There have been instances where cricketers were granted the chance to compete at the international level and even made it to the national squad, but unfortunately lost their way despite promising beginnings.
Becoming a member of your nation's cricket squad is merely the first step towards a prosperous career. Nevertheless, there have been instances where cricketers were granted the chance to compete at the international level and were selected for the national squad, but unfortunately lost their way despite promising beginnings.
In this article, we will highlight six Indian cricketers who, despite having a fantastic start, were unable to achieve greatness:
1. Praveen Kumar
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Praveen Kumar was a stalwart of the Indian cricket team, known for his exceptional skills as a medium pacer. However, his state teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved to be a tough competition, overshadowing Praveen's ability to generate strong bounce and swing the ball in both directions.
Despite his vast experience, the selectors had to make the tough decision of removing the veteran player due to his recurring injury issues.
Praveen Kumar announced retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.
2. Parvez Rasool
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Parvez Rasool, the talented all-rounder from Jammu and Kashmir, made a name for himself during the 2012-13 Ranji season. His exceptional performances earned him recognition and paved the way for IPL contracts and call-ups in 2013. However, his journey in the national team has been a challenging one.
Despite being a skilled off-spinner, Rasool has struggled to break through the defenses of top batsmen. This weakness has also affected his batting abilities, making it difficult for him to contribute significantly to the team's scorecard. As a result, Rasool's last appearance in the Indian cricket team was in 2017.
3. V.R.V Singh
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Vikram Raj Vir Singh, a talented fast bowler, made his debut in 2006. He quickly gained recognition for his impressive performance in first-class cricket, where he took a wicket every 24 runs. His exceptional skills on the field earned him the title of "fastest bowler in India" by none other than Rahul Dravid. However, this title was short-lived as Vikram's form began to decline, leading to his eventual removal from the National Selection committee.
Despite this setback, Vikram continued to pursue his passion for cricket and joined the IPL team Kings XI Punjab. Currently, he is an integral part of the Punjab team in the Inter-State Twenty-20 Tournament and Ranji Trophy.
4. Munaf Patel
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Munaf Patel played a crucial role in India's victorious 2011 World Cup campaign. The medium-pacer's consistent ability to take wickets and disrupt the opposition's momentum was instrumental in securing the coveted trophy.
However, Patel's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. Despite his best efforts to impress selectors and secure an IPL franchise, he has struggled to regain his former glory. In November 2018, he announced his retirement from cricket.
5. Parvinder Awana
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In 2012, the Kings XI Punjab made a wise decision by purchasing Delhi's right-arm bowler, Parvinder Awana, after his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy season. His ability to bowl accurately and move the ball off the ground earned him a national call-up for the T20 series against England that same year.
Unfortunately, Awana's debut was not as successful as he had hoped. He allowed 71 runs at a high economy of 11.83 in the two games he participated in, resulting in his immediate removal from the team. His struggles continued in the IPL, and since 2015, he has failed to attract any bidders in the auction.
Parvinder Awana announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.
6. Venugopal Rao
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Venugopal Rao is a name that may not ring a bell for many cricket enthusiasts, but he is a forgotten Indian player who made his international debut in 2005 when skipper Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the team. Rao had an impressive domestic track record while playing for Andhra Pradesh, which earned him his maiden call for the Indian team in 2005-06 when new players were being tested on the international stage.
Rao was a lower middle-order batter and a right-arm off-break bowler. He made some good scores between 2005-06 while playing for the Indian team, but unfortunately, they were not enough to sustain his position in the team. Despite playing a few matches in the IPL, he was never retained by any franchise.
After a career spanning 14 years, Rao decided to hang up his boots in 2019. However, he is nowhere to be seen these days, neither in commentary nor as a coach with any team.
