When it comes to cricketing talent in India, it is in abundance. Be it any format of the game, numerous talents have represented Team India.
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Every Indian cricketer dreams of playing for the national team at some stage, in any format. Meanwhile, some even dream of donning the white jersey and represent India in cricket's ultimate format, i.e. Test cricket.
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To date, many cricketers have represented the nation in Tests. While some have made their mark, some were so unlucky that they could not get beyond a Test. On the same note, we take a look at five unlucky Indian cricketers, who played Test cricket just once.
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Karn Sharma: The spinner from Uttar Pradesh made his Test debut in 2014, in Adelaide. He claimed four wickets in two innings, as he dismissed David Warner on both occasions, besides dismissing Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers. However, he was surprisingly dropped in the following Tests. Although he was given a chance in a couple of ODIs thereon, he failed to claim a single wicket, as he faded away from the scene entirely. Nonetheless, he continues to have impressive First-Class stats, claiming 196 wickets in 74 matches at an average of 28.52, including a 10-wicket haul.
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R Vinay Kumar: The lanky pacer from Karnataka made his Test debut against Australia in 2012, in Perth, where he could claim just a wicket for 73 runs, as India suffered a defeat by an innings and 37 runs. In 13 overs, he could just get the wicket of Michael Hussey, as he never played in the format again. Nevertheless, he continues to possess compelling FC stats, claiming 504 wickets in 139 matches at an average of 22.44, including five 10-for.
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Shahbaz Nadeem: It was in 2019 when the pacer from Jharkhand was called up to the side, as he made his Test debut against South Africa at his home turf, in Ranchi. Being a spinner, he was significant, as he claimed four wickets, while India won the match by an innings and 202 runs. However, he did not get picked in the following Tests, as owing to India's packed spin department, his chances look slim. Anyways, he has powerful FC stats, as he has claimed 443 wickets in 117 matches at an average of 28.66, including five 10-for.
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Jaydev Unadkat: A familiar name in the domestic circuit, the pacer from Saurashtra made his Test debut in 2010 against South Africa in Centurion. He was heavily expensive, as he gave away 101 runs and went wicket-less. As India lost by an innings and 25 runs, he was never considered for the format again, despite having stately FC stats, where he has claimed 327 wickets in 89 matches at an average of 23.21, including five 10-for.
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Naman Ojha: The most surprising of all, Naman happens to be a renowned name in the Indian domestic circuit. Being a wicketkeeper-batsman from Madhya Pradesh, he made his Test debut in 2015, against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Nevertheless, he failed to impress, scoring just 35 and 21 in both the innings, as India won by 117 runs. While he has never donned the India whites again, he continues to be grand in the domestic circuit, scoring 9,753 runs in 146 matches at a noble average of 41.67, including 22 tons and 55 half-centuries.
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