3 Legends who changed Indian cricket

Never has cricket been bigger in India than it is today. While the sport has always been woven in the fabric of India's culture, its rise to the pinnacle can largely be attributed to three significant phases in its history.

The transformation of a nation from being a mere participant in the arena of international cricket to become a giant that rules the jungle is a fascinating story the likes of which the world of cricket has never seen before.

This journey from rags to riches was built on the backs of young Indians who toiled against tough odds to make their seemingly impossible dream, of playing for their country, a reality.

The struggles of a young Sachin or the trials and tribulations of a Dhoni or the determination and hard work of a Kohli are individual inspirational contributions on which the foundation of this new strong Indian cricket team is built.

Indian cricket has never been short of heroes and their contributions. But over the last four decades or so, the rise of Indian cricket can largely be attributed to three significant phases and three legends whose leadership during those periods was pivotal to the growth of Indian cricket. So, let us identify those phases and pay tribute to those three legends of Indian cricket.

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#3 Kapil Dev and the Early 80's

Kapil Dev receiving the 1983 World Cup Trophy

Until India emerged from the wilderness to unexpectedly win the 1983 World Cup, Indian cricket was in sleep mode. The Indian cricket team was never considered a serious contender against any top team.

The West Indies, England, and Australia were the pre-eminent teams that others tried to emulate. But Kapil's Devils, as they affectionately came to be known, changed all of that.

Against all odds and expert prognostications, they fought like warriors as they toppled one big side after another and achieved the improbable- a World Cup victory. That victory instilled a belief in that team, and indeed in the country that supported them unconditionally, that they had in them to be among the best.

The incident turned out to be a watershed moment in Indian cricket and the people and the team have never looked back since.

#2 Sourav Ganguly and the late 90's to early 2000s

Dada!

While the Kapil era was all about instilling belief in oneself, Sourav Ganguly's era in the late '90s and early 2000s was all about gaining self-confidence and earning respect.

His aggressive on-field leadership style and overt display of emotions off it gave the Indian team's image a make-over. His attitude sent a clear message across the cricketing world that India was no longer a push-over and would not hesitate to respond like-for-like against any attempts to intimidate it.

While sometimes Ganguly's display of confidence was mistakenly perceived by some in the foreign media as arrogance, his countrymen and teammates admired this new avatar. Ganguly taught his teammates to be unapologetic in victory and resolute in defeat.

#1 MS Dhoni and the period from 2007-2014

Winning Captain's Press Conference - 2011 ICC World Cup

Following Kapil's era of self-belief and Ganguly's self-confidence, MS Dhoni's era was about winning and winning big. This new, young captain was a direct by-product of the virtues of the Kapil and Ganguly eras.

He ignored skeptics and critics while relying on his beliefs and self-confidence to lead a young and inexperienced brigade to an incredible T20 World Cup win in 2007.

He continued to lead from the front and his calm, calculative, and strategy-based captaincy style awed his opponents and mesmerized his teammates. They believed in him and it showed the way they fought for him on the field.

Dhoni taught his teammates how to win on the big stage. The number of World Cups, Champions Trophies, and Asia cups among other big wins is a testament to the culture of winning that Dhoni, India's greatest captain, instilled in his team.

While Indian cricket has been blessed by many stalwarts and achievers, there is no question that the contributions of Kapil Dev, Saurav Ganguly, and MS Dhoni were invaluable and pivotal to Indian cricket's rapid ascendancy.