Most first-class appearances by Indians before national call-up

#1 Dilip Doshi - 122 matches

Dilip Doshi is believed to have lost his place in the national side owing to an unstable relationship with Sunil Gavaskar

Dilip Doshi was a gifted left-arm spinner with supreme control on his off-breaks, the kind of bowling which earned him great reputation in county cricket in England, where he represented three different teams. But the great Bishan Singh Bedi - part of the famous spin trio also including Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Erapalli Prasanna - kept Doshi's international appearances in check, with a Test cap coming his way only after 122 first-class games, a record most for a cricketer from his country.

But he did play 33 Tests for India after his debut against Australia in 1979, with the last one coming four years later against Pakistan. Averaging 30.72 with the ball was always acceptable, but critics claimed that Doshi's unstable relationship with the far more established and respected Sunil Gavaskar cost him his place in the national side, which Gavaskar led in two separate stints.