The best of the best: India’s all-time greatest Test XI
India have been a goldmine of outstanding cricketers for quite some time now. Cricket, for almost 4 decades now, has been the most popular sport in India. Hence, it is natural that the country has given rise to a number of astonishingly good cricketers. There have been 296 individuals who have played Test cricket for India, and a lot of them have left a lasting impression on Indian cricket. Here is an attempt to make the best XI of India in Tests.
1. Sunil Gavaskar
The original ‘little master’, Sunil Gavaskar can be regarded as the first legendary cricketer to emerge from India. He played at a time when there was hardly any protective equipment for the batsmen and had to bat without a helmet against the fearsome fast bowlers of West Indies and Australia. He was the first batsman to reach the landmark of 10000 test runs. His glorious career, which began in 1971, and spanned 16 years, saw him play 125 Tests, score 10122 runs, at an average of 51.1 which remarkably also included 34 Test tons.
2. Virender Sehwag
The Nawab of Najafgarh, Virender Sehwag, is without a doubt, the most fearless and flamboyant batsman from India to have played Test cricket. He had the ability to score freely in Test matches as well and dispatched bowlers to the boundary at will. While he did take risks, he was circumspect about throwing his wicket away. In the 104 Tests that Sehwag played, he scored 8586 runs, at an average of 49.3 and an astounding SR of 82.2. He also scored 23 tons, which included two triple tons.
3. Rahul Dravid
The most dependable batsman for India in Tests, Dravid was nicknamed ‘The Wall’ and rightly so. His wicket would usually be the most prized one for the opposition. Even if the situation was challenging, and runs didn’t come quickly, Dravid would secure one end, and then take ages to get dismissed. He was India’s crisis man. In an illustrious career, he played 164 Tests, scoring 13288 runs, at an average of 52.3. He also scored as many as 36 tons. While his numbers speak for themselves, his impact as a Test player went beyond what the numbers can express.
4. Sachin Tendulkar
‘The God of Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar, is arguably the greatest cricketer India has ever produced. He started off as a promising youngster and transformed into a man who would carry the burden of people’s expectations for years. He had all the strokes in his book, and there was no bowler he couldn’t take on. His genius also lied in his longevity. He played over two decades, during which he played 200 Tests, scoring 15921 runs at an average of 53.8, and 51 tons. Players will come and go, but there will never be anyone close to Tendulkar.
5. Virat Kohli (c)
The king of the modern era, Kohli has embraced Test cricket with both arms, in times of popularisation of T20 cricket. Virat enjoys the longer format, and being the captain has brought the best out of him. In 86 matches, he has scored 7240 runs, at a phenomenal average of 53.6, and 27 tons which include 7 double tons. Apart from being a batsman par excellence, he has also led India exceedingly well, helping them go from the 7th position to number 1 under his reign, and staying at that position for almost 3 years. He is currently India’s most successful captain, with 33 wins and is looking strong for a lot more runs as well as wins.
6. MS Dhoni (wk)
The man who led India to the number one Test rankings for the very first time, M.S Dhoni easily slots into this XI. His numbers as a batsman are fantastic – he played 90 games, scoring 4876 runs at an average of 38.1. His leadership skills were one of the main reasons India reached and stayed number one in Tests for a long time. He was also the safest behind the stumps. And while his runs in aggregate might not be that many, he played several innings down the order to rescue the team. Dhoni will always remain an extremely integral part of Indian cricket.
7. Kapil Dev
One of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game, Kapil Dev was as enterprising a cricketer as any. He bowled with great swing and accuracy and was a reliable batsman down the order. He was also a vivacious character and led India for quite a few years. In a career of 16 years, Dev scored 5248 runs with the bat, at an average of 31.1 and remarkably picked 434 wickets as well. At the time of his retirement, he was the highest wicket-taker in Tests. India is yet to find a player that can come close to having the impact Kapil Dev had.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
This was a tough choice. But we have gone with Ashwin. Ashwin hasn’t been the most dominant player overseas, but at home, has single-handedly changed the direction of the match. He has picked up 365 wickets in 71 matches at an average of just 25.4. He was also the fastest man to reach 300 wickets- he achieved it in 54 matches. He is also no mug with the bat and has 2389 runs at an average of 28, and 4 Test 100s.
9. Anil Kumble
‘Jumbo’, as Kumble was often referred to as the best bowler to have played for India. In a career which lasted 18 years, Kumble played 132 Test matches and picked up 619 wickets at an average of 29.6. He is also the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. He also has his name in the record books for being one amongst only 2 bowlers, to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
10. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan played 92 matches for India and made his presence felt every time he stepped out on the field. He started out as an aggressive young man and over the years transformed into one of the most thinking cricketers. He added immense value as a left-arm bowler and was the spearhead of the Indian attack for several years. He picked up 311 wickets at an average of 32.9, but his contribution to Indian cricket goes way beyond numbers.
11. Bishan Singh Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi was part of the famous quartet of Indian spinners who spun a web around batsmen in the 1970s. He might have just played 67 games, but he picked up 266 wickets at an average of 28.7. He was a street-smart player and would deceive the batsman with his guile and accuracy. Being a left-arm orthodox spinner, he adds the extra element to this team.
