5 players fans always want to see in the Indian team despite their poor form

In the massive pool of cricketers who want to play for their country, the majority consists of those who can’t keep up with the pace of the game, and make way for better performers, despite having tremendous records and achievements.The same has happened with some of the enchanting players from the Indian cricket in the last few years. They came and ruled the sport in the way they wanted and gave the team some unachievable feats. But, the game changes. Heroics of one day are almost irrelevant a few days on.Cricket keeps evolving, but fans’ mind sticks with some particular players, on the basis of some previous performance, and they always wish to see them in the national team despite their inconsistency and rotten form.Following is a list of such players:

#1 Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan has been one of the fast bowlers India has ever had, making the bowling attack more potent and fruitful. He provided much-needed pace and swing which other Indian bowlers lacked.

In addition, he acted as the leader for the bowling unit to guide the newcomers and blend them into the team.

Zaheer reached the zenith of his career when he bagged the most number of wickets in the 2011 World Cup and helped the team to become champions.

Indian fast bowling has been in an unstable mode recently. It needs to be revitalised and re-energised. And it needs a mentor like Zaheer Khan to do it, but it perhaps should be admitted that Zak has done all he could have done for India, and more.

#2 Irfan Pathan

Whenever Indian bowlers struggle in any match, the player whose name repetitively comes on the discussion table is Irfan Pathan, the bowler who troubled the batsmen swinging the ball both ways.

Irfan was magical. His swing, his pace, his zip, his hat-trick in the first over of the 2006 Karachi Test, one of the most sensational moments in Indian Cricket – Irfan appeared to be what India had been looking for, and have been looking for ever after – a worthy successor to Kapil Dev. But, it was not destined to be.

Irfan's form started sinking and he was ousted from the team. He has kept coming back to the team but never got a permanent place.

Time is on Irfan’s side, but the ball has refused to swing for a long time now. The thrill is gone!

#3 Gautam Gambhir

When it is about Gautam Gambhir, he is the man to be counted for the finals. He played a crucial role in both the World Cup finals which India won in 2007 and 2011 respectively. Despite such achievements, it has been almost a year now when he last played for India.

Gambhir was truly recognised as a class batsman when he played an uncharacteristic innings against New Zealand to save a Test match in 2009. His opening partner, Virender Sehwag, referred him as the second wall of the Indian team. Such accomplishments brought him the number one ICC rank among batsmen in the same year.

The Indian team has struggled to find a left-hand opening batsman with the same caliber as Gambhir in the last few years. Currently, Gambhir has been working hard under the guidance of Justin Langer to revive his international career.

Is Gambhir’s Australian sojourn his way of walking into the sunset – ever defiant?

#4 Virender Sehwag

Fearless is the word which fairly describes Virender Sehwag, one of the finest opening batsmen India ever had. Today, at the age of 36, he doesn’t find a place in the Indian team which is quite a disappointing thing for his fans.

It never mattered for him whether it was a Test, an ODI or a T20 match. He knew only to smash the leather all around the ground. Who else would want to take the risk of lofting the ball with only a few runs left to a century, double century or even a triple century? Only Sehwag can do something like this.

Viru still holds the record of the fastest Test triple century which he scored against the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini. He missed his third triple century by mere 7 runs which could have taken him past Sir Don Bradman for the most number of Test triple centuries.

Age has slowed down the brilliant hand-eye co-ordination Sehwag once had, the basis on which his game thrived. Consequently, Sehwag is no more a part of the India team setup.

But, love for cricket makes him optimistic. “I am still practising. I am working hard on my skills and cricket. Hopefully I will get one more chance before I retire,” said Sehwag.

#5 Yuvraj Singh

It was none other than Yuvraj Singh whose fabulous performance made India World champions in both T20s and ODIs. He has been the series winner on many occasions for the team. Now the same team has closed the doors on him.

Those six sixes to Stuart Broad. The unbelievable run-chase in the Natwest-series final, 2002. Such many heartwarming incidents have been directly connected to the left-handed batsman, Yuvraj Singh. His ultimate commitment towards the game was displayed in the World Cup 2011 when he played ignoring his own deteriorating health conditions.

It has been a hard time for Yuvi trying to make a comeback to the Indian team. He tried his luck in IPL 2015, but he couldn’t get back into the groove. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina have fortified their place for the middle order which definitely has reduced Yuvi’s chances.

However, it’s difficult to fill in the place of such a talented player and his fans argue that he still can make a comeback.