this not so illustrious list is Gurkeerat Singh Mann who has been a handy player for his state team, Punjab, in the domestic circuit.

The all-rounder has been contributing with both the bat and ball down these years. Gurkeerat has also played a couple of memorable innings in the IPL as well.

Later, the 29-year-old was called up to the national squad to face off South Africa. Although, Gurkeerat didn’t play that game and made his debut against Australia in January 2016.

The right-handed batsman failed to cement his place in the national side and has been an anonymous player since, in terms of international cricket.

2) Faiz Fazal

Faiz Fazal is a special player when it comes to domestic cricket. He has been a consistent performer for Vidharbha over the years, and under Fazal’s captaincy, the team won two Ranji Trophy titles as well. His batting record has been excellent in the domestic circuit.

On the back of this track record, the left-handed batsman was given a call-up to the national team.

Fazal made his debut against Zimbabwe in June 2016, when Team India was touring the African country.

The 34-year-old hit a fifty on his first ODI but despite such heroics, Fazal having represented the senior team lives in anonymity these days.

1) Rishi Dhawan

Rishi Dhawan tops this list of players who have represented Team India but are anonymous nowadays. The all-rounder from Himachal played some good cricket with Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the IPL and was subsequently included in the national team

The 30-year-old made his debut against Australia in January 2016. He would go on to play three ODIs and 1 T20I in the Indian colours, but since then, Dhawan was nowhere to be found.

Despite his all-rounder attributes, the right-hander failed to make the opportunity count and is now paying the price for it.