Kapil Dev

Profile

As a young, impressionable trainee, Kapil Dev wanted more food at the camp. When asked why, he said, he was a fast bowler, and was in turn ridiculed and mocked at by the coach, who said that India never produced fast bowlers. This was the kind of back drop in which Kapil Dev Nikhanj picked 434 Test and 253 ODI wickets for India.

Kapil’s biggest asset was his out swinger that he bowled at will. Later, he also developed the inswinging yorker, and once famously remarked, “God gave me the outswinger, I had to develop the rest”. Towards the middle of his career, he also started developing as a useful batsman in the lower middle order, proving his worth in a tournament turning innings of 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. Incidentally, he also captained India – sharing the same with Sunil Gavaskar – and led them to a World Cup triumph in 1983. His 5000 plus runs and 400 odd wickets in Tests made him an all rounder in the bracket of Imran Khan, Botham and Hadlee, and while his captaincy was not brilliant, it was much more attacking than some of his Indian predecessors.

He won the Indian cricketer of the century award in 2002, and went on to coach the Indian team post retirement. His regime at the top ended in tears, when he was one of the cricketers named by Manoj Prabhakar in the match fixing scandal. In 2007, he joined the Indian Cricket League as the executive member, a parallel body, unrecognized by the BCCI.

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	Matches	Innings	Runs	NO	Avg.	SR	100's	50's	HS
Test	131	184	5248	15	31.05	-	8	27	163
ODI	225	198	3783	39	23.79	95.07	1	14	175*

VVS Laxman

Profile

The orchestrator of Indian cricket’s changing tide from mediocrity to pre-eminence, VVS Laxman features vividly in Indian cricket’s folklore. The premier memory of VVS Laxman will be his 281 against Steve Waugh’s all-conquering Australia in 2001. On face value, it broke various records, overstated till nostalgia nauseates. But its larger impact was instilling a previously unfound belief and character which the Indian team lacked for decades, paving the way to inspire awe which a nation of fans often demanded but were sparsely supplied with.

Yet, Laxman’s career transcends that single historic knock. His extensive wristwork after leaning into a delivery while cushioning the ball with confidence never seemed laboured even in bowler-friendly conditions of Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies. For a large part, VVS was a constant feature in the Indian Test side, along with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. He did try to transition his calculated stroke-play to the frantic demands of ODI and T20, but despite an assured average of 30, by 2006, Laxman was soon side-lined in limited overs by the talented Suresh Raina.

Over five days though, few could challenge his position. Even his inferior physical ability - put to test while running between wickets or having to fetch deliveries in the outfield - was regarded trivial enough to overlook. Another instance of repulsion towards the spotlight (a humble streak which never betrayed Laxman) was his quick replacement as captain of Hyderabad in the IPL. But runs kept flowing and centuries kept piling (often against Australia) in typical elegant fashion which constantly endeared him to fans.

If Tendulkar was India’s ‘man of the hour’ and Dravid the dependent ‘wall’, Laxman dabbled somewhere in between, based on the situation. For India, it was an essential balance to have. However, two back-to-back poor series against England and his love affair Australia in 2011 quite a few eyebrows regarding the man’s place in the side. Following his teammate Rahul Dravid’s retirement in early 2012, VVS hung his boots, drawing curtains on a glorious career spanning over a decade of Indian cricket. The ‘Very Very Special’ Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket on 18th August, 2012, just a week before he was picked for the New Zealand home Tests.

Rahul Dravid

Profile

It’s hard to plot Rahul Dravid on the graph of cricketing greats. There has rarely been a historic Indian win without a vital contribution from ‘The Wall’, yet, playing in the Tendulkar era, his achievements have been eclipsed by the blinding presence of the great ‘Little Master’.

