3 Modern-Day Stalwarts of Indian Cricket

Cricket has been the soul and blood of the people of India for a long time. The world has witnessed the sport’s success in the region, and there is not a part of the country which will not be hosting a street cricket match at the moment as we go on with the article.

Indians are extremely passionate about the game of cricket, and many from poorer backgrounds save up money for months, and even years, to purchase a ticket to the next international cricket match or IPL match in their city in order to watch their idols dominate their opponents.

This has resulted in India producing some of the best players in the game’s history. From Tendulkar to Kapil Dev, there is not a name in the books of Indian cricketing history that cricketing fans would not have heard at least once in their life.

Each era of the game has seen a few names from India dominate the international scene, and this era is no different from the one before. For all we know, there are more star-players in the Indian cricketing team today than there ever were.

India has always been known to dominate with the bat as compared to the ball. This has allowed them to post scores of over 350 and even 400 at times more often than not in ODIs, scoring double centuries in limited overs cricket, and beat their opponents by an innings numerous times in Test cricket.

Team India's victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 gave rise to the IPL and has allowed India to produce even greater limited overs, batsmen and bowlers.

Keeping that in mind, let us take a look at the three men who are arguably the modern day stalwarts of Indian cricket.

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#3 Rohit Sharma

The silent aggressor

Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut in 2007, but it took him three years to score his first ODI century. Eight years later, he now has 21 ODI centuries and 37 half-centuries to his name. Among his 21 centuries, three have been in excess of 200 runs which is a record that won’t be broken for some time to come.

His Test record is not at all bad for international standards, but only lower by Indian standards as the Indian team boasts batsmen who have averages over almost 45 each. Yet, Rohit has been able to prove his worth in the 25 Test matches he has played and has a good record.

With 4 centuries in 86 T20I matches, he is once again a player that cannot be compared to many, as not only is he one of the best in ODIs, but one of the best in T20Is too which makes him one of the modern greats of limited overs cricket.

Aged only 31, and with at least half a decade of international cricket left in him, Rohit will definitely break more limited overs records as days go by. He has already become one of India’s best ever one-day opening batsmen finding his name among the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag and Ganguly.

#2 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Born to lead by example

MS Dhoni is by far and wide one of the best captains in the history of the game. He made his ODI debut in 2004 and Test debut just a year later. He has taken the game by storm in his almost one-and-a-half decade international career.

An attacking right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited-overs cricket. He has won so many games for India that it is impossible to even keep a count of them.

After being named the captain of the Indian squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in September 2007, he led the team to victory against Pakistan in a thrilling contest which crowned India the champions.

He hasn’t looked back ever since, and has one of the most impressive batting and captaincy records in the history of the game, especially for a wicketkeeper. Dhoni has over 10,000 runs in ODIs with an average over 50 and nearly 5,000 runs in Test cricket which shows his potency in the game.

Dhoni has led Team India to 60 Test victories, 200 One-day International victories and 72 T20I victories, all at a win-loss ratio above 60%.

Therefore, Dhoni can easily be categorized as one of the best players India has ever produced. His name will go down with the greatest of the game.

#1 Virat Kohli

The Man. The Legend.

The modern-day King of International cricket around the world makes it to the top of the list. Very few can name a batsman as good in all forms of the game as Virat Kohli. He has been everywhere, scored everywhere and has been at par with the best all around the world.

Kohli averages nearly 60 in ODIs, 55 in Tests and 50 in T20Is. His records are unparalleled and he has broken records from the day he stepped into the international cricketing arena.

Kohli has scored 38 centuries in just 208 ODI innings at an average of fewer than six innings per century. This has allowed him to amass over 10,000 runs in just over 200 innings.

With all those records by his side, Kohli has just entered his prime and has a long way to go as the captain and as a batsman. It is quite certain that he will break most of the record in the books by the time he hangs up his boots.

The only jewel left in his crown is a T20I century. Going by his current run of form, he should achieve it in his career. It is almost like Kohli doesn’t run after records, the records run after Kohli himself.

Not only is he compared to the best in cricket today from all around the world, but he can easily be compared to the best batsmen in the history of the sports and still come out on top of the list.