1. Shikhar Dhawan
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has struggled for India in Test cricket. Dhawan, who holds the record for the fastest Test century on debut, has failed to earn a permanent spot in the Indian Test setup. In the 34 Tests so far, Dhawan has made 2315 runs at an average of 40. However, more than his numbers, it is his inconsistency as an opener that has haunted chances to prolong his red-ball career. The Southpaw last featured in whites for India in 2018 against England. Ever since he has not been in the scheme of things after sectors began to look ahead with some young faces making claims for the openers’ slot.
2. Murali Vijay
Seasoned Indian opener Murali Vijay has been out of the Indian Test reckoning since 2019. Vijay, who last featured in a Test during India’s victorious overseas campaign against Australia, has been overlooked even for the home Tests. The Tamil Nadu opener had an awful outing in Tests in 2018 which saw him out of the team post the Australian tour. With a bunch of young new faces coming through the ranks, it might be curtains for Vijay over his Test fortunes. In 61 Tests for India, Vijay has scored nearly 4000 runs at an average of 38.
3. Dinesh Karthik
Indian wicket-keeper batsman, Dinesh Karthik last featured in a Test series for India in 2018. Karthik, who was recalled into the Test side for the Afghanistan Test after first-choice wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha was injured, couldn’t really make an impactful contribution to his cause. Even during the England series, Karthik was dropped mid-way and was fittingly ruled out of the Test setup after Pant’s rise as the premier wicket-keeper batsman on overseas soil. With the emergence of Saha and Pant as Test wicket-keepers, it might well mark an end to Karthik’s Test career for India.
4. Suresh Raina
Indian middle-order batsman, Suresh Raina has been a terrific performer for India in the limited-overs setup. However, the UP-lad couldn’t replicate his success in the longest format of the game. Despite making a rollicking start to his Test career with a ton on debut, Raina failed to earn a permanent spot in the middle-order. He was a certain failure on the overseas soil and didn’t get enough opportunities on the home soil. In his last Test appearance, Raina bagged a pair against Australia in 2015. While he might continue to make efforts for a final hurrah in the ODI and T20I team, Test cricket seems beyond imagination for Raina.
5. Karun Nair
Karun Nair is the only Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple-hundred in Test cricket. Nair made his debut as an exciting young batsman but he has lost his place in the team due to stiff competition, it seems. Many Indian cricket fans would love to see him back in the whites, but it might not happen as India has already started to invest in other players in Test cricket.
