What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you won the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?

Living the life of a sportsperson is an overwhelming thought. Many look towards them and feel how blessed they are to be there, how great a lifestyle they possess, the kind of adulation and support they receive appears admirable, and there is a whole lot of other things. But how often do we look at what’s cloaked behind the dazzling stardom?

We stand and look at their heroics in awe, but we overlook their making. We admire the fizz around them, but we ignore what it took them to reach there. The immense labour and sweat, the many failures and fret, all of this is casually ignored. There’s more to our indifference as we also ignore how cruelly competitive lives do sports-persons have.

Much has changed in the world with time, but nothing more than the competition. We are told that hard-work wins you everything every time, but perhaps there are exceptions to it. What if you swim brilliantly well, but are never allowed to swim again? What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you win the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?

Let’s take a look at those unlucky talents, who had everything in them, who did everything right, and worked hard to earn their place, but were never given a chance again.

Here are such four players:

1. Subramaniam Badrinath

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-384931" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Subramaniam-Badrinath-1.jpg" alt="Subramaniam Badrinath" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-384931" class="wp-caption-text">Subramaniam Badrinath. (Photo Source: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

A renowned and sound middle-order batsman from <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-rate-sachin-tendulkars-136-in-chennai-higher-than-sehwags-309-at-multan-saqlain-mushtaq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chennai</a>, Badrinath has been a domestic-cricket wonder. Having amassed over 10,000 runs in his first-class career, the 39-year-old has been a mainstay for Tamil Nadu since well over a decade.

The right-hander, known for his resilient temperament and solid technique with the bat, came into the national reckoning during 2007 after he piled loads of runs playing for India A. In spite of scoring heavily in the domestic circuit, Badri failed to make a mark and was resultantly dropped from the side only after 3 ODIs.

However, he got another chance in 2011 when India was touring West Indies and was scheduled to play a T20I at Trinidad. Grabbing the opportunity this time, Badrinath played a coming of age innings of 43 from 37 deliveries when India was reduced to 56 for 4. It was Badri’s knock which led India to post a respectable total of 159 for 6 and he was awarded as the Man of the Match as India defeated the hosts by 16 runs.

Surely much to his disappointment, he was dropped from the T20 team of India and was never considered again to represent his country at the international pedestal.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428680" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Irfan-Pathan.jpg" alt="Irfan Pathan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428680" class="wp-caption-text">Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 35-year-old all-rounder was considered the finest and most interesting talent when he made his way in the national side in 2003. With an adept skill of swinging the ball both ways, Pathan was more than handy with the bat. He made a ruckus in the international arena when he bamboozled the likes of Gilchrist and Ponting with his vicious swinging deliveries very much in his debut series.

The Baroda-based pacer flabbergasted with his pursuits incredibly in 2006 when he ripped off the Pakistani top-order by claiming a hat-trick en route which he not only became the first <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-kaif-tries-to-decipher-indian-crickets-mis-planning-with-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian </a>quick to bag a Test match hat-trick but also the first-ever to achieve the feat in the opening over of a Test match.

Despite his staggering abilities, his appearance continued to be sporadic in the team. Pathan played his last ODI in 2012 against Sri Lanka where he scalped a fifer, scored an unbeaten 29 with the bat, and won the Man of the Match award. Quite bewilderingly, this turned out to be his last ODI appearance in the Indian colours as he was dropped and never got a chance to play a 50-over match again.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428681" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Amit-Mishra.jpg" alt="Amit Mishra" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428681" class="wp-caption-text">Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The 37-year-old leg spinner was called into the national side long ago in 2003 for an ODI against South Africa. It took him as many as 5 years to make a place in the Indian Test side as he made his debut in 2008 whereas he played his first-ever T20I in 2013.

Mishra’s entry coincided with the peaks of the legendary Anil Kumble and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ricky-ponting-was-not-focussing-on-the-ball-but-getting-out-just-by-watching-my-face-harbhajan-singh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Harbhajan Singh</a>, therefore securing his place in the team was always an uphill task. He kept making appearances periodically and performed mostly up to the standard. New Zealand was touring India in 2016 for a 5-match ODI series when Mishra was given a chance and he did not disappoint.

