5 Incredibly Talented Indian Cricketers who were Simply Unlucky

Cricket is not considered as a sport in India. It is worshipped and referred to as a religion that binds everyone together. The country has no dearth of talent. In fact, we have the best and most dedicated players in the team. However, did each of these highly accomplished player made it to the pinnacle of fame? Unfortunately, no! Lady luck did not seem to be generous enough to these cricketers.

Here is a list of 5 incredibly talented players who just didn’t have enough luck:

1. Vinod Kambli 

Kambli started his test career successfully and managed to be the only cricketer after Walter Hammond of England and Don Bradman of Australia to hit back to back double hundreds. Kambli was also known to be the quickest Indian cricketer to reach one thousand test runs. He averaged close to one hundred and twenty after seven matches. However, he started experiencing a downfall began when caught wanting against the short ball against a touring West Indian side in the year 1994. According to reports and sports news in Hindi, his lavish lifestyle changed perception of people about him. At the age of 23, he played his final Test. He also made 9 comebacks for India but failed to make a place for himself. Interestingly, his test average of 54.20 is somewhat better than Sachin's! Controversies made his life and career worse. 

2. Wasim Jaffer

After scoring two double centuries (202) against Pakistan at Kolkata in the year 2007, he became only the third Indian batsman to score as an opener after Sunil Gavaskar and Vinoo Mankad. He was amazing as an opener and scored centuries against South Africa, Bangladesh, England, and West Indies. Unluckily, he had to leave the team after a couple of bad series. Despite some brilliant performances in domestic cricket, he failed to make a comeback to the national team post 2008.

3. Saba Karim

Karim was a very talented wicket keeper. Indian team was proud of him. In the year 2000, Anil Kumble’s delivery jumped from a good length. Saba Karim suffered a severe blow with this. The ball hit him straight on the right eye. Karim suffered from permanent impaired vision. Karim had to go for an eye surgery and the blow ended his cricketing career forever. 

4. Nari Contractor

The captain of Indian team for 1962 West Indies tour, Contractor was hit by one of Charlie Griffith’s deliveries on the head. It was almost life threatening. After a number of surgeries, he recovered his health. However, he could never regain his form. He never played for India again.

5. Raman Lamba

After playing around 4 Tests and 32 ODIs for India, Lamba played club cricket in Bangladesh. However, the year 1998 proved unlucky for him. While playing for his club Abahani Krira Chakra, Lamba was hit by a ball. This was when he was fielding at forward short-leg (a position very close to a batsman. His forehead got hit by the ball hit. It ricocheted on to the wicketkeeper and a successful catch was made. However, Lamba suffered from internal hemorrhage. Although he was asked to wear a helmet, he refused as he thought it wasn’t necessary for the last three balls of that over. Lamba slipped into coma and battled with life for three days. Finally, Lamba succumbed to the injury.