7 players who played ODI for India you might have forgotten

The Indian team in the last decade was one of the most consistent and feared by the sides around the world in the One –Day international format of the game. The decade which began with a first world cup win in 28 years when Dhoni and the Indian team won the world cup in 2011 also saw a champions trophy win in 2013. The decade also saw two ICC ODI world cup semi-final appearances for the Indian team in 2015 and 2019 and an ICC Champions Trophy runner up medal in 2017. The decade was dominated by the likes of Kolhi, Dhoni and Rohit Sharma but there were players who played ODI cricket for India in a blink and miss appearance basis that you might have forgotten, following is the list of seven such players who made a short ODI appearance for the Indian ODI team.

Cheteshwar Pujara – Batsman

One of the best test batsman of the last decade and perhaps the best technical batsman in the Indian team right now, Pujara though had a short lived career with the men in blue in the white ball format. Pujara made his debut in the ODI format in 2013 on the tour of Zimbabwe under Virat Kohli and played his last ODI in 2014 against Bangladesh in 2014 which was abandoned due to rain after the Indian team was bundled out for 119, interestingly Pujara was the top scorer with 27 which is his top score in the 5 ODI games he played for India.

Pankaj Singh – Fast Bowler

The tall bowler with the ability to hit the deck and bowl at a decent pace made the headlines for his two test cameo during the Indian tour of England in 2014, where he had to wait a long time before he got a test wicket. Pankaj Singh though has played one ODI game for India in 2010 against Sri Lanka in a tri series with the host nation Zimbabwe. He scored run-a-ball 3 with the bat and was carted for 45 runs of his 7 overs and was never picked for India again

Rahul Sharma – Leg-Spinner

There are some cricketer’s whose stories are short and crisp but have a sad ending to it and Rahul Sharma is one of the prime examples of that. As quick as his rise was his exit into anonymity was quicker. The tall leg spinner who reminded certain experts of a young Anil Kumble for his ability to hurry the batsman with his pace off the pitch played 4 ODI games for India. He made his debut against the visiting West Indies in December 2011 and played his last match for the Indian team 7 months later in Sri Lanka. In total Sharma picked 6 wickets in the four games he played 3 of which came in his debut game for India.

Ashok Dinda – Fast Bowler 

Ashok Dinda first made heads turn with his extra pace and high jump to the bowling crease during the inaugural IPL in 2008, many called him the next best fast bowler coming out of India, by the team he was picked though Dinda had lost a bit of pace and was prone to be erratic. Dinda made his ODI debut in 2010 in Zimbabwe after years of auditioning for the slot of the Indian pace department by the time he played his last ODI in 2013 against England he was only 28 but was seen as a bowler who was erratic and prone to leak runs of his bowling. Dinda played 13 ODI games for India and picked 12 wickets at an economy of over 6.1.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann – Batsman and part time Off –Spinner

An unassuming and quiet operator, Gurkeerat has been one of the steady performers in the domestic arena and has been decent in the chances he got in the IPL. Gurkeerat is an explosive lower order batsman who can hit the ball big and can chip in with a few overs with his off spin bowling. Gurkeerat made his Indian debut on the white ball tour of Australia in 2016 and played 3 ODI games and scored 13 with the bat. With the ball he bowled 10 overs in total and conceded 68 runs without picking a wicket. The 30 year still has a few years left in him and will want to add few more ODI caps to his name before he hangs up his boots.

Parvez Rasool – Batsman and Off-Spin Bowler 

One of the most promising cricketers to come out of Jammu and Kashmir, Rasool was already a well known cricketer in the Ranji Set up. Rasool has played just one ODI for the Indian during the short ODI trip of Bangladesh in 2014. He made his debut in the first ODI and got two wickets for 60 runs one of which was of Captain Mushfiqur Rahim. The 31 year old has never got picked again for the Indian squad despite putting in decent performances over the years.

Faiz Fazal – Opening batsman

One of the most surprising picks by the Indian selectors, so much so that even Faiz Fazal was surprised with his selection when the Indian squad was announced for the short ODI and T-20 tour of Zimbabwe in 2016 under MS Dhoni. The 3^rd and final ODI against the hosts saw Fazal make his debut for the men in blue and remained not out with fellow opener KL Rahul with an assured knock of 55 runs of 61 balls with 7 fours and one six. Many thought this would be the start of a lengthy run for Fazal in the Indian team but that was the only time the left handed opener from Vidarbha got a look in the Indian team.