In the last ODI of the series, the Kiwis were folded for a paltry 79 as the leggie stunned them by taking 5 wickets for just 18 runs. For this match-winning performance, he was declared the Man of the Match whereas his 15 wickets in the series also made him bag the Man of the Series award. Not even being the Man of the Series proved enough for Mishra as he was dropped from the side and was never given an opportunity to don the ‘Blue’ jersey again.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pragyan-Ojha.jpg" alt="Pragyan Ojha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428682" class="wp-caption-text">Pragyan Ojha. (Photo source: Twitter)</figcaption>

A prodigious left-arm orthodox, Ojha looked a promising prospect as he impressed continuously in the Ranji trophy. His hard work paid off and he finally made an appearance in the ODI side back in 2008 against Bangladesh. After a decent spell of a year, he was included in the Test side when Sri Lanka was touring India in the 2009-10 season.

Ojha stayed in the team in the years that followed as he kept performing decently with the ball. However, much like his counterpart Amit Mishra, he was not able to solidify his position in the team. Ojha was a part of the Indian squad when West Indies toured India in 2013. The series was special and heart-wrenching from every aspect as it was to be the last of legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/steve-bucknor-recalls-two-instances-when-his-error-of-judgement-led-to-sachin-tendulkars-dismissal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sachin Tendulkar’s </a>international career.

Ojha played a dominant role as he bagged his maiden 10-wicket haul in the Mumbai-Test and won the Man of the Match award for his performance. India won the Test comfortably in the end. However, Sachin’s last test unexpectedly proved to be Ojha’s last as well, and he was never considered again for a spot in the national team.

What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you won the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?
Living the life of a sportsperson is an overwhelming thought. Many look towards them and feel how blessed they are to be there, how great a lifestyle they possess, the kind of adulation and support they receive appears admirable, and there is a whole lot of other things. But how often do we look at what’s cloaked behind the dazzling stardom?
We stand and look at their heroics in awe, but we overlook their making. We admire the fizz around them, but we ignore what it took them to reach there. The immense labour and sweat, the many failures and fret, all of this is casually ignored. There’s more to our indifference as we also ignore how cruelly competitive lives do sports-persons have.
Much has changed in the world with time, but nothing more than the competition. We are told that hard-work wins you everything every time, but perhaps there are exceptions to it. What if you swim brilliantly well, but are never allowed to swim again? What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you win the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?
Let’s take a look at those unlucky talents, who had everything in them, who did everything right, and worked hard to earn their place, but were never given a chance again.
Here are such four players:
<h3>1. Subramaniam Badrinath</h3>
<figure id="attachment_384931" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-384931" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-384931" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Subramaniam-Badrinath-1.jpg" alt="Subramaniam Badrinath" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-384931" class="wp-caption-text">Subramaniam Badrinath. (Photo Source: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
A renowned and sound middle-order batsman from <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-rate-sachin-tendulkars-136-in-chennai-higher-than-sehwags-309-at-multan-saqlain-mushtaq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chennai</a>, Badrinath has been a domestic-cricket wonder. Having amassed over 10,000 runs in his first-class career, the 39-year-old has been a mainstay for Tamil Nadu since well over a decade.
The right-hander, known for his resilient temperament and solid technique with the bat, came into the national reckoning during 2007 after he piled loads of runs playing for India A. In spite of scoring heavily in the domestic circuit, Badri failed to make a mark and was resultantly dropped from the side only after 3 ODIs.
However, he got another chance in 2011 when India was touring West Indies and was scheduled to play a T20I at Trinidad. Grabbing the opportunity this time, Badrinath played a coming of age innings of 43 from 37 deliveries when India was reduced to 56 for 4. It was Badri’s knock which led India to post a respectable total of 159 for 6 and he was awarded as the Man of the Match as India defeated the hosts by 16 runs.
Surely much to his disappointment, he was dropped from the T20 team of India and was never considered again to represent his country at the international pedestal.

<h3>2. Irfan Pathan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428680" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428680" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-428680" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Irfan-Pathan.jpg" alt="Irfan Pathan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428680" class="wp-caption-text">Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 35-year-old all-rounder was considered the finest and most interesting talent when he made his way in the national side in 2003. With an adept skill of swinging the ball both ways, Pathan was more than handy with the bat. He made a ruckus in the international arena when he bamboozled the likes of Gilchrist and Ponting with his vicious swinging deliveries very much in his debut series.
The Baroda-based pacer flabbergasted with his pursuits incredibly in 2006 when he ripped off the Pakistani top-order by claiming a hat-trick en route which he not only became the first <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-kaif-tries-to-decipher-indian-crickets-mis-planning-with-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian </a>quick to bag a Test match hat-trick but also the first-ever to achieve the feat in the opening over of a Test match.
Despite his staggering abilities, his appearance continued to be sporadic in the team. Pathan played his last ODI in 2012 against Sri Lanka where he scalped a fifer, scored an unbeaten 29 with the bat, and won the Man of the Match award. Quite bewilderingly, this turned out to be his last ODI appearance in the Indian colours as he was dropped and never got a chance to play a 50-over match again.

