TOP 5 INDIAN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME: NO. 5

5. RAHUL DRAVID

Born in Indore at 11 Jan 1973, Rahul Dravid is known for his perfect batting technique. He is better known by a couple of nicknames, the one “Jammy” he earned for endorsing the Kissan company and the other one which is more famous is “The Wall”, which he got for his rock solid defense.

Well what can I say about his career, with more than 12000 runs in test cricket and another 10000+ in ODIs, this right handed batsman’s performance stats have the word dependable written all over it. ICC honored this former captain with the Player of the Year award and the Test Player of the Year in 2004.

His contributions to the team does not end in batting, he has served the role of wicket keeper for many matches for India and holds the record for most catches in test cricket -202. Occasionally he is known to take up the bowl and has 5 international wickets under his belt. In domestic cricket, he has played for Scotland and for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

4. ANIL KUMBLE

This bengalurian right arm wrist leg spinner born on 17 October 1970 can be said as the best bowler India ever had. There are few bowlers in the game who are not at a disadvantage on any surface and Anil Kumble is one among them.

He is one of the two bowlers in the history of the game to take 10 wickets in an innings in test cricket and he is also one among the only three bowlers to have taken more than 600 test wickets. Oh! I forgot to mention about the ODI stats, in 271 matches he has picked up 337 wickets.

Having saved the day more than once in the tail end, this former test captain is a fairly good right handed batsman. In domestic cricket he has played for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Surrey and for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

3. SUNIL GAVASKAR

Born on 10 July 1949, this right handed batsman was known for his ability to pile up runs. He is the first batsman in the game to pass 10000 runs and 30 centuries in test cricket. His ability to face fast bowlers makes him apart from the other batsmen of his time.

Being one of the best opening batsman of India, Sunil Gavasker’s 10122 runs and 34 centuries in test cricket was a unbeaten record in the cricketing world for almost two decades until a legend surpassed it (Don’t worry, his place is yet to come on this list).

This Little Master standing at a mere 5 foot 5 inches is involved with the BCCI administration and has served as the chairman of the ICC.

2. KAPIL DEV

The captain who brought the world cup to Indian soil for the first time, Kapil Dev was born on 6 Jan 1959. Undoubtedly the best all rounder India ever had. Kapil has numerous match winning performances under his belt with his right arm fast bowling and right hand batting.

Kapil Dev’s catch to dismiss Richards in the 1983 WC final is etched into the minds of every Indian Cricket fan. This Huryana Hurricane was known for his potent outswingers and hook shots. He was named as the Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002

Kapil was appointed coach of the Indian national cricket team in 1999 and served for 10 months after his retirement from the national squad

1. SACHIN TENDULKAR

This is the legend I mentioned earlier. Born on 24th April 1973, Sachin Tendulkar has 14000+ runs in test cricket and another 18000+ in ODIs, well what can I say, there is no stopping this guy. Regarded as one the greatest batsman in the history of Cricket and the only one to score a double century in ODIs.

Hmm.. I better not talk about his batting records, I’ll write another post about them because he owns almost all the records worth owning in the game. When this 15 year old played for Sharadhashram Vidyamandir School with his partner Vinod Kambli and set an unbroken 664 run partnership in a Lord Harris Shield school game, everyone sat up and took notice. He played for India at the early age of 16 in a Test match against Pakistan and he has never looked back since.

Often compared with Don Bradman, he is the most complete and worshipped batsman in the world, truly God Of Cricket.