Top 10 Greatest Indian Cricketers of All Time

Top 10 Greatest Indian Cricketers of All Time

India’s current population exceeds 130 billion people, and cricket is practically a religion in the country. We view our athletes as gods who can triumph in any circumstance. Cricket is a source of pride and devotion for Indian supporters.

According to Sourav Ganguly, “No one can remove cricket from its perch in this country.” However, cricket was only sometimes India’s most popular sport. It gained prominence only after Kapil Dev led India to its first World Cup victory in 1983. Even Sachin Tendulkar claims that he began playing this sport after India won the World Cup in 1983.

The Indian cricket legends inspired many others to pursue a career in this sport. India has been prolific in generating quality cricketers since the sport’s inception. Here is a list of the 10 greatest Indian Cricketers of all time.

1) MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has been the greatest blessing to Indian cricket. He was destined to revitalize and elevate this game to an entirely new level. Everyone revered him as a savior due to his Christ-like composure and generosity.

MS Dhoni quit his government position as a TTE and argued with his father to pursue cricket. After enduring adversity, he debuted against Bangladesh in 2004 and was run out for a single.

Mahi became the only captain to win every ICC championship. India won numerous contests due to his finishing prowess. His greatest asset was his management. Dhoni was reportedly the quickest between the wickets. He is the only wicketkeeper with 100 or more stumpings in ODIs, with 195.

MS Dhoni retired peacefully in 2020 after playing his final World Cup match in 2019. He scored a remarkable 10773 runs while batting primarily between positions 5 and 7. India has almost every other batsman or bowler covered, but MSD’s absence remains. The number 7 jersey will always hold a special place in our affections.

2) Sachin Tendulkar 

Only Sachin Tendulkar had been the “God” of cricket. Sachin, the only cricketer to attain 100 international hundreds, was conferred the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his outstanding career.

Sachin made his international début against Pakistan at 16 in 1989. As a child, he faced some of the most vicious bowlers of his generation. He faced pacers such as Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, and Glenn McGrath.

His technique was so refined that he never felt uneasy against any bowler for an extended time. Throughout the 1990s, he was a lone combatant in the India batting lineup. In his 23-year career, there were few instances in which he felt out of shape.

After his tenure in 2013, he had scored the most runs in both ODIs and Tests. He remains. In all formats, Sachin claimed 201 victims with the bowl. His career serves as an example for many. There are presently numerous renowned cricketers in India, but Sachin popularized the sport in this country.

3) Virat Kohli 

Presently, Virat Kohli is the most renowned and influential cricket player in the globe. He reigns supreme at the summit of the list of batters. He is said to be the finest of the current “Fab Four” players, including Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.

Virat made his debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka in an ODI. After a few encounters, he became the team’s most consistent batsman. He played a significant role in India’s 2011 World Cup victory. In 2014, after MS Dhoni transferred the Test captaincy to Virat Kohli, his performance skyrocketed. He scored three 200s in Tests in 2016. He assumed the ODI captaincy in 2017 and has performed admirably thus far.

Virat Kohli has recently concluded 13 years of a career that has yielded seventy international centuries across all formats. He is rumored to be the next batsman to surpass the international record of 100 centuries. He is 32 years old and has many years of cricket in him. Virat’s bat still has plenty of remarkable innings to deliver.

4) Kapil Dev

Next on our selection of the greatest Indian cricketers of all time is Kapil Dev. Kapil Dev was one of India’s finest cricket players. He was both an aggressive batsman and a skilled bowler. Throughout his tenure, he was a key member of the Indians’ bowling squad.

In 1978, he debuted against Pakistan in both One-Day Internationals and Tests. Five years later, he led India to its first-ever World Cup victory as captain. It was a defining moment in Indian cricket that encouraged the country’s youth to pursue cricket professionally.

He was the first Indian to achieve 400 Test wickets. In 1984, he retired with over 5000 test runs and 434 test wickets. He was, without a doubt, the most influential cricket player in history.

5) Rahul Dravid 

Throughout his tenure, Rahul Dravid was “The Wall” of the Indian batting lineup. His defensive technique was comparable to an impenetrable fortification for bowlers. Despite being one of the most disciplined cricketers, he is aggressive.

He possessed a rare ability to channel his inner rage into a composed demeanor. He would be best described as a recluse. Dravid made his début in 1995 at Lords, where he scored 95 runs alongside fellow debutant Sourav Ganguly, who scored 100 runs. He steadily advanced through the levels. He was the ideal team player.

