There are many gifted players who were never given the chance to captain the Indian cricket team, even though certain players grow to be associated with the position. The following well-known figures never wore the captain's hat even though they made outstanding contributions:
VVS Laxman was a pleasure to watch; he was one of the most graceful batters of his period. Bowlers had no way of dealing with him because of his perfect timing and ability to play strokes all around the wicket. Laxman averaged 45.97 in playing 132 Tests for India, amassing 8782 runs. Moreover, he scored 6996 runs in 197 One-Day Internationals for India. Laxman was a great talent and experienced player, yet he never captained India in any capacity.
A truly effective and talented all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh could not only bat and bowl but also field well and was one of the key components of the triumph. Despite performing brilliantly in the matches and defining his authority in world cricket during the 2011 World Cup, he could never captain the team.
Virender Sehwag became famous for his aggressive attitude on the field and record-breaking centuries. His aggressive approach and hard-hitting made him a favorite among Indian fans but he was never captain of the Indian team.
An aggressive swing bowler, Zaheer Khan was one of India’s main fast bowlers. However, his expertise in sealing the opponent’s fate by taking important wickets was always effective, but he could never lead the Indian side.
Despite having a stellar career for Team India, Harbhajan Singh was never chosen as captain. In reality, in his long career, he only joined the leadership group once. In the 2011 ODI series against the West Indies, Harbhajan was Suresh Raina's deputy. After the WI tour, he became an erratic member of Team India, coming and going from the team. Upon retiring, Harbhajan amassed 417 Test, 269 ODI, and 25 T20I wickets.
These are only a handful of the gifted Indian cricketers who were never given the chance to captain their country. Even though being captain is frequently seen as the highest point in a player's career, captains have made significant contributions to Indian cricket. Over the years, their abilities, commitment, and enthusiasm have been crucial to the team's success.