Virat Kohli has been a reckoning force in Indian cricket and the way he has gone about his business in modern times, it has been nothing short of exemplary. Those incredible numbers, those leaps of faiths and those match-saving knocks, he is known for all of it and the King never walks away from a challenge.
However, the ones who started their career with him, not all of them could see the light of the day. Obviously, their outings were all over the place and despite what seemed to be a lot of promise initially would fade away into oblivion. Here are three players who made their Test debut in the same year as Virat Kohli but then couldn’t last in the Indian circuit.
#1 Abhinav Mukund
Abhinav Mukund started his career on the same day, in the same Test match as Virat Kohli. But the latter obviously picked up his pace in time while Mukund, despite scoring more runs than Kohli in the first match would only be a part of six more Test before India would snub him once and for all. He has found a new calling in commentary and obviously analysis but his cricketing career fizzled away even before it started.
#2 Praveen Kumar
A fast bowler who had so much talent and was hyped as the next best thing in Indian cricket, Praveen was shown the exit after his temper failed him in the biggest possible juncture. The man who was responsible for India winning the CB series in Australia in the second final of the tournament, somehow could never come to terms with his flaring temper and that left him out of the Indian cricket team. A man who could have been an asset to the side, blessed with an ability to swing the ball both ways was lost in the stars.
#3 Varun Aaron
Varun Aaron made a late debut as he was introduced in Test cricket in November but he could do very little to get his career in the right path. He had ample pace behind his ball but he would veer off his line often and bowlers took him for a ride even in the longest format of the game. Another bowler who had impressive numbers in domestic cricket was completely belted and exterminated from the international circuit.
