From Heroes to Forgotten: What Happened to India’s Test Warriors?

From Heroes to Forgotten: What Happened to India’s Test Warriors?

In 2020-21, Team India produced one of the greatest performances in Test cricket history in Australia. But while stars like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill became household names, some of the warriors from that unforgettable tour gradually disappeared from the Indian Test setup.

What happened to T Natarajan, Navdeep Saini and Hanuma Vihari?

T Natarajan travelled to Australia as a net bowler but went on to create history, becoming the first Indian cricketer to make his international debut in all three formats on the same tour. His Test debut came at the Gabba, where an injury-hit Indian team stunned Australia.

Navdeep Saini arrived as one of India's exciting fast-bowling prospects. With serious pace and the ability to trouble batters, Saini looked capable of becoming an important part of India's pace attack. But injuries, competition and inconsistent opportunities changed the course of his international career.

Then there is Hanuma Vihari — one of the heroes of the legendary Sydney Test draw in 2021. Battling injury, Vihari stayed at the crease alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and helped India survive an extraordinary final day.

So why did these players struggle to establish themselves in Team India after becoming heroes of the historic Australia tour?

Was it injuries?
Was it intense competition for places?
Was it form and selection strategy?
Or were their careers simply victims of how quickly Indian cricket moved forward?

This video explores the rise, struggles and journeys of T Natarajan, Navdeep Saini and Hanuma Vihari, and revisits their contribution to India's unforgettable 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign.

Watch till the end to discover the story behind some of India's forgotten cricket heroes.

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