Five Indian Cricketers Who Vanished from the Indian Test Squad

Several Indian cricketers such as Karun Nair, Praveen Kumar, and many others had promising starts but faced challenges that curtailed their Test careers. While injuries, inconsistencies, and competition played roles, each had moments of brilliance that showcased their potential. Understanding their careers highlights the volatile nature of international cricket and the factors influencing selection and retention in national teams.

Let’s look at 5 such Indian cricketers:

Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar had a short but impactful Test career. With 6 matches and 11 innings, he bowled a total of 1611 balls, conceding 697 runs and claiming 27 wickets. His best bowling figures in an innings were 5/106, and his best match figures were 7/169. Kumar’s average of 25.81 and an economy rate of 2.59 highlight his effectiveness as a bowler. Despite his significant contributions to the ball, his batting was less notable. In 10 innings, he scored 149 runs with a highest score of 40, maintaining a batting average of 14.90 and a strike rate of 93.71.

Why was Praveen Kumar excluded from the Test squad?

Praveen Kumar’s Test career was marked by his ability to swing the ball effectively and provide useful lower-order contributions. His most notable performance came with a match-winning 7/169 against the West Indies in 2009, showcasing his potential as a swing bowler. His average of 25.81 and economy rate of 2.59 were commendable, indicating his control and ability to restrict scoring. However, his career was marred by injuries and an inability to maintain consistent performance, which led to his eventual exclusion from the Test squad.

Praveen Kumar Test stats – Batting

Mats	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Avg	Eco	SR	4-Wkt	5-Wkt
6	11	1611	697	27	5/106	7/169	25.81	2.59	59.6	1	1

Praveen Kumar Test stats – Bowling

Mats	Inns	NOs	Runs	HS	Avg	Balls	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
6	10	0	149	40	14.90	159	93.71	0	0	21	5

Jayant Yadav

Jayant Yadav established himself as a useful all-rounder in Test cricket for a brief period. Over 6 matches and 12 innings, he bowled 825 balls, conceding 465 runs and taking 16 wickets. His best bowling figures in an innings are 4/49, and his best match figures are 5/62. Yadav’s bowling average of 29.06 and economy rate of 3.38 reflect his solid performance. As a batsman, he has been particularly impressive, scoring 248 runs in 9 innings with a highest score of 104. His batting average of 31.00, along with 1 century and 1 fifty, adds valuable depth to his overall profile.

Why was Jayant Yadav removed from the Test squad?

Jayant Yadav’s Test career was distinguished by his effective off-spin and notable innings of 104 against England. He was a useful lower-order batsman, contributing with a century and a fifty. His bowling average of 29.06 and economy rate of 3.38 were decent, though not exceptional. His inability to consistently make an impact with the ball, combined with stiff competition from other spinners, led to his removal from the Test squad.

Praveen Kumar Test stats – Bowling

Mats	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Avg	Eco	SR	4-Wkt	5-Wkt
6	12	825	465	16	4/49	5/62	29.06	3.38	51.5	1	0

Praveen Kumar Test stats – Batting

Mats	Inns	NOs	Runs	HS	Avg	Balls	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
6	9	1	248	104	31.00	575	43.13	1	1	30	1

Karun Nair

Karun Nair’s Test career is remembered by a remarkable triple century on debut, which is a standout achievement. In 6 matches and 7 innings, he scored 374 runs, with his highest score being 303*. His batting average of 62.33 and a strike rate of 73.91 demonstrate his proficiency as a top-order batsman. Although he played relatively few innings, Nair’s performance reflects his high skill level.

Why was Karun Nair excluded from the Test squad?

Karun Nair’s Test career is highlighted by his remarkable triple century (303*) against England in 2016, which was one of the highest individual scores for India. His batting average of 62.33 is impressive. However, his Test career failed to build on this success, with his subsequent performances being inconsistent. His inability to maintain form and adapt to different conditions led to his exclusion from the Test team. Also, he was brought in as a replacement for that time vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Karun Nair Test stats – Batting

Mats	Inns	NOs	Runs	HS	Avg	Balls	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
6	7	1	374	303*	62.33	506	73.91	1	0	41	4

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw’s Test career showed great potential, especially with his aggressive batting style. In 5 matches and 9 innings, he amassed 339 runs, including a highest score of 134. His batting average of 42.37 and a strike rate of 86.04 highlight his ability to score quickly and dominate bowling attacks. Shaw’s performances, including 1 century and 2 fifties, underscore his promise as a dynamic opener in the Test format.

Why was Prithvi Shaw excluded from the Test squad?

Prithvi Shaw’s Test debut was impressive, marked by a fluent 134 against the West Indies. His overall performance in Tests has shown potential, with a batting average of 42.37 and a strike rate of 86.04. However, Shaw struggled with consistency and technique against high-quality bowling attacks, which, combined with fitness issues and off-field controversies, led to his exclusion from the Test squad.

Prithvi Shaw Test stats – Batting

Mats	Inns	NOs	Runs	HS	Avg	Balls	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
5	9	1	339	134	42.37	394	86.04	1	2	48	2

Shahbaz Nadeem

Shahbaz Nadeem’s Test career was brief, with only 2 matches and 4 innings. He bowled 458 balls, conceding 273 runs and taking 8 wickets. His best bowling figures in an innings were 2/18, and his best match figures were 4/40. Nadeem’s average of 34.12 and economy rate of 3.57 indicate that he struggled to make a significant impact in Test cricket.

Why was Shahbaz Nadeem removed from the Test squad?

Shahbaz Nadeem’s Test career, though brief, showed glimpses of his ability as a left-arm spinner. His best performance was a match haul of 4/40 against South Africa. Despite a reasonable average of 34.12, his short Test career was limited by a lack of opportunities and competition from more established spinners. His failure to consistently impact games or secure a permanent spot contributed to his removal from the squad.

Shahbaz Nadeem Test stats – Bowling

Mats	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Avg	Eco	SR	4-Wkt	5-Wkt
2	4	458	273	8	2/18	4/40	34.12	3.57	57.2	0	0