10 Popular Cricketers who got support everywhere

The crowd is a strange entity, ruled more by emotions than by facts. It doesn’t always support the legends, sometimes it roots for the underdogs. It loves some greats, others always keep thirsting for its approval. Across more than a century, it is hard to find a pattern to how some players always received love from the crowds and some players only drew hatred.Ask that to Novak Djokovic, who in the US Open was battling a great called Roger Federer at the Arthur Ashe Stadium but was more intimidated by the other opponent, the crowd chanting Federer’s name, egging him on, coaxing him to beat Djokovic, cheering his every point. Probably, that stage of genius, which transcends even crowd hostility and gets them to adore you is what players look for.Even in cricket, some players have always drawn much bigger crowds, more support and more veneration than others. It wasn’t that these players begged for the love of crowds; they just got it based on their natural stature in the game and their performances over the years.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin’s last tour in all countries saw standing ovations all around the world

Trademark – Almost flawless drives down the ground. Gentlemanly behaviour!

When he made his debut as a teenager, he evoked varying feelings from different strata of society. And when news of his being hit by Waqar Younis spread, followed by the report that he chose not to walk off and instead scored a half-century with that bloodied shirt, a destiny had been etched in stone.

For the better part of two and half decades from then on, Sachin was India’s most loved cricketer. Curly hair, small height, a cherub-like smile and a versatility on the field that combined with his passion just made people throng to the stadium or to the TV sets to watch him bat. India finally had a Number One in the world, who could on his day, destroy all other No.1 contenders.

He was a crowd hit and he has walked the tightrope and carried the burden all this while with great poise, like his stance and great dignity like his stable head before hitting the ball. Sachin played cricket and lived his life alike. To the best of his ability. Trying harder to succeed. The entire template to win the crowds was all right there. All the proof of his popularity was found when he received standing ovations around the world in England, Australia and South Africa when the crowds realised it would be his last tour.

#2 Brian Lara

Brian Lara infused batting with a lot of grace

Trademark – The attractive back-lift and the defiant flourishes when on song!

A graceful form of batting with a lovely arched back, high back-lift and the audacity, despite his diminutive stature to thrash fast bowlers off the front and the back foot made Lara an instant crowd favourite. He was charming and never hot-headed despite a Viv Richards’ like swagger. Lara was the kind of batsman who would walk even on LBW decisions when he felt he was out. That was the grace with which he gave his game.

Sadly, a larger part of his career overlapped with the diminishing returns of the West Indian team and despite overtaking Allan Border at one time as the most prolific Test batsman, Lara lost more than he won, which should have been a lot more. Lara’s innings against Australia, his world-record shattering 400 in Tests and 500 in first class prove he could touch marks that no human can when he was on song. Lara in flourish was a magical phase where logic and copybooks took a back seat. No wonder, he was adored!

#3 Adam Gilchrist

There was never a dull moment when Adam Gilchrist was on the field

Trademark – The high grip and great back foot play to thump stunning pulls over deep square leg.

Adam Gilchrist managed to be part of the Invincible Team every country wanted to beat but failed. He was an important reason why the team was Invincible, pulling off one counter-attacking punch after another. However, Australia’s biggest nemesis India became his second home.

Gilchrist was adored by his Indian teammates at the IPL and crowds thronged the stadiums whenever and wherever he travelled, taking Deccan Charges to an IPL victory. Gilchrist’s wicketkeeping was generally impeccable to probably the best spinner and the best pacers of the time. But, his attacking and fearless batting style meant there was never a dull moment even in Tests. That is what made him a big hit.

#4 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers’ modesty is unsettling

Trademark: 360 degree play and fielding.

AB de Villiers is currently the world’s most popular cricketer. In the country with the largest cricket following in the world, he is adored more than some of their own. AB de Villiers is adored because some days, ‘de Villiers is a genius’ sounds like an understatement.

He can scoop a genuine fast bowler of Dale Steyn’s class to a six over deep fine leg. He can sweep a fast bowler for six. He can play a lovely extra cover loft from down the leg-stump. AB de Villiers despite all his talent and the ability to smash any fast bowler, is modest and almost bereft of arrogance. That endears him to the crowds furthermore.

He is a breathtaking fielder too, taking some stunning catches at the boundaries. What more can a team ask from its best player? Oh the man can sing and strum as well besides playing half a dozen forms of sport well.

#5 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle’s swag makes him hard to mimic

Trademark: Monster flicks off the pads and a swag that is hard to mimic.

They call him Gayle-Storm where his T20 career almost took off after couple of dull years with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Chris Gayle is one of the world’s most adored batsmen. Wherever he plays, whether it is the CPL, IPL or Big Bash, Gayle is loved. There is always entertainment around the corner. Half the stadiums in India have witnessed the Gayle fury, which happens only with the bat.

