Indian cricketers who played just 1 T20I

Representing one's country is the greatest honour for any sportsperson. A few are lucky enough to be able to do that multiple times for a sustained period of time while others get limited opportunities.

Here is a list of the eleven Indian players who have featured in only 1 T20I. Apart from the ones mentioned, Sanju Samson and Washington Sundar have also played one twenty over game for India, but since they are young, they still stand a chance to go on to represent the country in the future.

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Sachin Tendulkar

The man who holds more records than anyone else to have ever played the game, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar played just one T20 international before realising that the format demanded the exuberance of youth and thus made way for youngsters.

He featured in India’s inaugural T20I, against South Africa in Johannesburg on December 1, 2006. Opening the batting with captain Virender Sehwag, Sachin hit a couple of boundaries in his effort of 10 runs from 12 balls.

He also turned his arm over and in the 2.3 overs that he bowled, accounted for the wicket of Justin Kemp. India went on to win the match by 6 wickets.

Subramaniam Badrinath

Badrinath was a successful batsman in the IPL for CSK

The Tamil Nadu batsman was a prolific run scorer in the domestic circuit but could not make an impact in international cricket due to lack of opportunities.

He got his only chance of representing India in T20s on 4th June, 2011 at Port of Spain against Windies. He scored a 37-ball 45 that helped India beat the home team by 16 runs. He is the only Indian player to have won the Man of the Match award in his only T20I.

Rahul Dravid

Dravid made his only T20I outing exciting for the fans to watch

Harsha Bhogle once said, “You ask Rahul Dravid to walk on fire for the team and he’ll do it.” When he was asked to feature in a one-off T20I against England on India’s forgettable tour in 2011, the most selfless servant of Indian cricket obliged.

In his 21-ball stay at the crease, Dravid scored 31 runs. No Indian fan can forget the pasting he gave Samit Patel as he smashed him for three consecutive sixes, making the Manchester crowd come alive. India ended up losing the match as England chased down the total of 165 comfortably.

Dinesh Mongia

Mongia's defection to the rebel ICL took him out of contention for the Indian team

Like Tendulkar, left-handed middle-order batsman Dinesh Mongia also featured only in India’s inaugural T20I against South Africa at Johannesburg. The then 29-year-old Mongia came in at number 3 and faced 45 balls for his 38 runs, hitting 4 boundaries and a six.

His effort might seem sluggish, but it was the need of the hour at that point in the match and helped lay a platform for Dinesh Karthik to come and capitalise on.

Parvez Rasool

The only cricketer from J&K to play for India

Rasool, the first cricketer to represent India from the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir, got to play his only T20I against the visiting Englishmen on the Republic Day of 2017 in Kanpur under the captaincy of Virat Kohli.

He bowled his full quota of four overs and his off-spin accounted for the wicket of England captain Eoin Morgan. He could only score 5 runs with bat in hand though. India could not defend their total of 147 runs and they went on to lose the match.

Rishi Dhawan

Rishi Dhawan owed his entry into the Indian team to his success with Mumbai Indians

Himachal Pradesh seam bowling all-rounder Rishi Dhawan got an India call-up after consistently delivering for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. However, he could represent his country in only one T20I, against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on 18th June, 2016.

His bowling spell was an expensive one as he conceded 42 runs in his four overs and could pick up just one wicket. When he came out with the bat in hand, he managed just a single from the two balls he faced as India lost a close match by 2 runs.

Pawan Negi

Pawan Negi was acquired for a whopping Rs 8.5 crore in IPL 2016

Delhi born Negi rose to fame when he was picked up for a head-scratching Rs 8.5 crore by Delhi Daredevils for the 2016 season of the IPL. A slow left-arm orthodox bowler and someone who can contribute with the bat in the lower order, Negi got to play his only T20I against UAE at Dhaka in the Asia Cup in March 2016.

He bowled three overs and came up with economical figures of 1/16 as UAE was bundled out for a paltry 81. His batting services were not required as India cruised to victory, winning the match by 9 wickets. Not only has he been overlooked by the India selectors since then, his stocks in the IPL have also taken a dip.

Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma played just one T20I and Test match for India

A leg-spinner who represents Railways in the Ranji Trophy, 30-year-old Karn Sharma forced his way into the national side on the back of outstanding performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. He featured in the only T20I India played on their tour to England in 2014, in Birmingham.

Karn bowled an effective spell of leg spin as he gave away just 28 runs in his quota of four overs and picked up the wicket of Joe Root. However, he could not save India from a defeat as they fell short by 3 runs.

Sreenath Aravind

Aravind took a pasting in his only T20I appearance

The left arm pacer was a core member of the Karnataka team that won the historic treble of the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in two consecutive seasons. He also had an impressive IPL season that earned him an entry into the national T20 squad.

He featured in the T20I game against South Africa that took place in Dharamsala on October 2, 2015. In what was a high scoring encounter, Aravind bowled 3.4 overs and went for 44 runs while he could take just one wicket, that of opposition captain Faf du Plessis. India lost the match by 7 wickets.

Sudeep Tyagi

Sudeep's stint at CSK served as his ticket to the Indian team

Sudeep Tyagi was one of the many players who went through the Chennai Super Kings route to reach the Indian team. He played a single T20I match, the one against Sri Lanka in Mohali on 12th December, 2009.

Indian bowlers were taken to the cleaners as the Lankans piled up 206 runs on the board. Sudeep bowled two unsuccessful overs for 21 runs that were enough for his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to lose faith in him. India though won the match as birthday boy Yuvraj Singh scripted what was to be the then highest successful run chase in a T20I.

Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik was an intelligent cricketer

Murali Kartik, many would agree, did not do justice to his potential. The thinking cricketer that he was, he should have gone on to represent his country in more than just 8 Tests, 37 ODIs and a solitary T20I. That T20I was against Australia in Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on October 20, 2007.

This was the first T20I to take place in India, a country where T20 followership was on the rise after the ICC WT20 that they had won. Australia scored 166 runs batting first and the spinners played an important role in containing them. Kartik went wicketless but gave away just 27 runs in his spell. India went on to win the match comfortably.