An underrated Indian cricketer is someone who contributed with match-winning spells or innings, delivered in pressure situations, or performed consistently in first-class matches, IPL, domestic circuit, or international career, but was not able to receive as much deserving attention and chances as many others. Let’s list down the Top 10 Most Underrated Indian Cricketers who deserve more for their contribution.

Top 10 Most Underrated Indian Cricketers

1. Ajit Agarkar

• One of India’s leading wicket takers, with 288 ODI wickets and more than 50 in Tests.
• Most famous for his swing bowling and for being able to strike early, he also holds the record for the quickest Indian ODI 50.
• His spell at Adelaide 2003 saw India defeat Australia in one of its most memorable Test matches, but he was always in Zaheer Khan’s shadow.

2. Axar Patel

• Played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup by scoring a whirlwind 47 in the final match against South Africa and disrupting the momentum with his collected batting.
• Famous for his precise left-arm spin, Axar has performed consistently in Test cricket as well as in the shortest format of the game, usually tightening games with his stingy spells.
• Despite being one of Team India’s best utility players, he tends to go unnoticed due to the presence of Ravindra Jadeja. He is hence one of the most underappreciated Indian cricketers of this generation.

3. Ishant Sharma

• Ishant Sharma started his career amazingly well, getting Ponting out twice, which made him a well-known bowler.
• During Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Ishant was one of the major cogs of the trio Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, but did not get much limelight. He has been so amazing in the test in the post-2018 era, giving away runs at just 19.1 and a strike rate at just 41.7, which is just outstanding.
• He is just the third Indian pace bowler to take 300+ wickets in a test match.

4. Amol Muzumdar

• A giant in first-class matches, scoring more than 11,000 runs with the best average.
• Even though he is one of the top run scorers of Indian domestic cricket, he was never allowed to play for India.
• Shaded by a crowded middle order with Dravid, Laxman, and Tendulkar, becoming a forgotten hero.

5. Dinesh Karthik

• Began earlier than Dhoni but spent years in and out of the Indian side.
• Finished off well during the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh, where his six on the last ball saw India claim its historic win.
• Despite proving himself in IPL and in every format, he never had a stable international career.

6. Laxmipathy Balaji

• Rounded into top form during the 2004 Pakistan tour, when his swing troubled top batsmen.
• Injuries cut his career short, but he became a reliable IPL bowler for the Chennai Super Kings.
• Popular with the crowd for his smile and energy, but not recalled along with others in the same league.

7. Manoj Tiwary

• Scored a century against the West Indies, but missed 14 straight games since that innings.
• A consistent first-class batsman from Bengal, scoring over 8,000 runs.
• His hit-or-miss career showed how difficult it is to stay in the game for a star-studded Indian cricket team.

8. Ravindra Jadeja

• An all-time great all-rounder, but sometimes underrated relative to show.,
• First-class record of three triple-centuries, which establishes his batting heritage.
• In Test cricket, he is indispensable with his ability to take key wickets with proper spin and add useful runs in the middle order, but he does not always receive the same regard as big strikers.

9. Ambati Rayudu

• A tactful batsman who performed well in both the IPL and domestic cricket.
• Scored reliably in ODIs for India, with a near-50 average in his global career, but was surprisingly replaced as backup player in 2019 by Vijay Shankar in the 2019 World Cup team.
• Contributed substantially to Chennai Super Kings’ IPL championship victories, but his career went largely unnoticed.

10. Amit Mishra

• India’s most under-valued spinner, and only spinner till now who took three hat-tricks in IPL.
• Captured over 150 international wickets but was never considered a long-term prospect.
• A reliable wicket taker, he would frequently find openings when India really needed them. The record in the domestic circuit is just out of the world as he has taken 535 wickets with a strike rate of 29.17 in List A cricket.

Why Do Some Players Get Overlooked Despite Performing Well?

Competition: The Indian team now has the most competitive pool to fight for a spot in the playing XI or even the 15-man squad, as 2-3 fantastic players are sitting on the bench for every position.With legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Virat Kohli dominating the batting lineup, others like Amol Muzumdar and Ambati Rayudu found little space.

Role overlap: Wicketkeepers like Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik lost out to Dhoni. Similarly, Irfan Pathan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar often competed for the swing bowling role.

Media and hype: Flashy knocks and big hits get more attention. Players who grind in Test cricket or class matches often go unnoticed.

Selector decisions: Rayudu’s exclusion from the World Cup squad is a prime example of how opportunities can slip away despite form when the captain does not want you, as Virat Kohli did not want him in the team.

Players who deserved More Recongnization

Cricket is not all about glamour and big sixes. It is thanks to players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Ajit Agarkar, Ambati Rayudu, and many others who were at their best in difficult situations that the Indian cricket team has achieved so much.

These unsung cricketers might not always hog the limelight, but they are what make Team India a force to be reckoned with in international cricket through their grit, patience, and selflessness.

Thus, who do you regard as the most underappreciated Indian player ever? Let your voice be heard in the comments, and let’s award these lesser-known heroes their due respect.

FAQs About Underrated Indian Cricketers

A. Several blame Amol Muzumdar for never having played international cricket even though he broke records in runs. Others count Ajit Agarkar or Ambati Rayudu among those who have been consistent but underappreciated.

A. Yes. Ravindra Jadeja continues to be underappreciated for his all-round efforts, while Axar Patel continues to stay out of the limelight despite good Test match and T20 performances.

A. Fans go crazy over big hits such as the ones by Virat Kohli or fast bowlers such as Brett Lee, who deliver hot spells. Low-key Test match consistency, tight overs, or stoic batting receive lesser applause even though such players are the backbone of victory.