Men’s ODI World Cup is a big event. Every player dreams of wearing the team’s jersey and representing his team on the greatest stage of World cricket. However, amidst the celebrated stars, there lies a group of immensely talented players who never played in the ODI World Cup for India.
These players, despite their exceptional performances in various formats, were unable to secure a spot in the premier ODI tournament due to a myriad of reasons. In this article, we shed light on the stories of Ishant Sharma, VVS Laxman, RP Singh, Parthiv Patel, and Irfan Pathan, exploring the factors that kept them away from the grandest stage and the lasting impact they left on Indian cricket.
Indian cricket players never played Men’s ODI World Cup
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is undoubtedly one of the most experienced bowler in Indian cricket arena. Throughout his illustrious career, he has displayed exceptional skill and ability to get the job done, especially in Test cricket.
Despite his immense success in the longest format of the game, it is a curious fact that Ishant Sharma has never been a part of India’s Men’s ODI World Cup squad. While he has been a regular feature in India’s Test lineup since making his debut in 2007, he has struggled to maintain a consistent presence in the limited-overs formats, and this has affected his chances of participating in the premier ODI tournament.
Ishant Sharma’s career is dotted with impressive accomplishments, particularly in Test cricket. With his height and ability to extract bounce from various surfaces, he has troubled some of the world’s best batsmen. He has played a crucial role in many memorable Test victories for India, both at home and abroad.
Ishant had amassed more than 100 Test appearances, taking over 300 wickets. His bowling average in Test matches had significantly improved over the years, making him a formidable force in the Indian bowling attack.
However, despite his impressive record in the longest format, his limited-overs career never quite reached the same heights, which, unfortunately, led to him missing out on representing his country in the Men’s ODI World Cup.
VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman enjoyed a stellar career, particularly in Test cricket, where he showcased his immense talent as a middle-order batsman. Despite his remarkable performances in the longest format, VVS Laxman’s international career never quite translated into a spot in India’s Men’s ODI World Cup squad.
While he was a crucial player in India’s Test side for over a decade, he struggled to establish a consistent presence in the limited-overs format, which eventually resulted in his absence from the cricket’s premier ODI tournament.
VVS Laxman’s career spanned from 1996 to 2012, during which he earned a reputation for being a reliable and classy batsman. He was often known for his heroic match-saving innings and was an essential member of India’s middle-order in Test cricket.
His record in Test matches was highly impressive, amassing over 8,000 runs at an average of around 45. He played a pivotal role in some of India’s most memorable Test victories, including the famous innings of 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001, which is often regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history.
Despite his outstanding performances in the Test arena, Laxman’s limited-overs international career was relatively brief, and he was not part of the ODI World Cup squads during his playing years. His impact on Indian cricket, especially in Test cricket, remains unforgettable, and he will always be remembered as one of the finest batsmen to have graced the game.
RP Singh
RP Singh is a talented left-arm fast-medium bowler who had a successful career representing India in international cricket. Despite his promising performances and contributions to the Indian team, RP Singh is one of the players who never played in ODI World Cup during his playing days.
His absence from the prestigious tournament might be attributed to various factors, including competition for fast-bowling slots and team strategies for specific conditions and opposition.
RP Singh made his international debut for India in 2005 and quickly established himself as a vital component of the Indian bowling attack. He was particularly effective in swing-friendly conditions and was known for his ability to extract movement with the new ball.
Singh played a key role in India’s victorious campaign in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, where he emerged as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. His impressive performances in limited-overs cricket earned him a spot in India’s 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup squad.
Although he didn’t feature in the playing XI during the tournament, he remained on the fringes of the ODI team for a few years. Throughout his ODI career, RP Singh claimed over 69 wickets in 58 matches at an average of around 33.
Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel had a long and fruitful international career, but he never had the chance to participate in the Men’s ODI World Cup. Despite being a consistent performer in domestic cricket and displaying glimpses of his potential at the international level, Patel faced tough competition for the wicketkeeper’s spot in the Indian team during the ODI World Cup events.
The presence of other established wicketkeepers like MS Dhoni and later Dinesh Karthik often limited his opportunities in the ODI format, resulting in him missing out on the prestigious World Cup tournaments.
Parthiv Patel made his debut for India at a tender age of 17 in 2002, becoming the youngest wicketkeeper to play Test cricket. Though he showed promise, his chances in ODIs were intermittent.
Throughout his ODI career, which lasted from 2003 to 2018, he played 38 matches, scoring more than 700 runs at an average of approximately 23. Despite not featuring in any Men’s ODI World Cup, Parthiv Patel’s contributions to Indian cricket remain commendable, and he continues to be an admired figure in domestic circles for his skill and dedication to the game.
Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan is widely remembered for his prodigious swing bowling and explosive batting abilities. Despite being an integral part of India’s limited-overs setup for a significant period, Irfan Pathan never had the opportunity to represent India in the Men’s ODI World Cup.
His exclusion from the World Cup squads might be attributed to a combination of factors, including competition for all-rounder slots, injuries that affected his consistency, and changes in team dynamics during various World Cup cycles.
He was a key player in India’s successful campaign in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, where he was named the Player of the Match in the final against Pakistan. He also played a crucial role in India’s series win against Pakistan in 2004, where he was instrumental with both bat and ball.
In ODIs, Pathan scored over 1,500 runs and claimed more than 170 wickets during his career. Despite his impressive performances, injuries and fluctuations in form led to his omission from World Cup squads.
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So, these are the players who never played in the ODI World Cup for India. All of them had talents to represent Indian team at the biggest stage, however, there are other scenarios that led to their exclusion from the team.
