5 Indian fast bowlers who have gone missing from Test cricket

India have a long and great tradition of batting superstars dominating the opposition with their stylish strokes and many of them have gone on to become the best in the world. When it comes to the bowling line up, the same cannot be said. In fact, after Kapil Dev, one of the finest cricketers from India, there were very few who managed to survive in the hardship of international cricket.Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ishant Sharma, Karsan Ghavri and Irfan Pathan were the only 5 bowlers other than Kapil Dev to reach 100 Test match wickets. And only the first three have more than 150 wickets. And many argue about the lack of consistency with Ishant Sharma. So the list gets downs to just 2. How pity!That is the state of fast bowling in India, every cricket fan’s worry.Here we take a look at five of the many bowlers who went missing after a promising start to their career – either due to poor form or due to lack of opportunities.Bowlers who got opportunities to represent India in whites for more than 25 times, were not considered in this list.

#5 Lakshmipathy Balaji

The work horse of Tamil Nadu, managed to play 8 times for India, in which he got 27 wicket to his name. He stated off poorly against New Zealand at home before making the Pakistani batsmen struggle.

His career was cut short by a stress fracture that almost ended his international career. He still got more than 300 first class wickets with 16 five wicket hauls. The right-arm medium pacer also has 18 four wicket hauls to his credit.

Even though he could make a comeback for the tour of New Zealand in 2009, he could never break in to the playing XI. 

His best match came at Mohali against Pakistan in 2005, where he registered his only five-wicket haul in the first innings and came back to bag four more in the second innings. His match figures read 9 for 171.

The 32 year-old’s final Test was also against Pakistan at Bangalore during the same tour.