India’s history in international cricket is as colourful as it is rich. A country that considers its national sport to be almost religious has a passion for cricket unlike any other nation on the planet.

However, unlike England and Australia, India’s rise to the top of the game has been far more recent, as the country did not play its first Test match until 1932.

As a result, India’s best XI is biased toward the contemporary period more than most. In reality, the ascent of India’s national cricket team has paralleled the country’s emergence as a global superpower in the broadest sense.

Both economic and political power have increased in tandem with the success of India’s cricket team, which is now unquestionably the most powerful on the planet.

So, who are India’s greatest players of all time? Who will be named to the nation’s best ever team?

1. Sunil Gavaskar

 

 

Career Span: 1971-1987

Tests: 125

Runs: 10,122

Batting Average: 51.12

Sunil Gavaskar, perhaps the greatest opening batsman in history, was India’s first real great with the bat.

The right-hander, who was his country’s third most prolific scorer, possessed the most classic of tactics, which were further boosted by his remarkable mental power.

Gavaskar’s defence was thought to be nearly impenetrable, making his wicket one of the most valuable in cricket history.

The now 64-year-old was also a forerunner of professionalism in the Indian game, with his work ethic and dedication helping to set new worldwide standards for India’s players.

Much of India’s subsequent success can undoubtedly be attributed to Gavaskar’s unrivalled impact 40 years ago.

2. Virender Sehwag

Career Span: 2001-2013

Tests: 103

Runs: 8,503

Batting Average: 49.43

While Gavaskar is regarded as one of the greatest openers of all time, Virender Sehwag is without a doubt the most damaging.

Sehwag’s destruction wrought by his savage stroke play can turn an opposition’s bowling assault to rubble in just an hour when he’s at his best. In fact, no other player in Test cricket history has amassed as many runs as Sehwag.

His greatest score of 319 came in only 304 deliveries, while two of his other five 200-plus scores came in less than a run per ball.

Sehwag has become the most dangerous Test batsman of all time, despite his limited footwork technique leaving him vulnerable at times. His unparalleled aggressiveness and fondness for boundary hitting has helped him become the most destructive Test batsman of all time.

3. Rahul Dravid

Career Span: 1996-2012

Tests: 163

Runs: 13,265

Batting Average: 52.63

The term “The Wall” was given to Rahul Dravid for a reason.

Dravid became a prolific run scorer, famed for spending hours at the crease and frequently batting India’s opponents out of the game, thanks to his nearly impenetrable defence.

Dravid, of course, lacked Sehwag’s swashbuckling inclinations and Gavaskar’s legendary flair, but his focus abilities guided him to the peak of the game.

His run total is the second highest in his country’s history, and he has 36 Test hundreds to his credit.

The right-180 hander’s against Australia in Kolkata in 2001 will go down in cricket history as one of the greatest innings ever played, while his 233 against the same opponent in Adelaide in 2003 gave India their first win in Australia in 22 years.

4. Sachin Tendulkar

 

Career Span: 1989-2013

Tests: 198

Runs: 15,837

Batting Average: 53.86

Sachin Tendulkar is the most obvious choice for this squad; his career has transcended the sport in India, and the little master brilliantly represents India’s seismic ascent into a worldwide force.

Tendulkar has been a worldwide sensation from his first Test debut in 1989, when he was just 16 years old, when he was obliged to live up to the expectations of a one billion-strong nation.

It’s impossible to imagine a finer skill. Tendulkar’s precise side-on stance, flawless balance, and lovely bat swing have made him something comparable to watching Mozart in action.

The ball would fly over mid-wicket with a delicate flick of the wrists, while the red leather would mercilessly blaze through cover with an elegant step forward. Tendulkar’s on-drive, on the other hand, is possibly the most famous stroke in cricket, a stunning demonstration of batting at its best.

Tendulkar is definitely the greatest of all those who have represented India, notwithstanding his simplicity and dominance.

5. Kapil Dev

Career Span: 1978-1994

Tests: 131

Runs: 5,248

Batting Average: 31.05

Wickets: 434

Bowling Average: 29.64

Not only is Kapil Dev India’s greatest fast bowler, but he is also the best all-rounder the country has ever produced.

Dev defeated Gavaskar and Tendulkar to the title of India’s Cricketer of the 20th Century, despite playing in the same era as Sir Ian Botham, Sir Richard Hadlee, and Imran Khan.

Dev was a supremely disciplined player who could move the ball both ways in the air, most commonly away from right-handed opponents. His 434 wickets were previously the highest total in global cricket.

In a sparkling 16-year career, Dev could also bat with elegance, his straightforward flourishes scoring more than 5,000 runs.