If cricketers were superheroes

We live in a country where one of the greatest cricketers of all time is worshipped as God. While it is not for me to debate whether that moniker is apt or not, I can definitely dwell into comic book nerdom and fantasise about how it would be if cricketers were superheroes instead of mere mortals. Here are a few that I think would make perfect sense. Feel free to add your own or debate the veracity of my picks.

#1 Superman Sachin

To get things underway, we’ll start with the very obvious. Sachin Tendulkar is perhaps the closest cricketer to come close to Superman, not only for his superhuman abilities with the bat, but also the fact that he can do practically everything, and quite good at that. Add to that, his clean-cut image and a career without many controversies, he would be a perfect Superman.

#2 Captain America - Dhoni

MS Dhoni is that captain cool who can not only get the job done by himself, but also lead a team to achieve whatever it has set out to. An able leader, he can get all the various members of his team to bring their best talents to the table, and knows how to utilise them effectively. Just like Captain America does with the Avengers.

#3 Rahul Dravid, the Dark Knight

Batman does not have any superpowers, but he is perhaps the most important member of the Justice League, and still does not seek any attention. If that is not Rahul Dravid in world cricket, I don’t know who else is. To directly quote from that Nolan movie: “He’s the hero India didn’t deserve, but he was the one it needed.”

#4 Iron Man Kohli

If there is one bad a** and arrogant cricketer in world cricket right now, it is Virat Kohli, and therefore perfectly fits with Iron Man. Both heroes may be arrogant, but they are still loved by everyone, especially because they put their money where their mouth is and get the job done, and in style.

#5 Malinga, the Hawkeye

Hawkeye is known for his sharp shooting with his sling of arrows, and Lasith Malinga uses a slingy action to deliver his toe-crushers. I think that’s a fair enough similarity, don’t you think?

#6 Chris Gayle, The Hulk

This is perhaps perfectly apt, especially the Green Monster. In international cricket, Chris Gayle epitomises Bruce Banner, practically harmless. But when it comes to franchise cricket, where all the green is, he is most definitely The Hulk, destroying bowling attacks at will.

#7 Shahid Afridi, Hancock

Shahid Afridi has tried everything possible to do good for Pakistan cricket. He even retired multiple times to see if that would help. But more often than, he ended up not being cool and not being a saviour, just like Hancock does whenever he tries to help.