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India has produced several great Test cricketers over the years. These men have influenced not only the game but also the entire generation they played in. It is because of the resplendent deeds of these great men, that Indian cricket has reached the pinnacle today.
In this article, let us look at the greatest Indian Test XI of all time.
Openers:
1.Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar will go down as the greatest opener ever in the history of Test Match cricket. Also known as the ‘little master’, Gavaskar was the first Indian batsman to scale peaks in Test match cricket. He was the first batsman to breach the 10000 run barrier and when he bowed out from the game in 1987, he retired as the highest run-scorer and century maker. His unflappable technique and his unwavering concentration made him one of the most difficult batsmen to bowl to. In the 125 matches that he played for India, Gavaskar scored 10122 runs including 34 hundreds and 45 fifties at an average of 51.12.
RECORD: Matches:125 Innings:214 Runs:10122 Avg: 51.12 100’s:34 50’s:45 S/R:66.04
2.Virender Sehwag
Sehwag is widely considered as one of the most destructive openers in the history of Test Match cricket. Sehwag’s mantra was simple- if the ball was there to be hit, then he would send it crashing to the boundary.
He is the only Indian batsman to score two triple hundreds in Test cricket. He will be best remembered for the astounding 309 he scored against Pakistan in Multan in 2004, the magical 319 he scored against South Africa in Chennai in 2008, and the 195 he plundered against Australia at the MCG.
In the 104 matches that he played for India, Sehwag scored 8586 runs including 23 hundreds and 32 fifties at an amazing strike rate of 82.23
RECORD: Matches:104 Innings:180 Runs:8586 Avg:49.34 100’s:23 50’s:32 S/R:82.23
Middle Order
3.Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid will go down as the greatest batsman produced by India in Test Cricket in the last three decades, on par with his illustrious teammate Sachin Tendulkar. Also known as ‘The Wall’, Dravid was a man blessed with a solid technique and a sound temperament. His square cut through the off side and his ability to whip the ball through midwicket made him one of the most difficult batsmen to bowl to.
Dravid’s 233 in Adelaide against Australia and his 270 in Rawalpindi against Pakistan will go down as two of the greatest knocks played by an Indian batsman on foreign soil.
In the 164 matches that he played, Dravid scored a colossal 13288 runs including 36 hundreds and 63 fifties at an average of 52.31
RECORD: Matches:164 Innings:286 Runs:13288 Avg:52.31 100’s:36 50’s:63 S/R:42.51
4.Sachin Tendulkar
This man hardly needs any introduction. Hailed as the ‘God Of Cricket’, Tendulkar holds just about every single batting record in Test Match cricket, including that for the most runs, most hundreds and most fifties, to just name a few.
Tendulkar’s ability to play the straight drive with minimum fuss made your jaw drop, his ability to whip the ball through mid-wicket and square leg with the precision of a surgeon made you crave for more, his gorgeous cover drive through the off side made even the best of bowlers gape at his mastery. Tendulkar was poetry in motion.
His 114 at Perth in 1992 where he used the bat in his hand like a magic wand and enthralled the Aussies, his epic 155 at Chennai against Australia, his 241 in Sydney where he refused to play even a single cover drive, his 103* against England at Chennai will be remembered by cricket fans forever.
In a staggering 200 matches that he played for India, Tendulkar scored a mind-boggling 15921 runs at an average of 53.78 including 51 hundreds and 68 fifties.
RECORD: Matches:200 Innings:329 Runs:15921 Avg:53.78 100’s:51 50’s:68 S/R:54.08
5.Virat Kohli
If this list was written even 3 years back, Kohli’s name would have not figured in the list. But the way Kohli has been plundering runs at will against all opponents in all conditions in the last 4 years has allowed Kohli to legitimately stake a claim in this all-time Indian Test XI.
Just gulp down these numbers-In his last 54 innings, the batting dynamite has scored a staggering 3374 runs including 13 hundreds and 6 double hundreds.
If Kohli continues in the same way for the next few years, then he can even stake claim to being the most complete Indian batsman of all time.
