The Top 5 Indian states that have produced the most prolific international cricketers

The Indian cricket team has been served by a number of prolific players hailing from various statesIt is not wrong to say that cricket in India is an obsession with almost every child growing up with dreams of being a professional cricketer. With the huge popularity of gully cricket, there are very few teenagers in India who have never picked up a cricket bat dreaming of himself as the next Sachin, Dravid or Dhoni.The obsessions of a cricket-crazy nation have ensured that India, over the years, have produced some of the finest cricketers who have dominated world cricket. Cricketers are worshipped in India like gods and the joy in the success of a cricketer is generally shared by all the people of his hometown. It is a proud moment for all the fans as they can be at times extremely parochial and defensive of the cricketers from their own state.Here are the top 5 Indian states that have produced the most prolific international cricketers:

#5 Punjab

The Punjab spirit is best reperesented by Harbhajan and Yuvraj

Every time Yuvraj Singh smashed the fastest of bowlers for sixes with gay abandon or Harbhajan Singh weaved his wand against clueless batsmen, it was mentioned repeatedly how two of the finest modern day cricketers from Punjab have done us proud time and again. Cricketers from Punjab are always marked with an unmistakable strength of character and resolve.

Besides Yuvraj and Bhajji, Punjab have produced some gutsy cricketers with the likes of Mohinder Amarnath, Lala Amarnath and Navjot Singh Sidhu coming to mind first. Their undying dedication and fighting spirit have done Punjab, as well as India, proud on many occasions.

#4 Karnataka

Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest cricketers ever, hails from Karnataka

The reigning Ranji Trophy champions, Karnataka, over the years have produced some of the most prolific cricketers who have represented India in international cricket. It would not be unfair to say that the likes of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath have all redefined Indian cricket. Not only have they been the very best on the field, but also they have shown in an inimitable fashion how to conduct themselves which has set an example for the later generations.

Other great cricketers from Karnataka over the years include Erapalli Prasanna, B.S. Chandrashekar, Brijesh Patel, Dodda Ganesh, Syed Kirmani, Sunil Joshi and Roger Binny.

#3 Gujarat

Vinoo Mankad is arguably the greatest cricketer to hail from Gujarat

With teams from Baroda and Saurashtra, Gujarat has always had a fair representation of its talent in domestic cricket in India. Gujarat has in fact produced some very fine cricketers who have dominated world cricket and made India proud over the years. In Vinoo Mankad and Nari Contractor, the India team had two of the finest cricketers who have not been forgotten even after all these years.

Long before India had MS Dhoni, Ajay Jadeja, who hails from Gujarat, played many-a fine knock teaming up with Robin Singh to successfully chase down totals. In Nayan Mongia, India had arguably the first wicket-keeper who doubled up as an attacking batsman. In recent times, Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteswar Pujara are two of the biggest names from Gujarat to have played for India.

Gujarat also produced some of the finest fast bowlers to have played for India like Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel. And in Irfan Pathan, India had arguably the last successful Indian all-rounder for some time now. Some of these players had also fought the extreme obstacles of poverty to go on to become huge international superstars which makes theirs the ultimately rags-to-riches story.

#2 Delhi

Gambhir & Sehwag hail from Delhi

At a time when Bombay kept dominating the Ranji trophy, the only side that could pose a serious threat to them was Delhi. Over the years, Delhi has been a fine cesspool of talent that has produced some brilliant cricketers like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma.

Sehwag and Gambhir ruled the roost for over a decade and in Shikhar Dhawan Delhi has contributed another top-class opener. And in Virat Kohli, considered by many to be the finest Indian batsman of this generation, Delhi is home to the Indian Test captain after all.

Though Delhi is actually a union territory, it has been included in the list because politically it functions like a state in many ways and all of these great cricketers are considered to be originally from Delhi.

#1 Maharashtra

Mumbai has produced many greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar

Among all the states in India, Maharashtra has unarguably produced some of the most gifted cricketers to have donned the Indian jersey over the years. Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Vijay Merchant, Polly Umrigar & many more – all of them hail from Bombay. Historically, players from Maharashtra have almost always been a part of the Indian team.

The reason why Maharashtra has been one of the most successful states in cricket is because of the distinct character and style of the Bombay school of cricket. Cricket is a dream in Bombay as it is played in every by-lane. Many of the greatest stars who represented the country had actually once graduated from gully cricket. Maharashtra in represented by three cricket teams in the Ranji trophy and the Bombay team were Ranji Trophy champions for 14 consecutive seasons between 1959 and 1973.