Indian Test XI with Batsmen from the Yesteryears and Bowlers from Modern Era

Image result for fab five indian cricket
The Fab Five of Indian cricket were unparalleled match winners

20 wickets is what you need to win a Test match. Though this phrase asserts the formula to achieve glory in the longest format, it fails to underline an associated fact- You also need to prevent the fall of your 20 wickets to claim victory.

Traditionally, India has been typecasted as a powerhouse of batting talents - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli- the list is eternal. Test victories revolved around the batsmen and the charisma weaved by them on the 22 yards, and the bowlers received the chiding for their failure to pick up 20 wickets. An authoritative hundred by Sachin Tendulkar, a nerve-wracking effort by Rahul Dravid, or a fiery blitz by Virender Sehwag were key components to an Indian win.

However, with MS Dhoni assuming the captaincy duties, began the transition of Team India. Ashwin and Jadeja became vicious turners of the ball, while the pace attack promised to dismantle the opposition's line-up. In the era of Virat Kohli, the pace quadrant of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami has all the weapons in their arsenal, be it pace, bounce, swing or yorkers to wreak havoc on the opponent. The pace attack is undoubtedly the best that India ever possessed.

Image result for indian pace attack
This generation of Indian fast bowlers is the best ever

Ironically, India's woes have shifted from their bowling to their batting, with the batsmen lacking the intent, application and the forbearance to rise to the occasion, as a result of which the team has failed to chase even mediocre talents.

We have compiled a team comprising of the golden generation of batsmen and the present bowling line-up, which is effectively equipped in all respects. The team comprises of six complete batsmen and five bowlers (including three all-rounders), however, only their bowling capabilities have been considered in this piece.


Openers:

Sunil Gavaskar

Image result for gavaskar test centuries
Sunil Gavaskar is widely regarded as the best opening batsman ever

Arguably the best opening batsman the world has ever witnessed, Gavaskar pitched India on the world map of cricket long before the advent of the 'Fab Five' era.

The Little Master possessed all the traits of a classic Test batsman. An unparalleled technique, impeccable concentration and astute timing characterized his batting. Gavaskar was particularly proficient against fast bowlers, with choosing judiciously the deliveries to play and the ones to leave, a quality that the present-day openers need to imbibe.

In an era dominated by a vicious Caribbean attack, he enjoyed an astounding average of 65.45 against them.

Sunny personified consistency, courage and exuberance as he became the first player in the world to achieve an unprecedented milestone of 10,000 Test runs. He also held the record for most Test centuries (34) for almost two decades.

Gavaskar is the only Indian batsman to score a hundred in both the innings of a match on three occasions. He also notched the highest score by an Indian in Test cricket at his time, 236*, once again against the West Indies.

The Sheriff of Mumbai was the first batsman who taught the world how to attach a price tag on one's wicket.

Virender Sehwag

Australia v India - First Test: Day 2
Virender Sehwag has the highest score by an Indian in Test Cricket

In stark contrast to his compatriot, Sehwag is someone whose game plan revolved around hand-eye coordination. He redefined the notions of Test opening, with his destructive stroke playing ability.

Sehwag has been an epitome of the doctrine 'Attack is the Best Defence', as he steered the team out of precarious situations, handing back the pressure to the opposition. The Nawab of Najafgarh was never daunted by the situation, opposition, ground or the pitch as he came out all guns blazing.

Sehwag's success in red-ball cricket came as a bewilderment to the sporting fraternity, as he not just the knack to play aggressive, but also the perseverance to carry his bat across sessions. He had an inclination towards big hundreds, with 14 of his 23 hundreds being scores more than 150. He was the first Indian to notch a triple century in Test cricket.

The Sultan of Multan scripted glory with his nonchalant and audacious self, and a technique shattering the stereotypes. But it was his courage and vigour that formed the most beautiful aspects of his game.

Middle Order:

Rahul Dravid

England v India: 1st npower Test - Day Three
Rahul Dravid is popularly hailed as ' The Wall '

Mental endurance, technical supremacy, a high degree of athleticism, and a safe pair of hands in the slip cordon- Rahul Dravid offered all that a side could demand in the longest format.

A quintessential Test player, Dravid was the perfect player to marshall the innings given his immaculate batsmanship and robust temperament. He made the most crucial of contributions in India's famous victories and particularly came as a blessing to India's foreign woes.

Labeled as "The Wall', he had the ability to frustrate the opposition with his patient and meticulous approach, mentally more than physically. Dravid formed a pillar of the batting line up, and he ended up facing the most number of balls and spent the highest time on the crease in Test cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar

Australia v India - Fourth Test: Day 3
Sachin Tendulkar is the world's highest run scorer in Tests

'Age is just a number'. If a person could personify this saying, it would be Sachin Tendulkar. Entering at 16, and retiring at 40, he gave the world 24 unblemished years to cherish for ages to come. Moreover, he was a prolific run scorer at both points, locking horns with some of the most devastating line-ups in their own backyard.

Master Blaster's career defined a benchmark of longevity, as he competed successfully with almost five generations of players. His inclusion in the squad ushers in a sense of tranquility and solidarity as he ticks all the checkboxes of a complete batsman.

Sachin was a multi-dimensional player, who had the ability to step up in all sorts of situations. He had the ability to build the innings patiently, score at a brisk pace and negotiate some of the finest bowling attacks to save a match. He could wear as well as tear the bowling attack with his wide array of shots.

Inevitably, Master Blaster ended up with the highest runs and most centuries in Test cricket.

Gundappa Viswanath

Image result for gundappa viswanath batting
Gundappa Viswanath was an extremely elegant batsman

Gundappa Viswanath was the mainstay of the Indian middle order right through the 70s decade, producing some of the most technically sound knocks in the face of adverse circumstances. Like his compatriot Sunil Gavaskar, he was adept against pacers and a master in timing the ball.

