Most undeserving Indian player to have played 100 Test Matches

[Texan]

Now that we have Cheteshwar Pujara completing 100 Tests despite doing very little over the last few years to deserve a place in the team, it is a good time to revisit other Indian cricketers who played over 100 Tests. So, who in your opinion was the most undeserving of the lot?

 

 

Many of the contenders have some very valid reasons why they are on this list:

 

1. Pujara: Hanging on to his spot despite lack of performances, averaging 29 in the last 3 years and only hundred came against Bangladesh, was dropped, but mysteriously came back in the team on the basis of some performances in a third rate second division County league.

 

2. Harbhajan: Was a very average bowler since 2006 yet, continued to find a spot in the Test team despite there being a good replacement in Ashwin already waiting in the sidelines. For a spin bowler to play that long for India despite poor performances is quite incredible.

 

3. Ishant Sharma: Was willing to jump from 24th floor of building for his captain but in terms of cricketing achievements, there isn't much to write about to deserve to play 100 Tests. Continued in the team despite India having good fast bowlers that could easily replace him.

 

4. Virat Kohli: Now, this is a contentious one. Kohli was THE BATSMAN for India for a while when he was batting like a dream. But over the last 3 years, he has done little to deserve that spot in the team. Also, one of the worst catchers that has let go so many catches that it is hard to even keep a count.

 

5. Ganguly: Despite averaging just around 42 and being an average player amongst some superstar batsmen, Ganguly kept hanging on to his spot even through poor form when he was the captain and hence, denied some talented domestic players a spot in the team. Had very obvious weaknesses against the short ball.

 

6. Vengsarkar: This one is quite a puzzler. Vengsarkar had a poor record everywhere except in India and England. His away record everywhere else was very pathetic. Compare that to Mohinder Amarnath, who was a beast away from home. Even Sandeep Patil, who got very limited chances had a much better away record and got Test hundreds in Australia and Pakistan, something that Vengsarkar never managed, despite playing for so long.

 

 

So, who do you think is the most undeserving of the lot?

[Lone Wolf]

Pujara & yes I am being biased.  He had no business to come back after being dropped. 

That SA tour debacle should have been the final nail. 

[vvvslaxman]

I t hink there was a t hread created long back with same title. I believe Ishant was unanimous choice lol

[Texan]

3 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Pujara & yes I am being biased.  He had no business to come back after being dropped. 

That SA tour debacle should have been the final nail. 

Vote in the poll

[Texan]

Just now, vvvslaxman said:

I t hink there was a t hread created long back with same title. I believe Ishant was unanimous choice lol

I don't recall seeing that one, but I have long spells away from ICF, so could have missed it or forgotten about it. Anyway, now we have two more contenders. Time to revisit.

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, Texan said:

I don't recall seeing that one, but I have long spells away from ICF, so could have missed it or forgotten about it. Anyway, now we have two more contenders. Time to revisit.

Okay yours is specific to India. So this is different. 

 

[vvvslaxman]

I think PUjara may edge Ishant if he continues one more year. Vengasarkar was a top player in his era. There was a period where he scored around 1600 runs in 16 tests.. His position was never in doubt. So i would exclude him. 

[Texan]

2 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

I think PUjara may edge Ishant if he continues one more year. Vengasarkar was a top player in his era. There was a period where he scored around 1600 runs in 16 tests.. His position was never in doubt. So i would exclude him. 

Vengsarkar did have a couple of fabulous seasons, but his away record is dismal. He doesn't have a single hundred outside of India and England. Amarnath, Patil were pretty strong batsmen away from home, but didn't quite get the chances that Vengsarkar got.

[Stan AF]

Ishanth and gujaara

[vvvslaxman]

Just now, Texan said:

Vengsarkar did have a couple of fabulous seasons, but his away record is dismal. He doesn't have a single hundred outside of India and England. Amarnath, Patil were pretty strong batsmen away from home, but didn't quite get the chances that Vengsarkar got.

 

Sandeep patil was not actually dropped for performance originally. He was punished for reckless shot in Delhi test alongwith Kapil Dev. Both were dropped. Little they realized Azharuddin would reel out 3 back to back centuries and made himself undroppable.  Mohinder on the other hand was extermely inconsistent. After successful twin series he went off the boil after world cup. His scores were like pin code.  Vengsarkar was a bit more consistent. Also he was the only one who played swing bowling better than others in England. He had this impeccable cover drive. He had starts in other parts. NEver converted. Still he was the best bet available.  Against West Indies Marshall targeted him specificially all his career. Especially at his body. In 1978/79 series vengsarkar indulged in excessive appealing. Marshall seemed to have been wrongly given out. He held that grudge all his life against him.  He broke his face in the 1983 world cup. It resulted in him not being able to take part anymore. So anytime he faced Vengsarkar he increased his pace, line of attack everything. Very unenviable position.  Despite that he made a couple of valiant 100s in India against him. 

[Stan AF]

Voted for gujaara

[vvvslaxman]

Looks like Jealousbhajan has 3 votes too lol

[speedracer]

1 hour ago, vvvslaxman said:

Looks like Jealousbhajan has 3 votes too lol

He is a tullah. Piss poor chucking twat. Overrated can. Bhaji is not fit to tie ash's shoelace. 

[R!TTER]

Limp d*** Sharma 

[Vancouver]

Ishant showed so much promise on debut series in Australia, selectors persisted. Just when he was to be dropped, he found his mojo and deservedly played afterwards. He is the most improved Indian bowler.

 

Harbhajan was like Raina, very close to Dhoni and Sachin. Played more than he deserved. 

 

Pujara is a mystery, he is not a popular celebrity like others on the list, Kohli the captain gave impression that he hated Pujara. I hate his batting, I don't care if he wins you matches, guy is so boring and ugly to watch, India's fawad alam.

Edited February 26, 2023 by Vancouver

[Lord]

100 Tests is not a barometer of quality

[speedracer]

35 minutes ago, Lord said:

100 Tests is not a barometer of quality

Exactly. 

70 odd test imran would still be considered light years ahead of andy Anderson who has played over 150 odd and still continues to do so.

 

60 plus tests is more than sufficient. That's like almost 9 tests per year  over a 10 year oeriod and that's about the norm these days given players have to play multiple formats.

[Majestic]

Among 100 test Indian cricketers, the ranking is :

 

Sunil Gavaskar

Sachin Tendulkar

Rahul Dravid

Kapil Dev

Anil Kumble

Virat Kohli

Virender Sehwag

VVS Laxman

 

That's top 8. Then behind these are :

 

Cheteshwar Pujara

Dilip Vengsarkar

Saurav Ganguly( gets points for captaincy as India won Babaji Ka Ghanta in 90s overseas)

Harbhajan Singh

Ishant Sharma

[Majestic]

41 minutes ago, Lord said:

100 Tests is not a barometer of quality

 

3 minutes ago, speedracer said:

Exactly. 

70 odd test imran would still be considered light years ahead of andy Anderson who has played over 150 odd and still continues to do so.

 

60 plus tests is more than sufficient. That's like almost 9 tests per year  over a 10 year oeriod and that's about the norm these days given players have to play multiple formats.

To some extent it is.

 

Quality wise, Pujara >> Rahane.

 

Pujara goes on to play 100 tests while Rahane ended at 80. Both got consistent backing.

[Lord]

3 minutes ago, Majestic said:

 

To some extent it is.

 

Quality wise, Pujara >> Rahane.

 

Pujara goes on to play 100 tests while Rahane ended at 80. Both got consistent backing.

Rahane's not done yet

 

On serious note, Rahane played more LOI cricket and IPL so workload was more.