3 greatest Indian cricketers of all time

To say cricket in India is a passion is an understatement. In fact, it is a little bit more than that.

When India plays an international game, millions are glued to their TV sets cheering their team on. It's every little boy's dream in India to become an international cricketer. Lanes, alleys, and cricket grounds around the country are filled with young aspirants imitating their cricketing heroes.

With a population of over a billion people, the chances of a youngster making the Indian national team are akin to winning the lottery. The weight of the pressure on a professional Indian cricketers shoulders equals the expectations of a billion people.

The Indian team has a worldwide following like no other international team. The TV ratings and stadium ticket sales are usually very high when the Indian team is playing in the match.

Advertisers and sponsors are willing to dish out huge amounts of money to garner the attention of the massive audience that watches the Indian team play.

Cricket superstars in India are idolized for long periods of time. They continue to have a massive fan following years after their retirement from international cricket. Their accomplishments and memorable performances continue to remain a topic of conversation.

Indian cricket has produced many legends over the years. But to identify three of those legends as the top three greatest Indian cricketers of all time is a daunting task. Nevertheless, this writer has tried to rank the following three legends on the basis of performance, popularity, and inspiration to come up with my choice of the greatest Indian cricketer of all time.

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#3 Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev won India its first ever World Cup

Kapil Dev is the single most significant individual whose name is synonymous with India's first ever rise as a dominating cricketing nation.

He is known for being India's lone seam-warrior in an era where India's pace bowling coffers were empty. He was the captain of the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup.

India was a heavy underdog in the tournament. Nonetheless, Dev led the team against all odds and through tough opposition to their maiden World Cup title.

His inspirational leadership and his outstanding individual performance in the tournament served as a trigger for the rest of the team to fire up and contribute to the team's cause.

The former Indian skipper not only inspired his teammates, but also a whole new generation of young aspiring cricketers who saw him lift that coveted trophy back in the day.

For that and that alone, he's # 3 in the list of India's greatest cricketers of all time.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar

He inspired millions not just in India, but across the globe

Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut at the tender age of 16. His is a story of talent, endurance and legacy has inspired and continues to inspire millions of people across the globe.

While internationally he's considered to be the greatest batsman of all time by many, he means much more than that in his country. He's an icon worshiped by people.

He has earned the respect of his countrymen not just by setting batting records but more importantly, by carrying himself with dignity and pride throughout his illustrious career. Tendulkar has been a role model for aspiring cricketers and has not had a blemish to his reputation despite being in the limelight since such a young age.

While India has always been known as a country with great cricketing talent, this little man from Mumnai put his country at the top of world cricket, in terms of the quality of batsmen it generates.

His work ethic, humility, and the single-minded focus to succeed have been a springboard for a whole new breed of Indian batting talent to emerge. A product of this process is a certain gentleman called Virat Kohli!

#1 MS Dhoni

Captain Cool - the most successful Indian captain of all time!

The intriguing thing about MS Dhoni is that he emerged as an unlikely, unconventional leader in a team replete with superstars.

When he was made the captain rather unexpectedly, eyes rolled and doubts set in people's minds. Dhoni led a young, inexperienced brigade of players to an unexpected title in the inaugural edition of the ICC World T20 in 2007.

The shock and awe of that win re-awakened a nation that had forgotten how it had won big cricketing titles in the past.

However, Dhoni was not done with just one trophy. His new-age, tactical, and calculative captaincy won him fans not just in India but across the world.

He led India to many more famous titles, including their second ODI World Cup in 2011. Dhoni's lead-by-example style of captaincy was refreshing and effective, even as he earned the respect of opponents and the admiration of his teammates.

Under his leadership, the Indian cricket culture evolved – he built a team that was young, fit, agile and smart. His was a brand of cricket that was new to India.

Dhoni will be forever remembered as a great Indian captain, one who taught his team how to be champions.