On the field, he is always seen smiling. That jig and his short-run for bowling, sometimes with his shades on add to his swag. He once visited the hospital to apologise to a fan who was hit by his six at Chinnaswamy. That is Gayle for you – a tough arrogant exterior and a heart of gold. The man knows how to party – no wonder then that he was at his happiest at the RCB, which despite a bare cupboard in terms of trophies is one of the most followed T20 teams in the world with Kohli, de Villiers and Gayle.

#6 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum’s presence has made the New Zealand side the most popular team among neutrals

Trademark: The almost super-human leaps at the boundary field defying physical limits.

McCullum made New Zealand the most-cheered and loved team in the 2015 World Cup. They were well cheered even when they played in England after the World Cup. McCullum inherited a team that had some ego issues and was on its way down. In no time, by leading from the front and by stamping his aggressive playing style on it with great leadership, he took the team to where New Zealand had never been – the World Cup Final.

McCullum’s live and die by the sword philosophy has been embraced by crowds which like watching controversy free cricket. McCullum is also appreciated for play hard – play fair style that had made New Zealand lovable. They compete but don’t sledge. They were well-mannered and play the game with great sportsmanship. McCullum’s popularity has also been fuelled by his playing for one of the most popular IPL clubs, the Chennai Super Kings, where his fielding has brought the grounds alive.

#7 Brett Lee

Brett Lee given a guard of honour before his last BBL match in Australia

Trademark: The celebration after taking a wicket, like starting an engine, something that Dale Steyn picked up later.

During his heyday, Lee was locked in a ‘battle of the speedsters’ with Shoaib Akhtar, crossing 95mph with ease and with consistency. But Lee was also loved because unlike most other fast bowlers he couldn’t give out an ugly stare. An almost boyish face, with model-like hair and a dimple, Lee was more likely to break into a cute smile after bowling a bouncer.

He was a musician at heart, part of a rock band and is now pursuing a movie career in India as well. Brett Lee was a decent bat and the image of Andrew Flintoff consoling him after a narrow win for England is one of the most relished and cherished images in cricket. Lee is on good terms with a lot of his contemporaries, something that tearaway fast bowlers are not well known for.

Almost 400 wickets and Lee, continued to be, after his retirement, the man with a twinkle on the field, making it impossible for contemporary audiences to hate him.

#8 Sir Vivian Richards

Vivian Richards used to play the best form of cricket – hard and fair

Trademark: The swagger and chewing gum, not to mention the hoick over square leg.

Richards, the original Master Blaster, evolved during an era ripe with racism and the anger in his stroke-making sometimes betrayed the trust. His swagger and utter dominance coupled with the fact that he refused to wear the helmet even to the deadliest fast bowlers made him a symbol of rebellion, an instant crowd favourite. Viv chewing gum and smacking bowlers is a popular sight of the 80s.

He was also one of the fathers of modern day, one day cricket, with a strike-rate that is ahead of many present super-stars. He was also an athletic fielder turning critical World Cup matches with his fielding as well as his golden arm. Most importantly, Richards played the best form of cricket – hard and fair, a skipper that never lost a Test series and a batsman feared by everyone for his scintillating stroke-play.

#9 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag’s readiness to play the upper cut made him an internationally loved batsman

Trademark: The upper-cut to the fastest of bowlers on the bounciest of tracks.

Sehwag almost scored a triple century in a day’s play and almost managed to pull off what no one ever did – three triple centuries, falling seven runs short on a day when he murdered Muralitharan’s bowling. Sehwag’s style of trying to smash a six even when on 195 has made him a crowd favourite not just in India but also in countries like Australia, where there is appreciation for reckless, fearless stroke-makers.

Sehwag’s charm also lies in the fact that he is generally the most loved man on the field, always smiling, rarely getting into an argument and always chatting away with umpires. The Nawab of Najafgarh, brutal in his batting, is always ready to break into a smile and is known to often sing while batting, a piece of trivia that has made crowds follow him with more adoration.

Sehwag, along with Yuvraj and Ganguly, are one of India’s most loved cricketers with a very solid fanbase completely of their own. But, it is Sehwag’s following even abroad for his style of play that puts him in this list.

#10 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn has many loving followers despite never having made an attempt to woo crowds

Trademark: The angry scream after taking a wicket, not to mention his banana out-swingers.

Dale Steyn is the world’s best fast bowler by a country mile. He is on this list in spite of being a generally intense tearaway fast bowler and in spite of not trying to woo the crowds. Steyn Gun is fast, has great control over his lines and lengths and coaxes even dead pitches to do his bidding.

His celebrations are generally full of anger but he is an otherwise nice person who draws crowds for the sheer spectacle that is his bowling in a generation where there are very few consistent, fast bowlers terrorizing batsmen. Still in his prime, Steyn is all set to break many records and enter the Hall of Fame, but he already has a place of pride in followers’ hearts.