Throughout his career, Dravid scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs and Tests. Rahul Dravid scored 36 hundred in Tests, including five double-centuries. He confronted the highest number of balls in the history of Test cricket, 31,258.

He amassed three centuries in his final Test series against England before retiring in 2012. Over time, he cultivated a reputation that earned him the respect of everyone. Dravid is focused on developing the next generation of Indian cricket players.

6) Yuvraj Singh 

Yuvraj Singh would be it if I were to create a synonym for fortitude. He was the one who rediscovered the game’s significance. This sport and national prestige were more important to him than his life and mortality.

Four years later, in the 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj scored 362 runs with a remarkable average of 90.52, including a century against West Indies scored while he was violently unwell and vomiting. He also claimed 15 wickets, ultimately leading his team to victory.

He was later diagnosed with Cancer. However, he overcame the illness and returned after one and a half years. He became one of the finest all-around players in the history of this sport. He risked his life to help India win its first World Cup in 28 years. It would not have been possible without such a player. He redefined the concepts of bravery and patriotism.

7) Sunil Gavaskar 

In the Indian subcontinent, Sunil Gavaskar is the first and predominant cricketing superstar. Little Master’s armor was filled with artistic and conventional images. He utilized to play without a headgear, even against all of those enormous West Indian bowlers.

In 1971, he played his first game against the West Indies. His half-centuries in both innings of his debut match helped India prevail by seven wickets. Throughout his 16-year career, he amassed 34 Test centuries and 4 double hundreds. He was the first Indian to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in tests. Before his retirement in 1987, Gavaskar was able to inspire his compatriots.

8) Rohit Sharma 

Rohit Sharma is one of cricket’s most traditional, aggressive, and tranquil figures. Cricket experts frequently assert he has additional time to react to the ball. It is so enjoyable to observe his impeccable coordination. His pull shot is heavenly, and no one plays it better than he does.

At the outset of his tenure, he had a concerning propensity for throwing his well-equipped starting pitcher in almost every other game. In 2007, he made his debut in limited-overs cricket. He was instrumental in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Rohit also became the only batsman in ODI history to score two 200s. The fact that he scored his third double-century in 2017 against Sri Lanka made him inevitable and great. He has four centuries in T20is. He has performed admirably in white-ball cricket.

Rohit Sharma is currently the most consistent and dominant player in cricket, with 29 centuries in ODIs, 7 in Tests, and 4 in T20Is. He is presently 34 years old and has much cricket remaining in him. Indian cricket is incredibly fortunate to have him.

9) Zaheer Khan 

Zaheer Khan, affectionately known as “Zak,” was India’s most successful fast bowler. As a left-handed bowler, his ability to propel the ball in both directions rendered the opposing batters ineffective. He was a man of discipline, composure, and equal passion.

He made his debut against Kenya in 2000 in an ODI. In his first match, he captivated everyone by dismissing Kenyan batters with two exquisite yorkers. He was an advancing cricketer. His dominance against left-handed batters was admirable.

Zaheer was a torment for the then-captain of South Africa, Graeme Smith. He defeated Smith thirteen times in twenty-five faceoffs. In the 2003 World Cup final, he was humiliated by the Australians in an unprecedented manner. But it is hardships that make you strong.

He was also an effective lower-order batsman. No one will ever forget the consecutive six he struck in 2007 off Brett Lee’s fiery delivery. Zaheer claimed 311 Test wickets and 282 ODI wickets in total. A 15-year career gave us numerous reasons to celebrate and revere Indian cricket. Zaheer will forever be a legend in our eyes.

10) Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh concludes our ranking of the finest Indian cricketers of all time. Harbhajan was one of those enthusiastic children whose countenance and body language exuded confidence and conviction. His off-spin bowling had so much skill that one couldn’t look away from him when he used to throw the ball.

In the 1998 Test series against Australia, he made his debut. His beginning was commonplace, but his commander, Sourav Ganguly, recognized his potential. He supported him in many matches, and Bhajji later demonstrated that it was a good use of time. In the Test series of 2001, he shook the formidable Australians in every manner imaginable.

During the “Monkeygate scandal” of 2008, in which Andrew Symonds was also implicated, he had a difficult time with controversies. When he slapped a fellow cricketer around this time, he had problems with his on-field conduct.

He claimed 417 Test wickets, India’s second-highest total behind Anil Kumble. In ODIs, he took 269 wickets in 236 matches. Subsequently, he was benched due to inconsistent play, which prompted him to announce his retirement in 2016. Nonetheless, he was one of India’s most influential cricketers.

Also Read: Greatest Batsmen of All Time