A look at the top 5 unlucky Indian cricketers gifted players whose promising careers were cut short or limited due to injuries, intense competition, or selection setbacks, despite their undeniable talent and performances.
Sheldon Jackson
Sheldon Jackson has been a consistent performer in India’s domestic cricket for years. During the 2012 and 2013 Ranji Trophy seasons, he showcased his batting prowess with four half-centuries and three centuries for Saurashtra. He was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009 IPL auction.
However, despite his domestic success, Jackson has managed to feature in only four IPL matches so far. In 2013, he earned a spot in the India A squad for a series against West Indies A. Later, in 2015 and 2016, he played a key role for Saurashtra in the domestic circuit.
Apart from his batting skills, Jackson is known for his dedication to fitness and regularly shares workout updates on Instagram. Unfortunately, despite his form and fitness, he missed out on a spot in the Indian squad for the Sri Lankan tour captained by Shikhar Dhawan and coached by Rahul Dravid.
Abhinav Mukund
Abhinav Mukund is another name synonymous with domestic cricket success, but he couldn’t translate it into a consistent international career. He first made headlines when he shared a mammoth 400-run opening partnership with Murali Vijay. A part of India’s U19 squad in 2008, Mukund didn’t have a great year but later bounced back with a triple century in Ranji Trophy.
His strong domestic performances earned him a call-up to the Indian team for a tour of the West Indies. Mukund last represented India in 2017 against Sri Lanka. With India’s opening slot remaining unstable at times, his chances for a return remain slim — especially now that he’s 31, making it harder to stage a comeback.
Murali Kartik
Today, Murali Kartik is a familiar voice in the commentary box, but before that, he was a talented left-arm spinner. Renowned for his effectiveness on spin-friendly tracks, Kartik is one of the rare players to have been recalled to the national squad while actively working as a commentator.
He played 8 Test matches for India, claiming 24 wickets with a best figure of 4/44. Kartik made his debut in 2000 against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium, but his Test career lasted only four years. In ODIs, he featured in 37 matches, picking up as many wickets, with his best bowling figures being 6/27.
Unfortunately for Kartik, his prime years coincided with the dominance of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, limiting his opportunities at the international level.
Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel created history when he became India’s youngest Test wicketkeeper at just 17 years old, earning his debut cap as India’s 244th Test player. Known for his technical soundness and safe keeping, Parthiv was part of the 2003 World Cup squad.
However, the team preferred Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper-batsman, providing them with the flexibility of an extra bowler. This, along with the emergence of MS Dhoni who brought explosive batting and sharp keeping saw Parthiv’s chances dwindle.
Throughout his career, Parthiv played 25 Test matches, scoring 934 runs. Despite starting so young, his numbers fell short of expectations, largely due to intense competition for the wicketkeeper’s spot.
Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer is a domestic cricket legend and one of the highest run-getters in Ranji Trophy history. Known for his wristy strokeplay and ability to occupy the crease, Jaffer’s exploits in domestic cricket earned him a national call-up in 2000. However, a poor series against South Africa saw him score just 46 runs in 4 innings.
He later returned to the side and formed a solid opening pair with Dinesh Karthik during a tour of England. In 2007, Jaffer announced his return with a superb double century against Pakistan in Kolkata.
Despite his classical batting technique and consistent domestic form, the rise of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag left Jaffer on the sidelines. While his talent was undeniable, luck never quite favored him at the international level.
