3 Indian batsmen whose last 2 years saw them averaging 20+ points lower than their career average

Batting average is a very important measure of a player's consistent. It reveals the ability of a batsman to thrive against varied bowling attacks and in diverse playing conditions.

The most famous number that cricketing aficionados quote in this regard, and they do so with reverence, is the number 99.94. That is the batting average of the ultimate batting divinity that the sport has ever seen - Sir Don Bradman.

Over the years, India has produced several great batsmen in the Test arena. These men have enthralled and captivated fans across the world with their riveting performances.

Sunil Gavaskar was the first batting superstar that the country produced. Facing up to the fearsome pace quartet of the West Indies, Gavaskar was the first batsman to instill a sense of self-belief into the batting lineup.

The dawn of the 1990s saw the beginning of the ‘Sachin Tendulkar era'. In a career spanning almost a quarter of a century, Tendulkar broke every conceivable batting record that the game had to offer, and was venerated as the 'God of Cricket'.

The age of Tendulkar also saw the rise of other superstars like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.

Today, it is the age of Virat Kohli. Kohli has emerged as the batting emperor of this generation, thwarting bowling attacks across the world with the splendor of a monarch. He is seen as the heir apparent to the iconic Tendulkar.

That said, many batting stars suffer a dip in form as their career draws to a close. Age, loss of flexibility and dwindling concentration cause their returns to start diminishing, which in turn leads to a drop in their average.

In this article, we look at three Indian batting greats whose average dipped by more than 20 points in the last two years of their career.

#3 Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar was the mainstay of the Indian middle order in the 1980s and the early 1990s. In a career spanning 116 Test matches, Vengsarkar scored 6868 runs at an average of 42.13, including 17 hundreds and 35 fifties.

Vengsarkar is also the only visiting batsman to score three Test centuries at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground.

However, in the final two years of his career, Vengsarkar struggled to get going. His average was just 21.76 in his last two years in Test cricket, less than half his previous career average of 44.51. Also, Vengsarkar didn't score a single century in this period.

In fact, in his last four innings, Vengsarkar had scores of 13,4,1 and 4. He struggled against the pace and bounce on the fast Australian pitches against the likes of Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes.

Vengsarkar's downfall led to him announcing his retirement from Test cricket after the disastrous tour of Australia, at the age of 36.

RECORD BEFORE FINAL TWO YEARS: Innings - 168; Runs - 6498; Average - 44.51

FINAL TWO YEARS RECORD: Innings - 17; Runs - 370; Average - 21.76

Average dip: 22.74

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#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag is the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries in Test cricket

Virender Sehwag will go down as the most destructive opener produced by India in Test cricket. Sehwag’s tremendous hand-eye co-ordination, coupled with his fearless approach to the game, made him an absolute nightmare for the bowlers. He is the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries in Test cricket.

Sehwag featured in 180 innings for India and scored 8586 runs, including 32 fifties and 23 hundreds at an average of 49.34. And he scored his runs at an incredible strike rate of 82.21.

However, in the last part of his career, Sehwag couldn't quite set the stage ablaze. In the final two years of his career, Sehwag played 30 innings for India and scored just 892 runs, at a poor average of 29.73. He averaged 23.70 points lower than his career average during this period.

While Sehwag’s lack of foot movement didn't hinder him too much in his prime, in the last part of his career it proved to be his downfall. Sehwag was often found playing away from the body, and was unable to counter the moving ball early in his innings.

In his last 9 innings in Test cricket, Sehwag’s highest score was just 49. And in his last four innings, Sehwag had scores of 0, 2, 19 and 6.

The swashbuckling opener was subsequently dropped from the Test squad, and never played another Test for India after that.

RECORD BEFORE FINAL TWO YEARS: Innings - 150; Runs - 7694; Average - 53.43

FINAL TWO YEARS RECORD: Innings - 30; Runs - 892; Average - 29.73

Average dip: 23.70

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar was just a pale shadow of his former self in the final two years of his career

Arguably the greatest batsman in the history of the game, Sachin Tendulkar holds just about every single batting record in Test cricket - including that for most runs (15,921), most hundreds (51) and most fifties (68).

Tendulkar was the torch bearer of a nation’s dreams for almost a quarter of a century, and he dismantled bowling attacks across the world with regularity. Across a stunning 200 Test matches, Tendulkar averaged 53.78 per innings.

However, during the last two years of his unparalleled career, Tendulkar was just a pale shadow of his former self. In the 28 innings that the master played in his final two years in Tests, he scored just 835 runs, at an average of 30.93 - thus enduring a dip of 25.16 points.

Tendulkar couldn't record a single century in the last two years of his illustrious career. During New Zealand’s tour of India in 2012, the master batsman was bowled on three successive occasions ‘through the gate’, prompting experts to point out a defect in his technique and the slowing down of his reflexes.

Post an 81 against Australia in the first Test at Chennai of the 2013 series, Tendulkar’s highest score over the next six innings was just 37. The ‘Little Master’ announced his retirement from international cricket in November 2013.

After 24 years at the top, Tendulkar retired after a fluent 74 against the West Indies at the Wankhede stadium in front of his adoring home fans in Mumbai.

RECORD BEFORE FINAL TWO YEARS: Innings - 301; Runs - 15086; Average - 56.08

FINAL TWO YEARS RECORD: Innings - 28; Runs - 835; Average - 30.93

Average dip: 25.16