Top 3 underrated India cricketers who never got enough chances

Playing for India remains a dream that is realised by only a fortunate few. Earning an India debut cap requires navigating the rigours of domestic cricket, but only a select group manages to represent the country consistently at the international level over an extended period.

Many talented players fade away without receiving adequate opportunities. Here is a list of three underrated Indian cricketers who deserved more chances at the international level:

#1 Karun Nair

It took Karun Nair just three innings in Test cricket to become only the second Indian batter after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century. Nair smashed an unbeaten 303 off 381 deliveries against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, helping India secure an innings-and-75-run victory.

The triple century showcased his immense appetite for runs and demonstrated that he possessed the ability to succeed at the highest level of red-ball cricket. Surprisingly, however, the team management and selectors handed him only three more Test appearances before dropping him from the side in 2017. Nair refused to give up, continued to work hard on the domestic circuit, and was eventually rewarded with a remarkable purple patch.

The right-hander amassed 863 runs in nine matches for Vidarbha during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season at an average of 53.93, including four centuries and two fifties. He also finished as the leading run-scorer in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, earning a recall to the Indian squad for the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England.

Nair featured in four of the five Tests on the tour but managed only one fifty-plus score and was subsequently dropped following the conclusion of the series.

#2 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal's Test record suggests that he deserved far more opportunities than he received. The Karnataka batter scored 1,488 runs in 21 Tests at an average of 41.33, including four centuries and six fifties. Agarwal remains one of the few Indian batters to have registered multiple double centuries in Test cricket.

However, the selectors ultimately decided that he was no longer part of their plans, and the Bengaluru Test against Sri Lanka in March 2022 proved to be his final appearance in the format. Since then, Agarwal has continued to score heavily, not only in India's domestic circuit but also in the County Championship in England.

#3 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey's ODI record suggests that he merited a longer run at the international level. The Karnataka batter scored 566 runs in 29 ODIs at an average of 33.29, including a match-winning century on Australian soil and two half-centuries. Despite those performances, he was not considered for selection again.

Pandey also offered immense value in the field. A highly dependable fielder, he could operate effectively in any position, save crucial runs, and produce stunning catches capable of changing the course of a match.