Over the years, Team India has witnessed some outstanding players dominating in different formats, except for a few big names who failed to shine in Test cricket. Although T20 and ODI have gained popularity, Tests remain the ultimate Test of players’ physical and mental capabilities. Despite excelling in limited-overs cricket, some Indians have struggled in the most extended format. Look at five renowned players who couldn’t replicate their success in Tests.
1. Dinesh Karthik
Despite an impressive IPL 2022 season with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Dinesh Karthik failed to meet expectations as a wicket-keeper batter in Test cricket. He scored only 1025 runs with one century and seven fifties in 26 Tests, leading to his replacement by other keepers before MS Dhoni took over the role for several years.
2. Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra’s impressive 6/23 performance against England in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa raised expectations for his Test career. However, a series of injuries limited him to the game’s shorter formats. Nehra played 17 Tests for India between 1999 and 2004, taking 44 wickets. His final Test was against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, where he contributed three wickets in two innings as India secured a comprehensive win by innings and 131 runs.
3. Varun Aaron
Varun Aaron’s breakneck pace made him a promising prospect in Test cricket, but injuries and inconsistency derailed his career after just nine Tests, where he managed 18 wickets. His last Test was in 2015 against South Africa, where he could only take one door. However, Aaron has been successful in the IPL, picking up 44 wickets in 52 matches.
4. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, a left-handed batsman, was a successful match-winner in limited-overs cricket for India. He scored 5615 runs and took 36 wickets in 226 ODIs, 1605 runs and 13 wickets in 78 T20Is. However, Raina struggled in Test cricket, scoring only 768 runs in 18 matches, with his last Test appearance in 2015.
5. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was a phenomenal batsman, fielder, and all-rounder for India, but he struggled in Test cricket. Despite amassing 8701 runs in ODIs and 1177 runs in T20Is from 304 and 58 matches, respectively, he could only score 1900 runs in 40 Tests at an average of 33.92, with three centuries and 11 half-centuries. Yuvraj’s bowling record in Tests could have been better, with only nine wickets in his entire Test career. He last played a Test for India in 2012.
