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Getting an Indian team call-up for any cricketer in India is a lot more difficult than debuting for another country. Because the game of bat and ball is so very popular in the sub-continent, almost everyone who instantly loves the sport wants to play for the Indian national team. Over the years, there have been many such instances where even the years of strenuous grind in first-class cricket have still not been enough for certain players to make their mark in the national team.
In this article, we will take a look at those 12 Indian players who scored the most first-class runs without playing tests for India.
Indian players who scored the most FC runs without playing tests for India
1. Amol Muzumdar | 11167 runs
Probably the unluckiest Indian ever to not play a test match for India. Amol Muzumdar, the domestic stalwart, scored 11,167 first-class runs while playing for Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and India-A teams.
The right-handed batter has played 171 first-class matches in his career. He was the number three batter for Shardashram English school when Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli had their world-record 664-run partnership.
Due to great Indian batting lineup during his era, the Mumbai batter never got to play for India.
2. Manoj Tiwary | 10195 Runs
Although Bengal-born player Manoj Tiwary had a great first-class record, he never played Tests for India. Tiwary was a key figure for Bengal, scoring 10,195 runs in 148 matches, with a top score of 303*.
He even returned from retirement to captain Bengal in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, finishing his career in a big win over Bihar.
Manoj featured for India in 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is for India. But he was not given a chance to represent India in tests.
3. Devendra Bundela | 10004 Runs
Devendra Bundela, the most capped cricketer in the history of the Ranji Trophy, had a phenomenal 23-season career in first-class cricket. Since making his first-class debut in 1995-96, Bundela emerged as the backbone of Madhya Pradesh’s batting. He finished with 10,004 runs in first-class cricket and 58 wickets in the bag in 2017.
Though Bundela couldn’t make it to India’s squad, the closest he came to earning an India call-up was when he toured the West Indies with the India A squad and was selected for the Board President’s XI against the touring New Zealanders in 1999.
4. Paras Dogra | 9996 Runs
Paras Dogra etched his name into the history books as he became the highest run-getter in the all-time list in the Ranji Trophy.
Dogra had previously played for India ‘A’ and represented his home state, Himachal Pradesh, before shifting to Pondicherry for the 2018-19 to 2023-24 seasons. The right-handed batter has accumulated an impressive 9,996 runs in 143 first-class matches.
5. Yashpal Singh | 9777 Runs
Yashpal Singh has played for Services in domestic cricket, where he boasted an average of over 60. He has been a prolific run-getter in the one-day format as well. He made his first-class debut against Delhi in 2001/02 and made two half-centuries against a strong bowling line-up of the opposition.
In his next match, he scored a double hundred, which included 10 sixes. Yashpal finished with 9777 first-class runs to his name while playing 134 matches.
Yashpal was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first few seasons of the IPL, but was later signed by the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011.
6. Faiz Fazal | 9184 Runs
Faiz Fazal was one of the most highly talented Indian cricketers to not get enough chances in the side. His only appearance at the highest level was against Zimbabwe in 2016. In the only ODI he played, Fazal scored an unbeaten 55*(61) and impressed everyone. Unfortunately, he never played for India again due to age not being on his side and a lack of backing.
Fazal played 138 matches in First-Class cricket and scored 9,184 runs at an average of 41.00. Additionally, he was a useful part-time bowler and claimed 23 and 7 wickets in First-Class and List A cricket, respectively.
7. Priyank Panchal | 8856 Runs
Panchal's cricket career spans an impressive 127 First-Class matches, during which he accumulated 8,856 runs with an average of 45.18, including 29 centuries and 34 fifties.
Panchal’s red-ball exploits earned him a place in the India A side, which he captained in several matches. He received a couple of Test call-ups, coming closest to a debut during India's 2021-22 South Africa tour when he was named a replacement for the injured Rohit Sharma.
The other call-up was when he was announced as one of the back-up openers alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran in the 2021 home series against England. However, Panchal never got picked in the India XI.
8. Ankit Bawne | 8289 Runs
Ankit Bawne has had an intriguing career. He made his first-class debut at 15, in 2007-08, and established himself as a regular in the Maharashtra side in three years. Since 2010-11, he has never averaged less than 45 in a Ranji Trophy season. Bawne has 8289 runs in 123 first-class matches.
Ankit Bawne also featured in India A‘s lineup during the recently concluded tour of England. Although he wasn’t able to put together big knocks.
9. Saurabh Tiwary | 8076 Runs
Saurabh Tiwary's legacy in Jharkhand cricket is nothing short of legendary. With an impressive tally of 8076 first-class runs, 4050 List A runs, and 3454 T20 runs, he left behind a rich cricketing legacy that will be cherished for years to come.
Talking about his international career, the southpaw collected 49 runs in the three ODIs that he played for the country in 2010. But he never played test cricket for India.
10. Manish Pandey | 7823 Runs
In one night, Manish Pandey went from being Karnataka’s next big Ranji hope to entering the record books. Life after that hasn’t been exactly smooth for the right-hander as he witnessed a mixed run of form in the domestic circuit.
Pandey smashed 7823 runs in 113 first-class matches. Pandey had a heartbreaking end to the 2009-10 season, when he almost took Karnataka to victory over Mumbai in the finals of the Ranji Trophy. However, his excellent 144 in the fourth innings was not enough as Karnataka fell short by 6 runs.
Having performed well in India’s tour of Zimbabwe proved that he has the potential to succeed at the highest level. He was picked in the Board President’s XI to play against South Africa in early 2010, and scored a pleasing 43, but fell when he looked good for more.
11. Abhimanyu Easwaran | 7885 Runs
Despite being one of the most consistent performers in domestic cricket, Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran has been constantly rejected from Team India’s Test squad. The former India A captain, who has 27 centuries to his name in first-class cricket, has carried drinks for the national team on multiple occasions but is yet to make his long-awaited international debut.
Easwaran’s domestic numbers highlight his consistency. In 104 first-class matches, he has scored 7,885 runs at an impressive average of 48.67, with 27 centuries and 31 fifties.
In List A cricket, he has 3,857 runs from 89 matches at an average of 47.03, including nine centuries and 23 half-centuries. Yet, despite these staggering statistics, the wait for his India debut continues.
12. Mithun Manhas | 7691 Runs
A middle-order batter, Mithun Manhas, belonged to a generation when Indian cricket was dominated by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman. Despite being one of the consistent performers for Delhi in his long domestic career, Manhas couldn’t break into the Indian team, often proving that he was one of the many cricketers born in the wrong era.
Manhas has played 124 First-Class matches and scored 7691 runs. He also featured in the IPL for teams like the Delhi Daredevils, the Pune Warriors, and the Chennai Super Kings.
13. Sheldon Jackson | 7283 Runs
Sheldon Jackson had a successful domestic career. He was an integral part of Saurashtra winning the Ranji Trophy twice, in 2019/20 and 2022/23. He also won the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-over tournament twice, once as a rookie in 2007/08 and then as a senior pro in the 2022/23 season. He was Saurashtra’s leading run-getter in the 2019/20 Ranji triumph.
The middle-order batter has hung up his boots after scoring 7283 runs in 106 First Class matches at an average of 45.80, including 21 centuries and 39 fifties.