Updated: 19 December 2021
The test format is regarded as the best form of cricket, where the real temperament of a player is checked. For the last few years, we have seen players in test cricket performing up to the expectation, but when it comes to the IPL, they are ignored.
We all know that IPL is a T20 format, where the survival of the fittest and best players matters. Although T20 demands quick runs, we should also look at the stability aspect, where someone who is not so attacking still can be a valuable asset to the team in the middle-order.
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He can act as a glue to the batting order, where other players can express themselves and play attacking cricket.
Let us look at a few players who have performed exceptionally well in test cricket, but they have failed to be noticed by the IPL franchises.
Joe Root
Talking about the foreign players, who can forget Joe Root? The England test captain Joe Root is one of the best test players of the current generation. He has been in subline form over the years playing for England in the test cricket.
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In 200 innings, Joe Root has scored 9278 runs, at an average of 49.88, scoring 23 centuries. However, the IPL franchises have overlooked him entirely in the IPL. Ironically, Joe Root has failed to get even a contract in any IPL edition whatsoever.
Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne is the current test sensation in world cricket. The Australian middle-order batsman was the highest run-scorer in the world test championship 2019-2021. He has scored 1885 runs in 31 innings at an average of 60.8. His highest score in test cricket is 215 runs. In spite of such a stellar record in Test cricket, Marnus Labuschagne has failed to get an IPL contract.
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Apart from the players mentioned above, there have been a few more exceptional talents, such as James Anderson, Adil Rashid, Hashim Amla, Stever Smith, to name a few, who have either failed to get an IPL contract or have got the opportunity in very few matches for their respective franchises.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the best test batsmen India has ever produced. After the FAB4, we have Pujara, who has made a name for himself in the middle-order for team India over the years. Pujara has been phenomenal in the test format. He has accumulated 6494 runs in 152 innings at an average of 45.4, including 18 centuries.
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However, the IPL franchises have overlooked his good performance in test matches. He has managed to play just 30 matches in the IPL, scoring 390 runs at a strike rate of less than 100. In fact, the dependable test batsmen from India has not got a chance after 2014 in IPL.
Ajinkya Rahane
Like Cheteshwar Pujara, Rahane has also been a regular feature in test cricket’s Indian scheme of things. He is the current vice-captain of the Indian test team. Rahane takes time to settle, and once he gets used to the conditions, he becomes very lethal with the bat.
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In 133 innings, Rahahe has scored 4791 runs at an average of 39.60, including 12 centuries. Ajinkya Rahane has got a minimal opportunity in the IPL format in the last 2 seasons. Overall, he has appeared in 151 IPL matches, scoring 3941 runs at an average of 121.33.
Hanuma Vihari
The 5th player on this list is Hanuma Vihari. He has been a regular member of the Indian test squad for the last two years. Hanuma Vihari is a pure class batsman who plays the ball according to its merit.
In the 21 test innings, Hanuma Vihari has scored 624 runs, including 4 half-centuries and 1 century. After his debut in the IPL 2013th season, Hanuma Vihari has got to play in just 24 matches, where he has scored 284 runs at a strike rate of 88.47.
