5 IPL performers who missed out on deserved India chance

Apr 24, 2016 at 12:15 PM

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5 IPL performers who missed out on deserved India chance

Although the IPL has been a springboard for many Indian team regulars – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Jaspreet Bumrah to name a few, there are also those unlucky men who missed out on national team opportunities despite performing well in the cash-rich league. Here, we look at those IPL stars who did not get their deserved chance in the Indian team despite good performances in the IPL.

Let’s take a look at the Top 5 IPL performers who missed out on deserved India chance.

1. Robin Uthappa

The only capped cricketer in the list, the Kolkata Knight Riders keeper-batsman was the most prolific run scorer in the 2014 edition of the IPL where he also broke the record for maximum 40-plus scores in the slam-bang version. For those who don’t consider IPL performances as the only barometer, Uthappa has been equally consistent in domestic cricket scoring heaps of runs in recent years, also finishing as the highest Ranji run-scorer in 2014-15.

Uthappa scored 69 runs in the tour of Bangladesh in 2014 in what was a low scoring series and was dropped for the home series against West Indies. When recalled for the series against Sri Lanka, the stylish right-hander scored 35 runs in two matches and has not been called up for the team since. The only reason Uthappa has been included in this list is because the feeling is that he was not given enough opportunities to prove himself. Surely, here was a guy who deserved an extended run in the team.

2. Naman Ojha

Ojha was touted by many to be the next big thing in Indian cricket after his consistent performances for the Rajasthan Royals and later, Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the IPL. But it was Bengal keeper Wriddhiman Saha who got the nod ahead of him in tests after Dhoni’s retirement.

One of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the Indian domestic circuit in recent years, Ojha would consider himself unlucky to have been born in the Dhoni-era. With a first-class average of 43.07 and an impressive 8228 runs in his kitty, Ojha would have walked into most teams as a top order keeper-batsman. Another keeper-batsman after Uthappa to miss out on a deserved Team India chance.

3. Rajat Bhatia

Rated very highly as a reliable medium pacer and a handy lower order batsman, Delhi’s Rajat Bhatia is a classic case of a good cricketer missing out on deserved laurels. What he lacks in pace, he more than makes up for it with variations in pace and lengths. Bhatia could prove to be a more prized asset than a Hardik Pandya as the fifth bowling option in the middle overs, but looks highly unlikely that he will get an opportunity in the Indian team.

4. Shreyas Iyer

Earlier this year, Mumbai Cricket Association Vice President Dilip Vengsarkar said that it was the time the BCCI inducts Shreyas Iyer in the Indian team after a successful season in the domestic circuit. Iyer amassed 1321 runs at a massive average of 73.38 in the Ranji Trophy, guiding Mumbai to a 41st title. Add to that, a successful IPL campaign in 2015 when he scored 439 runs in 14 matches on a struggling Delhi Daredevils side. Surely, here is a performer who has to be fast tracked into the National side.

5. Pravin Tambe

Pravin Tambe’s journey from being handpicked by chance by the great Rahul Dravid to becoming one of the stars of the Champions League T20 in 2013 has been nothing short of a fairytale. Of course at 44, an Indian team selection seems unlikely at best but for Tambe to win the Mumbai cap for the Ranji Trophy after his sizzling performances in the IPL is a massive feat. Although the leg spinner will almost certainly never play for India, his journey is one to be proud of.

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