An elegant batsman, with finesse with the wrists were evergreen to watch. When the going what tough, Vishy got going, as he seemed to have saved his best performances against the most dominant sides on challenging tracks.

His knock of 97* against the Windies in Chennai, out of a total of 190 set the foundation of an Indian victory. He also notched a century in India's epic run chase of 406 against the Caribbeans at the Port-of-Spain, the highest chase of that time.

Viswanath was one of the finest batting talents produced by India, which can be asserted by the fact that India never lost a match when Viswanath made a century.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain & Wicketkeeper)

Image result for dhoni test batting
MS Dhoni adapted perfectly to the situation

MS Dhoni is the first choice wicketkeeper for the squad, given his ability to translate half prospects into vital chances. He is an ideal player for the No. 6 spot, given his ability to adapt and execute as per the need.

Dhoni has been instrumental to India's success in the longest format, with with the willow and the gloves.

While he has essayed the role of a catalyst on certain instances, he has also held ends together with the tailenders to stitch vital partnerships on numerous occasions.

His famous knock of 76* on a challenging Lord's track in the early phase of his career paved the way for a historic series victory for India.

MSD has an unparalleled reading of the game and situation, and with his ability to effectively channelize the resources.

His feedback and constant encouragement from behind the stumps serve as a motivation during long partnerships. Dhoni also led India on top of ICC Rankings for the first time in 2009.

Spinners:

Ravichandran Ashwin

CRICKET-SRI-IND
Ashwin is the fastest in the world to 250 and 300 Test wickets

R Ashwin entered into the international arena as a limited overs specialist and broke into the Test squad on the back of his consistent performances. Since then, there has been no looking back and he has become a pivotal element in the squad.

Ashwin is extremely handy in the subcontinental conditions with his stock of deliveries, and has the ability to overpower the best in the world. He has developed his game to suit foreign pitches, to boost India's chances on overseas tours.

His county stint with Worcestershire worked wonders, as the 31-year old produced prodigious performances on pitches of South Africa and England (barring the Southampton Test), which had nothing for the spinners.

Ashwin was the backbone of the side as they climbed on to the top of the ICC Rankings in 2016, with his consistent exploits with the cherry. He is the fastest to 250 and 300 Test wickets as well as 25 fifers. He has the most scalps in a home season, with 79 wickets in 2016-17.

The off-spinner won the prestigious ICC Test Cricketer of the year in 2016, for his breakthrough performances

Ravindra Jadeja

Image result for ravi jadeja test bowling
Ashwin and Jadeja form the most lethal spin attack in the world today, forming a right-left combination

If Ashwin has been able to conquer the opposition's bastion, it is due to the robust defence of Ravindra Jadeja at the vanguard of the Indian regiment.

Ashwin and Jadeja form the most lethal spin attack in the world today, forming a right-left combination. The two can spin a vicious web around the batsmen, extracting a prodigious turn from the pitch.

Jadeja is widely acclaimed for his accurate line and length. Though his contribution is eclipsed by the heroics of Ashwin on some occasions, it is the pressure created by Jaddu on one end that forces the batsmen to make errors; something that has been admitted by skipper Kohli himself.

Jadeja seems to have a penchant for the wicket of opposition's captain, regularly bothering the likes of Michael Clarke, Alaistar Cook and Hashim Amla.

Pacers:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

<p>
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most versatile bowler in Indian Test team

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has formed an integral part of the Test setup, with his expertise to swing the ball both the ways. An extremely industrious player, he has all sorts of weapons in his repertoire, with a variety of variations.

Bhuvneshwar is the most versatile bowler in the side and can exploit the track beautifully to give early setbacks to the opposition. Along with his dexterous swing, Bhuvi has developed a scramble seam delivery, along with the ability to reverse swing in the latter half, making him a vital cog of the pace attack.

Having tormented England back in 2014, his heroics with the ball made the South African stare at disarray at their own backyard, and he was unfortunate to be out of circulation of the England tour.

Ishant Sharma

England v India: Specsavers 3rd Test - Day Four
Ishant Sharma has become the spearhead of Indian pace attack

Ishant Sharma has evolved from a lanky, aggressive colt to the spearhead of the Indian pace attack. Initially rebuked for his inconsistency, Sharma has been in the thick of things for India in the longest format ever since Virat Kohli has taken over the captaincy reins.

Ishant has worked intensively on his line and length and has particularly delivered the goods in the overseas tours of South Africa and England, claiming 18 scalps so far in the five-match series against the Three Lions. He has bowled great length up front and picked up classic fast bowler's dismissals.

Sharma's tall frame allows him to extract more bounce from the pitch, which, coupled with his pace make things difficult for the batsmen. He has constantly troubled the likes of Ricky Ponting and Alaistar Cook. Like Ashwin, Ishant's stint with the county side Sussex has benefited him to tap his potential to the fullest.

Jasprit Bumrah

England v India: Specsavers 3rd Test - Day Four
Bumrah is capable of bowling with the new as well as the old ball, picking wickets at regular intervals

Jasprit Bumrah is the latest sensation of Indian fast bowling, and completes the pace jigsaw, perfectly complementing the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav.

Bumrah is capable of bowling with the new as well as the old ball, picking wickets at regular intervals. He also has a golden arm and has been instrumental in breaking crucial stands. Having not played a match at home yet, his success on pace-friendly pitches in South Africa and England was a welcome sight for India.

Bumrah has already picked up 25 wickets in the 5 matches that he has played. His 5-wicket hauls at The Wanderers and Trent Bridge were pivotal in scripting famous victories at the venues.

Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table

Quick Links

Edited by Alan John