10 Indian cricketers who faded away after good starts
Getting into your country's cricket team is only the first step to a great career. It takes consistency at the highest level for one to keep their place in the national team.
The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have ensured that their form at the domestic level translated into good performances at the international stage. Their consistency made sure they stuck around to have a long and successful career.
On the other hand, there are players who got their chance at the international level who made it to the national team but faded away after starting their careers brightly.
Here we take a look at some of those faded stars who have been forgotten now.
#10 Rishi Dhawan
Rishi Dhawan, the all-rounder from the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh was once considered as India's solution for a long-term all-rounder. However, after having two unimpressive seasons in the IPL, he has been overlooked by the cricket fraternity.
Dhawan played three ODIs and a single T20 for the national team. In the three ODIs he played, the former Mumbai Indians player could score only 12 runs and pick up the solitary wicket of George Bailey.
The Himachal Pradesh man scored just one run in his only T20 game, and picked just a single wicket in the shortest format of the game, going at an economy of 10.50. He last played for India in 2016 against Australia.
Dhawan will have to revamp his fitness and also prove his worth in domestic tournaments in order to get a look-in by IPL franchises and also the selection committee in order to revive his international career.
#9 Faiz Fazal
Faiz Fazal has arguably been one of the unluckiest cricketers in the history of Indian cricket. Despite putting on spectacular performances in the domestic circuit for 14 years, he has been rewarded only once for his continuous hard work and dedication.
Although Fazal has scored 55 runs in the only game he played for India; he continues to be ignored by selectors and IPL franchises. The opener has completely gone off the radar as India have proven openers in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. His only call-up to the national team came back in 2015, when he scored an unbeaten 55 in the single game he played against Zimbabwe.
At 34, the chance of another national call-up for him is quite slim. However, he continues to be an essential part of the Vidarbha team that won the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup under his captaincy.
#8 Pankaj Singh
Pankaj Singh, the tall and lanky pacer from Rajasthan is currently one of the most experienced players in the domestic circuit. Ever since he made his debut for Rajasthan in 2003, he has been a vital cog for his side.
Despite putting on consistent performances in the domestic circuit, he did not live up to expectations at the international level which has resulted in selectors neglecting him. In the only ODI he ever played for India, he went wicketless and conceded 45 runs. The lanky pacer last played for India against England in 2014.
With the bowler soon turning 35, the recall to the national team seems to get unlikelier by the day.
#7 Rahul Sharma
Rahul Sharma was one of the most economical bowlers during the 5th and 6th editions of the IPL. However, after that, he wasn't able to make much of an impact and was subsequently dropped by national selectors and IPL franchises alike.
The tall leg-spinner who extracted good bounce using his height has not been anywhere near a spot in the Indian team. To his dismay, he has not made it to the national side since 2012.
With leg-spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal sealing their spot in the XI, breaking into the national team seems like a distant dream for the likes of Sharma.
He has not been in the fray for a spot in Punjab's side lately. Also, Sharma has found no takers since the 8th edition of the IPL.
#6 Abhimanyu Mithun
Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun received a national call-up after he scalped 47 wickets in his very first Ranji Trophy season which also included a hat-trick. In his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2010, he returned with figures of 4/105 on a pitch where most bowlers were being belted away for runs.
His relatively one-dimensional approach has seen Mithun having to make way for other bowlers with more all-round abilities Since 2011, he has been nowhere near to getting the nod.
At 30, he may still be able to make it back to the national setup, considering his brilliant form for Karnataka in the domestic circuit.