Courtesy: BCCI
Whether on account of on-field struggles, inconsistencies, struggles with application of talent or on other accounts such as injuries and falling out of favour with the team with new, more engaging talents coming through, there've been several careers that didn't quite go a long way than what they may themsleves have envisaged.
This is the painful story of modern competitive sports where nothing is certain and uncertainty is the order of the day.
So which leading Indian cricketers' careers ended a bit too soon or unexpectedly?
Indian Cricketers whose careers ended prematurely
Irfan Pathan
He took a hat-trick against Pakistan in Pakistan and dismantled their top order to become a household name. In 2006, Irfan was the Pathan of cricket.
He didn't quiver with a shred of doubt when competing against mighty Indian opponents such as the Australians and the English. He could swing it and reverse swing it, on occasions as well.
But injuries got the better of him and then there were the lean patches.
Pathan was able to play only a few games for India, his final One-Dayer happening in 2012. And that was that.
India lost a great talent on account of inefficiencies and injuries someone who has to his name 301 international wickets. What a loss given Pathan, who commentates and expertly too, is all of 40 at present.
Vinod Kambli
In just seven Test matches, this batter was able to score two double centuries. Now, if that is not exciting or adventurous, then what is?
A breathtaking ability to score runs and the hunger to grow big, Vinod Kambli had that and more. Unfortunately, his was also a career that maybe didn't function on the love for rigor, did it?
His last Test happened when he was 23 years of age and his final one-day appearance for India happened in the year 2000. Inconsistent outings with the bat and then, some fitness concerns also hampered what could and should have been a great journey.
Praveen Kumar
An honest, simple and uncomplicated cricketer, Praveen Kumar was actually, lest it is forgotten, in the 2011 World Cup squad of the eventual winners, India. His ability to move the ball and trap batters out in front came to India's fruition on challenging overseas tours, such as the one to England, circa 2011, the series most famous for Dravid playing like a wall as he so often did.
But the incredibly talented Praveen Kumar didn't have the kind of mental toughness or the consistency required to perform consistently at the highest echelons of the game or after recovering from injuries.
The last two Test wickets for him in an Indian shirt were of Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. Imagine his level of talent. But his ability to overcome indifferent from and even volatile temper are known to have caused a dent to his otherwise promising career. And that was that.
S. Sreesanth
The 2007 T20 World Cup and then, the 2011 ODI World Cup, S. Sreesanth, was a great contributor to those wins and his handy white-ball contributions for India in big contests against the Aussies and even sublime red-ball form when touring South Africa earned him the plaudits.
But in the latter part of his career, circa 2013, Sreesanth's world collided with the spot-fixing scandal in a prominent IPL season.
After that, the talent caught guilty of unbecoming behaviour experienced a jaded career from that point onward.
He fell out of flavour with the selectors and with his intent to serve the game being questioned, it wasn't a great time at all for Sreesanth. But who did he have to blame apart from his own self?
Moreover, talent alone doesn't lead you to far off places or doesn't guarantee a longer or checkered run for you. Application of that talent and real circumstances in which it is forged determines the course of your journey. And at times, the stroke of good luck also takes you longer than expected! Probably these careers suffered on that count.