<h3>3. Amit Mishra</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428681" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428681" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-428681" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Amit-Mishra.jpg" alt="Amit Mishra" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428681" class="wp-caption-text">Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The 37-year-old leg spinner was called into the national side long ago in 2003 for an ODI against South Africa. It took him as many as 5 years to make a place in the Indian Test side as he made his debut in 2008 whereas he played his first-ever T20I in 2013.
Mishra’s entry coincided with the peaks of the legendary Anil Kumble and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ricky-ponting-was-not-focussing-on-the-ball-but-getting-out-just-by-watching-my-face-harbhajan-singh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Harbhajan Singh</a>, therefore securing his place in the team was always an uphill task. He kept making appearances periodically and performed mostly up to the standard. New Zealand was touring India in 2016 for a 5-match ODI series when Mishra was given a chance and he did not disappoint.
In the last ODI of the series, the Kiwis were folded for a paltry 79 as the leggie stunned them by taking 5 wickets for just 18 runs. For this match-winning performance, he was declared the Man of the Match whereas his 15 wickets in the series also made him bag the Man of the Series award. Not even being the Man of the Series proved enough for Mishra as he was dropped from the side and was never given an opportunity to don the ‘Blue’ jersey again.

<h3>4. Pragyan Ojha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428682" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428682" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-428682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pragyan-Ojha.jpg" alt="Pragyan Ojha" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428682" class="wp-caption-text">Pragyan Ojha. (Photo source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
A prodigious left-arm orthodox, Ojha looked a promising prospect as he impressed continuously in the Ranji trophy. His hard work paid off and he finally made an appearance in the ODI side back in 2008 against Bangladesh. After a decent spell of a year, he was included in the Test side when Sri Lanka was touring India in the 2009-10 season.
Ojha stayed in the team in the years that followed as he kept performing decently with the ball. However, much like his counterpart Amit Mishra, he was not able to solidify his position in the team. Ojha was a part of the Indian squad when West Indies toured India in 2013. The series was special and heart-wrenching from every aspect as it was to be the last of legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/steve-bucknor-recalls-two-instances-when-his-error-of-judgement-led-to-sachin-tendulkars-dismissal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sachin Tendulkar’s </a>international career.
Ojha played a dominant role as he bagged his maiden 10-wicket haul in the Mumbai-Test and won the Man of the Match award for his performance. India won the Test comfortably in the end. However, Sachin’s last test unexpectedly proved to be Ojha’s last as well, and he was never considered again for a spot in the national team.

What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you won the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?
Living the life of a sportsperson is an overwhelming thought. Many look towards them and feel how blessed they are to be there, how great a lifestyle they possess, the kind of adulation and support they receive appears admirable, and there is a whole lot of other things. But how often do we look at what’s cloaked behind the dazzling stardom?
We stand and look at their heroics in awe, but we overlook their making. We admire the fizz around them, but we ignore what it took them to reach there. The immense labour and sweat, the many failures and fret, all of this is casually ignored. There’s more to our indifference as we also ignore how cruelly competitive lives do sports-persons have.
Much has changed in the world with time, but nothing more than the competition. We are told that hard-work wins you everything every time, but perhaps there are exceptions to it. What if you swim brilliantly well, but are never allowed to swim again? What if you fly exceptionally well, but are never allowed to fly again? And what if you win the Man of the Match in your last match, but are never given a chance to play again?
Let’s take a look at those unlucky talents, who had everything in them, who did everything right, and worked hard to earn their place, but were never given a chance again.
Here are such four players:
<h3>1. Subramaniam Badrinath</h3>
<figure id="attachment_384931" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-384931" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-384931" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Subramaniam-Badrinath-1.jpg" alt="Subramaniam Badrinath" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-384931" class="wp-caption-text">Subramaniam Badrinath. (Photo Source: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
A renowned and sound middle-order batsman from <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-rate-sachin-tendulkars-136-in-chennai-higher-than-sehwags-309-at-multan-saqlain-mushtaq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chennai</a>, Badrinath has been a domestic-cricket wonder. Having amassed over 10,000 runs in his first-class career, the 39-year-old has been a mainstay for Tamil Nadu since well over a decade.
The right-hander, known for his resilient temperament and solid technique with the bat, came into the national reckoning during 2007 after he piled loads of runs playing for India A. In spite of scoring heavily in the domestic circuit, Badri failed to make a mark and was resultantly dropped from the side only after 3 ODIs.
However, he got another chance in 2011 when India was touring West Indies and was scheduled to play a T20I at Trinidad. Grabbing the opportunity this time, Badrinath played a coming of age innings of 43 from 37 deliveries when India was reduced to 56 for 4. It was Badri’s knock which led India to post a respectable total of 159 for 6 and he was awarded as the Man of the Match as India defeated the hosts by 16 runs.
Surely much to his disappointment, he was dropped from the T20 team of India and was never considered again to represent his country at the international pedestal.

