India have handed out a plethora of debuts across formats since cricket resumed in the pandemic era due to the first-choice players being rested or injured at times.
There are some talented players and domestic veterans who haven’t got the chance to make their international debut despite being on the squads. However, even before the pandemic, it was always difficult for a newcomer to break into India’s playing eleven, especially if he were a batsman.
Here we look a 5 domestic stalwarts who have been in India’s squads but didn’t get to make their debuts:
Dheeraj Jadhav
Dheeraj Jadhav was a highly talented middle-order batsman in the 2000s. However, looking at the jam-packed and secured Indian middle-order, Jadhav also made himself an opener.
He caught the eye of the Indian selectors after brilliant performances in the 2003-04 domestic season. His century for India A versus India in a warm-up game just before the series against Australia in 2004-05 earned him a call-up into the Test squad for the fourth Test at Mumbai. He didn’t get the chance then still in the national eleven as Gautam Gambhir was given his Test debut.
Jadhav further hurt his career when he joined the ICL, played for Mumbai Champs, before his contract with the BCCI was cancelled. Upon being pardoned by the board later, he returned to play more domestic cricket for Assam and Goa. He finished with a total of 7679 runs in 111 first-class matches at a terrific average of 50 with 23 hundreds.
Ranadeb Bose
Ranadeb Bose, a lanky, aggressive fast bowler from Bengal, was part of India’s squad on the 2007-08 tour to England, however, in the presence of Zaheer, RP Singh, Sreesanth, he couldn’t make into India’s eleven.
Bose had a thunderous 2006/07 domestic season. He snared 57 wickets in that season’s Ranji Trophy, in eight matches, that included 6 five-wicket hauls, two 10-wicket match hauls, and three four-wicket hauls.
Bose played the last of his 91 first-class matches in 2011, ending his bowling career with 317 wickets, in addition to 126 List-A wickets.
Ishwar Pandey
After being the highest wicket-taker in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy, Ishwar Pandey was given his maiden India call-up for the 2014 tour of New Zealand. However, in a short 2-match series, Pandey was unlikely to get his debut cap with Zaheer, Shami and Ishant in the squad.
The Madhya Pradesh pacer, who has been part of three different franchises in the IPL including CSK, continues to feature for MP in domestic cricket and at 32 still remains hopeful for an India cap. He has got 260 wickets in 74 first-class matches at an average of 25.
Basil Thampi
Known for his raw pace and yorkers, Basil Thampi was a highly exciting talent, one to watch out for until a few years ago when he impressed everyone with his bowling in the IPL for Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Kerala pacer then also earned a selection to India’s squad for the 2017 home T20I series against Sri Lanka, but didn’t get to make his debut as Sundar and Siraj were preferred. Soon after, as his form and number dipped, he was dropped from India A team as well.
One of the most consistent run-scorers in domestic cricket, Priyank Panchal, who is also the captain of the India A side, was recently named in the squad for the South Africa Test tour as a replacement to injured Rohit Sharma. But didn’t get the opportunity in the eleven as KL Rahul and Agarwal opened in all three Tests. Last year as well, Panchal was part of the India squad as a reserve player that hosted England for a 4-Test series.
Panchal, 31, is the captain of Gujarat’s domestic team and has featured in 101 first-class matches in which he averages 45. His scintillating form in the 2016-17 Ranji season – a tournament topping 1310 runs in 17 innings at an average of 87.33 – helped Gujarat to the Ranji title.
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