8 Indian batting stalwarts and their most feared bowlers

Over the years, the game of cricket has witnessed some phenomenal contests between bat and ball. No batsmen in the world were without their weaknesses and none of them dominated every bowler they faced.

In the 20th century, bowlers like Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Joel Garner, and Michael Holding terrorized most batsmen in the world. In the modern era, bowlers like Wasim Akram, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Dale Steyn, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralidharan, Shane Warne, and Lasith Malinga dominated most batsmen.

Indian batsmen, in particular, struggled mostly against the seamers, particularly in the overseas conditions.

On that note, let's take a look at the eight Indian batting stalwarts and their most feared bowlers.

#8 Rohit Sharma - Dale Steyn

South Africa v India - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

In a chat with Alan Wilkins, India opening batsman Rohit Sharma admitted that South African spearhead paceman Dale Steyn is the toughest bowler he has had to face in his career.

One of the most destructive pacers of all-time, Dale Steyn has troubled some of the greatest batsmen in the world and Rohit Sharma is no exception. Rohit Sharma was troubled by his pace and swing on numerous times the duo faced each other.

#7 VVS Laxman - Wasim Akram

One of India's finest Test match player, VVS Laxman has scored a lot runs against some of the greatest bowlers in the world, including the likes of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Shane Warne. However, there is one bowler he does not like to face.

“The toughest bowler was Wasim Akram for the variations and skills he had. He was master of the variations,” he said. With 916 international wickets, Wasim Akram is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all-time.

#6 Rahul Dravid - Glenn McGrath

Regarded as one of the technically gifted players in the history of the game, Dravid has scored more than 10000 runs in both ODIs and Tests. When many bowlers rated him as one of the hardest batsmen to dismiss, the player himself revealed that Glenn McGrath is the greatest fast bowler he has played against in his entire career.

When asked, "the former right-handed batsman from India expressed that no one challenged his knowledge outside the off-stump as much as Glenn Mc Grath did who was absolutely relentless and never gave away anything."

#5 Virender Sehwag - Muttiah Muralitharan

One of the most aggressive openers the game of cricket has ever witnessed, Sehwag tormented most of the best bowlers during his peak. However, one bowler has intimidated the dashing opener and it was none other than the spin wizard, Muttiah Muralitharan. Murali has picked up 800 wickets in Tests and 534 in ODIs.

Speaking at Hindustan Times Palate Fest in Delhi, 2017, the swashbuckling batsman said, “he found Murali difficult to pick, with both of his off-spinners and the famous doosra. It was difficult playing him, both due to his bowling action and length."

#4 MS Dhoni - Shoaib Akhtar

Two of the most aggressive cricketers of all-time

One of India's most successful cricketers and captains, MS Dhoni is never an easy batsman to bowl at. He has destroyed some of the fiercest bowlers and was a nightmare for many. However, Akhtar is one bowler whom Dhoni feared the most.

"All the fast bowlers are quite difficult, with the limited technique I had, it was very difficult to face the fast bowlers," Dhoni explains. "Still, if I had to pick one, I would pick Shoaib Akhtar."

They played against each other in five Tests, and five ODIs, and Akhtar dismissed him on four occasions.

#3 Sunil Gavaskar - Bruce Yardley

When most of us were expecting names like Dennis Lillee, Michael Holding or Malcolm Marshall, Gavaskar admitted that Yardley was the bowler who troubled him the most. Gavaskar had issues with picking the deliveries from his hand because of Yardley's long run-up. Interestingly, Bruce Yardley has played only 33 Tests in his career.

In a candid chat with a print media publication, the great Sunil Gavaskar admitted that the most difficult bowler he'd ever faced was Australian spinner, Bruce Yardley.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar - Hansie Cronje

Hansie Cronje (L) and Sachin Tendulkar (R)

When we finally thought that the surprises could be over, hold on, we have one more. Having played against some of the greatest bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, and many others, Sachin Tendulkar revealed that Hansie Cronje has troubled him the most.

Hansie Cronje is the toughest bowler I have ever faced, said Tendulkar in a chat with Hindustan Times. "People don’t believe me, but yes, there have been times when I was well set and Hansie came on (to bowl)... I would be extra vigilant."

#1 Virat Kohli - Mohammad Amir

India v Pakistan - ICC Champions Trophy Final

Arguably the greatest cricketer in the world right now, Kohli has dominated the bowling attacks all over the world. Very rarely bowlers trouble him, let alone scare him. But the Indian captain admitted that he has a nemesis.

India superstar Virat Kohli has made a surprising admission on the toughest bowler he has faced, saying the honor belonged to a rival that has dismissed him just once in six matches and the bowler is Mohammad Amir.

Though he dismissed him only once, Amir has troubled Virat Kohli with his pace and prodigious swing.