<h3>2. Irfan Pathan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428680" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428680" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428680" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Irfan-Pathan.jpg" alt="Irfan Pathan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428680" class="wp-caption-text">Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 35-year-old all-rounder was considered the finest and most interesting talent when he made his way in the national side in 2003. With an adept skill of swinging the ball both ways, Pathan was more than handy with the bat. He made a ruckus in the international arena when he bamboozled the likes of Gilchrist and Ponting with his vicious swinging deliveries very much in his debut series.
The Baroda-based pacer flabbergasted with his pursuits incredibly in 2006 when he ripped off the Pakistani top-order by claiming a hat-trick en route which he not only became the first <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-kaif-tries-to-decipher-indian-crickets-mis-planning-with-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian </a>quick to bag a Test match hat-trick but also the first-ever to achieve the feat in the opening over of a Test match.
Despite his staggering abilities, his appearance continued to be sporadic in the team. Pathan played his last ODI in 2012 against Sri Lanka where he scalped a fifer, scored an unbeaten 29 with the bat, and won the Man of the Match award. Quite bewilderingly, this turned out to be his last ODI appearance in the Indian colours as he was dropped and never got a chance to play a 50-over match again.

<h3>3. Amit Mishra</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428681" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428681" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428681" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Amit-Mishra.jpg" alt="Amit Mishra" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428681" class="wp-caption-text">Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The 37-year-old leg spinner was called into the national side long ago in 2003 for an ODI against South Africa. It took him as many as 5 years to make a place in the Indian Test side as he made his debut in 2008 whereas he played his first-ever T20I in 2013.
Mishra’s entry coincided with the peaks of the legendary Anil Kumble and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ricky-ponting-was-not-focussing-on-the-ball-but-getting-out-just-by-watching-my-face-harbhajan-singh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Harbhajan Singh</a>, therefore securing his place in the team was always an uphill task. He kept making appearances periodically and performed mostly up to the standard. New Zealand was touring India in 2016 for a 5-match ODI series when Mishra was given a chance and he did not disappoint.
In the last ODI of the series, the Kiwis were folded for a paltry 79 as the leggie stunned them by taking 5 wickets for just 18 runs. For this match-winning performance, he was declared the Man of the Match whereas his 15 wickets in the series also made him bag the Man of the Series award. Not even being the Man of the Series proved enough for Mishra as he was dropped from the side and was never given an opportunity to don the ‘Blue’ jersey again.

<h3>4. Pragyan Ojha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_428682" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-428682" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-428682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pragyan-Ojha.jpg" alt="Pragyan Ojha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-428682" class="wp-caption-text">Pragyan Ojha. (Photo source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
A prodigious left-arm orthodox, Ojha looked a promising prospect as he impressed continuously in the Ranji trophy. His hard work paid off and he finally made an appearance in the ODI side back in 2008 against Bangladesh. After a decent spell of a year, he was included in the Test side when Sri Lanka was touring India in the 2009-10 season.
Ojha stayed in the team in the years that followed as he kept performing decently with the ball. However, much like his counterpart Amit Mishra, he was not able to solidify his position in the team. Ojha was a part of the Indian squad when West Indies toured India in 2013. The series was special and heart-wrenching from every aspect as it was to be the last of legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/steve-bucknor-recalls-two-instances-when-his-error-of-judgement-led-to-sachin-tendulkars-dismissal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sachin Tendulkar’s </a>international career.
Ojha played a dominant role as he bagged his maiden 10-wicket haul in the Mumbai-Test and won the Man of the Match award for his performance. India won the Test comfortably in the end. However, Sachin’s last test unexpectedly proved to be Ojha’s last as well, and he was never considered again for a spot in the national team.

4 players who won Man of the Match in their last outing for India

Let’s take a look at those unlucky Indians, who had everything in them, who did everything right, and worked hard to earn their place, but were never given a chance again.