5 Players who didn't get enough chances under MS Dhoni

The 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy were all won by MS Dhoni, who is regarded as the best limited-overs captain. In 2010, Dhoni also led the Indian Test squad to the top of the ICC rankings.

In the midst of all of this, Dhoni, who resigned as captain of India in early 2017, occasionally failed to provide certain players with adequate opportunity. When many quality Indian all-rounders were never given the long rope by the selectors, Dhoni's excessive reliance on familiar but underperforming players might be questioned. Let's examine five unfortunate Indian cricket players who did not get enough opportunities during the Dhoni era.

1. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel participated in all three of the knockout games and was a vital member of India's 2011 World Cup-winning team. But after just two ODI series following the World Cup, against England and the West Indies, when he performed admirably overall, Dhoni dismissed Patel, and he was never given another chance. 

It is difficult to comprehend why a pacer who developed into a very accurate stump-to-stump bowler did not play for India after 2011, at the age of just thirty.

2. Robin Uthappa

A member of the team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup, Robin Uthappa was skilled at scoring runs at the top of the order. Uthappa, a part-time wicketkeeper and dynamic hitter, never really had a long stint under Dhoni. 

He played just 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is, despite having finishing ability and being in strong form during IPL seasons. Uthappa's opportunities were frequently restricted because Dhoni was the team's main keeper, and there were other top-order batsmen.

3. Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan was once heralded as India's Wasim Akram, but his swing, speed, and unique ability to contribute with the bat propelled him to prominence on the global stage. He had fewer opportunities under Dhoni, though. Even if injuries were a factor, there was a discernible hesitancy to frequently include him in the starting lineup, particularly during important competitions.

Despite subsequent impressive domestic and IPL cricket performances, Pathan last participated in an ODI and a T20I in 2012. He could have been a handy pace all-rounder down the order for India.

4. Varun Aaron

Due to his strong domestic performances, the former Indian cricket player from Jamshedpur, Vaun Aaron, was able to be selected for the national team in 2011; however, injuries were a major factor in his downfall. 

Due to the strong performances of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Aaron also struggled to establish himself on the Indian team. Varun has played for the nation in nine Test matches and an equal number of One-Day Internationals. At one point, he was thought to be India's fastest bowler.

5. Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary is arguably the most emblematic name in this category, and his career is a quintessential example of "what could have been." Tiwary, a brilliant right-handed batsman from Bengal, was benched for the very next series after scoring a game-winning century against the West Indies in 2011. 

Even though he was a reliable player in domestic cricket, he only participated in 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is under Dhoni. Despite his strong performances, his exclusion baffled many and is still a contentious issue among his supporters. After a lengthy period of inactivity, he finally declared his retirement last year.

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