Who are the greatest batsmen from India ever?
The Indian Cricket Team has produced fantastic batters over the years. In fact, the art of batting is exactly what the Nation is known for, along with their spin-bowling prowess. It is only recently that fast bowling has been made a big thing in India. Such has been the depth that the likes of VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly struggle to make a list, despite being two of the best Indian batsmen of all time.
So, who makes a list?
5. MS Dhoni
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: MS Dhoni of India batting during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between West Indies and India at Old Trafford on June 27, 2019, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Andy Kearns/Getty Images)
Arguably India’s greatest-ever asset in limited-overs cricket. MS Dhoni, the captain, has been sensational for India, but his batting has taken limited-overs cricket to new heights. For that alone, he is deserving of a place on this list. They a smart but superb finisher for almost a decade. No game was over until Dhoni was out. He re-defined the art of finishing, building on the platforms laid by Michael Bevan and Lance Kluesner.
Dhoni’s mantra was to take the game as deep as possible, even if it meant that the asking rate would sore up. At times it went to 9 or 10 runs an over needed in ODI’s and 14 or 15 runs an over needed in T20Is. But, it didn’t matter to Dhoni because he realized that one or two lusty blows would put the pressure back on the bowling side in a game of small margins.
A match-winning innings during the 2011 Cricket World Cup final was the pinnacle of his batting prowess. He would go on to produce another decade of brilliance before finally calling it to quit in 2020. He wasn’t at his best in Test cricket but would often rescue the Indian batting order, especially when they had collapsed abroad. Over 10,000 runs at a batting average of 50 in ODI, though, remains his finest achievement.
MS Dhoni is number five on our list of “Top 5 best Indian batsmen of all time.”
4. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid batting during his 95, England v India, 2nd Test, Lord’s, June 1996. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Better known perhaps for his exploits in Test cricket, Rahul Dravid was an outstanding batsman for India. His iconic performance at Kolkata during the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Series will always be remembered. He batted for an entire andVS Laxman o give India victory from an almost impossible position. It changed both the game and the series around, against one of the best Test teams ever, in the form of Steve Waugh’s Australia.
He was a fantastic player of spin and did well abroad against swing and seam movement. The only chink in his armor was pace bowling. He averaged a healthy 42 in Australia but could never quite dominate them, especially against a fully-fit team. South Africa was a puzzle for Dravid, as he could only muster an average of 30 in the country. Nevertheless, batting averages of 52 in Tests and 39 in ODIs are pretty good numbers overall.
Rahul Dravid is number four on our list of “Top 5 best Indian batsmen of all time.”
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3. Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar is perhaps the most technically sound out of the players on the list of the best Indian batsmen of all time.
Sunil Gavaskar batting for India during the tour match between Hampshire and Indians at the Dean Park, Bournemouth, 17th July 1971. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The finest player of genuine pace bowling on this list. Sunil Gavaskar’s record against the West Indies is magnificent, albeit slightly flawed. He scored 13 centuries against them, but more than half of those were scored before the Island Nation managed to get their four-pronged pace attack together. Despite this, he still has 3 centuries against a lethal West Indian attack, which is no mean feat.
Technically very sound and composed, Gavaskar became the epitome of an opening batsman. He had virtually no flaws to his game, which helped him average 51 in Test Cricket. His 34 Test centuries remains the most by any genuine opening batsman.
Sunil Gavaskar is number three on our list of “Top 5 best Indian batsmen of all time.”
2. Virat Kohli
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: India batsman Virat Kohli celebrates his century during day two of the First Specsavers Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston August 2, 2018, in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Virat Kohli could end up being the greatest India of all time and the greatest batsman inandern era. Such are his achievements that breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s records are not beyond him. Despite a slight lull in the last two years, he has been phenomenal in all game formats.
He is the only batsman in the game's history to average above 50 in all three formats. Technique-wise, he wasn’t perfect to start with, but hard work and training have perfected his game. His 2018 tngland is perhaps the bhave example, whereby he banished all demons from the 2014 series. In ODI cricket, he averages nearly 60 and is arguably the best chaser of all time. He times his innings perfectly and can gun down totals with ease.
In the Indian Premier League and T20I cricket, he will be keen to add titles to his armory. This is the only format in which he hasn’t achieved success yet, having won the 2011 Cricket World Cup in ODIs and multiple Test maces in the longest format.
Virat Kohli is number two on our list of “Top 5 best Indian batsmen of all time.”
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1. Sachin Tendulkar
27 Feb 1996: Sachin Tendulkar of India plays a shot off the bowling of Shane Warne of Australia during the Cricket World Cup match between Australia and India in Bombay, India. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport
India’s best-ever batsman is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. Fans worshipped him as if he was god when he played, and many still do. His batting would heal the needs of the Nation when he was out at the crease. His signature shot was the straight drive back past the bowler. He dominated all bowlers during his career and was consistent throughout. In 2011, he reached the pinnacle of his career, winning the ICC Cricket World Cup. Personally, he had a great tournament, too, scoring 482 runs at a batting average of 54.
Tendulkar played 200 Test matches for India, scoring nearly 16,000 runs at a batting average of 54. 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries are quite superb numbers. He averaged over 40 against every team he played against, and in every country, he batted in. “The little master” is a modern-day genius and some believe that he is the second-best batsmen of all-time, only behind Sir Donald Bradman.
Sachin Tendulkar is number one on our list of “Top 5 best Indian batsmen of all time.”
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