Five Indians who couldn't play an international match even after being selected in national squad

Getting a place in the Indian team is very tough for aspiring cricketers across the country. So, it is very hard for an individual to make a cut to the playing XI of the national side of India. Recently, senior South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj made a statement that India has such a strong bench strength that they can field five international sides at a time.

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There have been also times when a few youngsters were picked in the squad by the selectors. But unfortunately, they were dropped later without playing any international match for the Indian team. It may have been because of the tough competition and combination in the team.

Having said that, here we’ll have a look at five cricketers who were initially picked in the squad but couldn’t make a single international appearance for the men in blue.

R Sai Kishore

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Tamil Nadu-born slow left-arm orthodox spinner R Sai Kishore made his first appearance in domestic cricket five years back in the year 2017. Later on, in 2021, the Indian selectors selected Sai Kishore for the national squad of India for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Although, he couldn’t get a call in the playing XI of the team during the entire series. Speaking of his domestic career, then the 25-year-old has featured in 22 First-Class, 33 List-A, and 43 T20 matches. In these matches, he has scalped 76, 54, and 49 wickets respectively.

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Rahul Tewatia

The Star all-rounder impressed everyone in the 2022 edition of the Indian T20 League while he was playing for the new entrants of the season, Gujarat. He showcased his batting brilliance for Gujarat in the tournament when he smashed two sixes on the last two balls when the team required 12 runs.

He was picked in the team last year when England visited India for five-match T20I series. But unfortunately, he couldn’t make a cut to the final XI of the team in all matches of the series. Tewatia has played seven First-Class, 23 List-A, and 103 T20 matches so far in the domestic circuit of India.

Simarjeet Singh

The 24-year-old speedster was introduced in the Indian domestic circuit three years back in the year 2018. Since then, he has played 11 First-Class, 23 List-A, and 26 T20 matches so far. On the back of his brilliance in the domestic circuit, he got his maiden call to the Indian squad last year for the T20I series in Sri Lanka.

Apart from this, he is also a part of the squad of Chennai in the Indian T20 League. Unfortunately, Simarjeet Singh couldn’t secure a berth in the playing XI of the men in blue on the tour of Sri Lanka last year.

Priyank Panchal

The senior Gujarat opener Priyank Panchal is not a new name in the Indian domestic circuit. He made his domestic debut 14 years back in 2008 against Maharashtra in a List-A match. Since then, Panchal has played in 106 First-Class matches alongside 75 List-A and 50 T20 matches.

The 32-year-old has notched 7318 runs in 172 innings of 106 matches with an average of 44.89 with 24 centuries and 28 half-centuries to his name. Thanks to these amazing performances, Panchal earned a call to the national Test side of India. Although, he is yet to make his international debut for Team India at the highest level of the game.

Basil Thampi

The 29-year-old Kerala pacer is a part of the Indian domestic circuit for the last eight years since 2014. He has impressed the people of the cricketing fraternity with his amazing performance in First-Class cricket by scalping 92 wickets in 67 innings of the 40 matches. Other than this, he has also scalped 41 wickets in 31 matches.

Notably, Thampi was included in the Indian squad five years back in 2017 for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. Although, he is still waiting for his first international appearance for the Indian team.