Most Underrated Indian Cricketers of All Time: Top 10 Unsung Heroes

Everyone knows Tendulkar, Dhoni, Kohli and Bumrah. But Indian cricket has always had players whose numbers or match-winning moments deserved far more credit than they got, because they played in the shadow of superstars, were dropped too soon, or did their best work in domestic cricket.

Quick answer: the most underrated Indian cricketers include Wasim Jaffer, the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history; Amol Muzumdar, who made over 11,000 first-class runs without ever playing for India; Ajit Agarkar, India's third-highest ODI wicket-taker; Cheteshwar Pujara, the hero of India's first Test series win in Australia; and Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra and Ambati Rayudu.

What makes a cricketer "underrated"?

An underrated cricketer is one whose performances were better than the attention, selection chances or credit they received. Usually it happens for one of three reasons:

• They played in the same era as legends, so their good days were overshadowed.

• They were dropped or ignored despite strong numbers.

• Their best work came in domestic cricket, the IPL or in quiet, unglamorous roles.

Also read: Why Is MS Dhoni Hated? 5 Real Reasons Some Fans Criticise Him

Top 10 underrated Indian cricketers at a glance

1. Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer is the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history and the first batter to cross 11,000 Ranji runs. He also became the first player to appear in 150 Ranji matches. Across his first-class career he scored more than 19,000 runs.

For India, though, he played only 31 Tests and scored 1,944 runs, including two double centuries, one of them 212 against the West Indies in Antigua in 2006. Late in his career he helped Vidarbha win their first Ranji titles. He retired in 2020.

2. Ajit Agarkar

Most fans today know Agarkar as India's chief selector, a role he has held since July 2023. Fewer remember how good he was. He took 288 ODI wickets, the third-most by an Indian after Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, and reached 50 ODI wickets in just 23 matches, a world record at the time.

He could bat, too. He hit a 21-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in 2000 and scored an unbeaten 109 at Lord's in 2002, batting at No. 8. His 6 for 41 at Adelaide in 2003 set up a famous Test win in Australia.

3. Suresh Raina

Raina is remembered as "Mr IPL" and was the first player to reach 5,000 IPL runs. But his India career is often undersold. He was the first Indian to score centuries in all three international formats, one of the best fielders India has produced, and a key part of the 2011 World Cup win, including an unbeaten 34 in the quarter-final against Australia.

4. Irfan Pathan

Irfan's left-arm swing made him a star as a teenager. In the Karachi Test of 2006, he took a hat-trick in the first over of the match, something no other bowler has done in Test cricket. He was also Player of the Match in the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan.

He was a genuine all-rounder who sometimes batted at No. 3 for India. Injuries and loss of pace cut his international career short, which is why many fans feel he never reached his full potential.

5. Parthiv Patel

Parthiv made his Test debut at Trent Bridge in 2002 aged 17 years and 153 days, making him the youngest wicketkeeper in Test history. With MS Dhoni arriving soon after, he spent most of his career as a back-up, playing only occasionally for India.

His finest hour came in domestic cricket. As Gujarat captain in the 2016-17 Ranji final against Mumbai, he scored 90 and then 143 in the chase to win Gujarat their first Ranji Trophy. He retired in December 2020.

6. Amol Muzumdar

Muzumdar may be the most underrated of them all. He scored 260 on his first-class debut for Mumbai, a world record for a debut at the time, and finished with 11,167 first-class runs and 30 centuries. Yet he was never picked for India's Test or ODI team, in an era packed with great middle-order batters.

His story finally got the ending it deserved. As head coach of the India women's team, he guided them to their first ICC Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025.

7. Cheteshwar Pujara

In an era of fast scoring, Pujara's patience was often mocked. But his 521 runs in the 2018-19 series in Australia (three hundreds, and more than 1,250 balls faced) were the main reason India won their first Test series there. He finished with 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.60 and retired from all Indian cricket in August 2025.

Also read: Virat Kohli's 82* vs Pakistan: The Commentary Lines Fans Still Remember

8. Ishant Sharma

Ishant took 311 Test wickets in 105 Tests, yet he is rarely named alongside India's great fast bowlers. His 7 for 74 at Lord's in 2014 won India a Test in England, and he was a steady leader of the attack in the years when India became a strong touring side.

9. Amit Mishra

Mishra is the only bowler to take three IPL hat-tricks, and he finished with 174 IPL wickets. For India, he took 5 for 71 on Test debut against Australia and averaged about 23.6 in ODIs, but he played only 22 Tests and 36 ODIs because he competed with spinners like Kumble, Harbhajan, Ashwin and Jadeja. He retired in September 2025.

10. Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu averaged over 47 in 55 ODIs, an outstanding number for a middle-order batter. He was widely expected to bat at No. 4 at the 2019 World Cup but was left out of the squad, one of the most debated selection calls of recent years. In the IPL, he won multiple titles with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

Why these players matter

These cricketers show that "underrated" does not mean "not good enough". Many were stuck behind legends; others did their best work away from the TV spotlight. Some of their records, like Jaffer's Ranji runs and Mishra's IPL hat-tricks, may stand for a long time.

If you enjoy debates like this, read our pick of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and our Sachin vs Virat comparison.

FAQs

Who is the most underrated cricketer in India?

There is no single official answer, but Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar are named most often. Jaffer is the Ranji Trophy's highest run-scorer and Muzumdar scored over 11,000 first-class runs without ever playing for India.

Who are the top 10 underrated Indian cricketers?

A strong list is Wasim Jaffer, Ajit Agarkar, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Amol Muzumdar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra and Ambati Rayudu.

Is Ajit Agarkar underrated?

Yes. Many fans know him only as chief selector, but he took 288 ODI wickets, the third-most by an Indian, and scored a Test hundred at Lord's.

Why is Amol Muzumdar called the greatest player never to play for India?

He scored 11,167 first-class runs with 30 hundreds but never got a Test or ODI cap, mainly because India's middle order at the time had Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman.

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