3 Indian cricketers who played only one match in their international career

3 Indian cricketers who played only one match in their international career (Photo source: X)

India is one of the best cricket teams with a rich history. The Asian side made its debut in international cricket in 1932 against England. In its history of 93 years, the nation has had many great cricketers and has contributed a lot to the sport. India have won the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup twice, and the Champions Trophy twice. Some of the greatest cricketers have been from India.

India has a huge talent pool, which makes it extremely hard for individuals to make it to the international side. A player must ensure they give their best in the first match, as a failure could lead to them not getting many chances. The competition is so high that some players did not get a second opportunity, even after performing well in the one they received at the highest level.

Indian players who played just one international match:

3. Pawan Negi

Pawan Negi got a chance to play India’s match against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup 2016 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on March 3, 2016. Negi bowled well, claiming 1/16 in his spell of three overs. He did not get a chance to bat, as the top-order batters ensured the job was done without any complexity.

However, it turned out to be Negi’s only international game, as India started to prefer wrist spinners from 2017 onwards. In 2016, India backed the likes of Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Negi had his best IPL season in 2017, where he claimed 16 wickets at an average of just over 12 and an economy rate of 6.12. Yet, he did not get a chance to play for India again.

2. Shute Banerjee

Shute Banerjee played for India against the West Indies in a Test match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in 1949. The right-arm pacer was towards the fag end of his career and did not get many chances to play for India due to his career overlapping with the World War II period. Banerjee claimed 1/73 and 4/54 in the only Test he played for India.

Banerjee had great stats in First-Class cricket. He played 138 matches and claimed 385 wickets at a bowling average of 26.68 with an impressive strike rate of 48.9. With the bat, he scored 3,715 runs at an average of 20.63, including five hundreds and eleven fifty-plus scores. Unfortunately, Banerjee never played for India again due to his age.

1. Faiz Fazal

Faiz Fazal was one of the most highly talented Indian cricketers to not get enough chances in the side. His only appearance at the highest level was against Zimbabwe in 2016. In the only ODI he played, Fazal scored an unbeaten 55*(61) and impressed everyone. Unfortunately, he never played for India again due to age not being on his side and a lack of backing.

Fazal was one of the key players for the Rajasthan Royals in the early 2010s. He played 138 matches in First-Class cricket and scored 9,184 runs at an average of 41.00. In List A cricket, he scored 3,641 runs in 113 matches at an average of 35.00. Additionally, he was a useful part-time bowler and claimed 23 and 7 wickets in First-Class and List A cricket, respectively.

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