RECORD: Matches:74 Innings:126 Runs:6368 Avg:53.97 100’s:24 50’s:19 S/R:57.97
6.VVS Laxman
This man was indeed ‘Very Very Special’. Seeing Laxman bat was like seeing an artist at work. The ease with which he would whip the ball through midwicket with unmatched grace and his majestic pulls and cuts made Laxman a joy to watch.
His 281 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata will go down as the greatest innings played by an Indian batsman in Test Cricket.
In the 134 matches that he played for India, Laxman scored 8781 runs including 17 hundreds and 56 fifties.
RECORD: Matches:134 Innings:225 Runs:8781 Avg:45.50 100’s:17 50’s:56 S/R:49.37
Captain And Wicket Keeper
7.Mahendra Singh Dhoni
He is, without doubt, the greatest wicket-keeper batsman India has ever produced. Dhoni’s whirlwind 224 against Australia in Chennai will go down as one of the greatest innings ever played by a wicketkeeper in Test Match cricket.
Dhoni’s ability to whip the bails off in a flash made him a huge threat behind the stumps. It was also under Dhoni that India reached the No.1 spot in Test Cricket.
In the 90 matches that he played for India, Dhoni scored 4876 runs including 6 hundreds and 33 fifties.
Dhoni also occupies the 5th place in the list of most successful wicketkeepers in Test cricket history with 294 dismissals to his name.
RECORD: Matches:90 Innings:144 Runs:4876 Avg:38.09 100’s:6 50’s:33 S/R:59.12
All Rounder And Vice Captain
8.Kapil Dev
It has been almost a quarter of a century since Kapil Dev retired from international cricket, but India still has not found an all-rounder of Kapil Dev's ability and quality.
Kapil Dev was the man who changed the mindset that India was a land capable of producing only quality spinners. The sight of Kapil Dev running in at the batsman was a joy to watch.
In the 131 matches that he played for India, Kapil Dev scored 5248 runs at an ethereal strike rate of 94.76.
Kapil Dev retired as the highest wicket-taker in Test match cricket with 434 wickets to his name.
BATTING RECORD: Matches:131 Innings:184 Runs:5248 Avg:31.05 100’s:8 50’s:27 S/R:94.76
BOWLING RECORD: Matches:131 Innings:227 Wickets:434 5W::23 10W:2 Avg:29.65
Bowlers:
9.Anil Kumble
He is easily the greatest bowler India has ever produced. Kumble’s impeccable line and length coupled with his ability to extract bounce off the pitch made him a match winner for India.
He is one of the 2 bowlers in the 141-year history of Test match cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings (the other being Jim Laker).
The sight of Kumble bowling with a broken jaw and dismissing Brian Lara will be remembered by cricket fans for a long time for the courage displayed by the leg-spinner.
He is the third highest wicket-taker in Test Match cricket with 619 scalps to his name.
RECORD: Matches:132 Innings:236 Wickets:619 5W:35 10W:8 Avg:29.65
10.Zaheer Khan
Zaheer will go down as the greatest left-arm pacer produced by India in Test cricket. Zaheer’s ability to swing the ball both ways made him a lethal weapon for India.
Zaheer paved the way for many Indian wins with his immaculate bowling and made the likes of Graeme Smith and Andrew Strauss absolutely clueless.
In the 92 Tests that he played for India, Zaheer took 311 wickets including 11 five-wicket hauls.
RECORD: Matches:92 Innings:165 Wickets:311 5W:11 10W:1 Avg:32.95
11.Harbhajan Singh
The first Indian bowler to take a hat trick in Test match cricket, Harbhajan Singh is the third highest wicket taker for India with 417 wickets to his name.
Harbhajan’s ability to get the ball to drift in the air and his ability to extract sharp turn off the surface made him an asset for India, especially at home.
In the 104 Tests that he played for India, ‘Bhajji’ took 417 wickets including 25 five-wicket hauls.
RECORD: Matches:103 Innings:190 Wickets:417 5W:25 10W:5 Avg:32.46
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