One of three prominent Karnataka cricketers to make their mark in the 90s, along with Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, Dravid seemed like he was born out of a batting manual with a strikingly “textbook” technique. In an age where batsmen were innovating and tweaking the norm as the game evolved, Dravid stuck by the methods that he was blooded with. His earliest Test impact of note following a 95 on debut was against South Africa in 1997, when he backed his maiden century (148) with a half-century to lead India to a rare away draw. A series of impressive knocks strengthened Dravid's foundation in the team. Lack of flamboyance was his lone limitation during his formative years. Whilst effective in Tests, it often frustrated fans in limited overs. A metamorphosis took place during the 1999 World Cup, beyond which Dravid’s batting became a marvellous sight to behold in all forms of the game. By 2002, he successfully shed his defensive style and no longer seemed shadowed by the famed Tendulkar-Ganguly opening duo. Since then, the Number 3 batsman carved his own niche as India’s batting anchor. A decade and a half later, he became the only Indian batsman barring Tendulkar never to have been dropped from the Test side since debut.

Following the match-fixing controversy, he was appointed deputy to captain Ganguly and the added responsibility egged Dravid to greater consistency. He notably played a vital supporting role to VVS Laxman in India’s historic defeat of an all-conquering Australia in 2001. By 2004, he had scored centuries against every Test-playing nation. Captaincy duty soon arrived but the spotlight repulsed him. It also affected his ODI form and after a poor 2007 World Cup he relinquished the armband to focus on his batting and was consequently dropped from ODIs and left out in the cold for 2 years. Still, his position in the classic format remained untouched, unquestioned. Few could match his Test achievements, which remained consistent as ever, vindicating him even when people around were losing faith. He carried his huge experience in the IPL, where he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore as captain in the first edition, before being bought by the Rajasthan Royals in 2011. He was then named captain-cum-coach-cum mentor of the Royals ahead of the fifth IPL edition in 2012.

Despite being a batsman of high calibre, Dravid was not a part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad, but remained an integral cog in the Test set-up. He had a fabulous summer in England that year, notching 3 centuries in 4 Tests. In what was his final visit to the Mecca of Cricket - “Lord's”, Dravid registered his name on the Honours board with a memorable ton. His performances in the Test series prompted the selectors to hand him an ODI recall and surprisingly, he received his maiden T20I call-up as well. It was probably his only T20 international and the ever-hungry run machine made the most of it, as he poured his heart out by scoring a blazing 31 off just 21 balls, that included three amazing sixes – a typical Twenty20 performance.

Later that year, a dismal tour of Australia was followed by one of the most heartbreaking news for his fans and followers, as the strongest pillar of Indian cricket finally hung his boots from all forms of international and domestic first-class cricket. Dravid announced his retirement on 9th March, 2012, bringing down the curtains on one of the most legendary cricketing careers of all time.

Fast Facts

• Rahul Dravid became the first batsman to score a century in every Test playing nation.
• His record of 93 consecutive Tests for India is the fifth highest overall and the second highest for an Indian behind Sunil Gavaskar.
• Dravid has featured in 100-run partnerships over 80 times with 18 different teammates, a record highest.
• With 461 runs, he finished as the top-scorer in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
• “Jammy” became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in a World Cup.
• He also became the sixth batsman and the third Indian to cross the 10,000 – run mark in ODIs.
• Dravid is also the sixth batsman and the third Indian to score 11, 000 Test runs.
• He holds the record for the most number of catches by any Test player.
• Dravid was one of the Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000, along with being the ICC Test Player and Player of the Year in 2004.
• He became the first player to reach the 10000-run mark at the No.3 position.

Sourav Ganguly

Profile

Undisputedly India’s most successful captain ever, Sourav Ganguly has seen many ups and downs in his international career. The ‘Prince of Kolkata’ will be always best remembered for his tremendous comeback to international cricket after being axed from captaincy and the squad. He is one of India’s most successful ODI players. During his captaincy stint, he forged a winning unit from a bunch of talented individuals which took India to the 2003 World Cup finals.

Many felt he could not play the bouncer while there were others who felt that he was the God of the off-side. Ganguly’s fitness was another reason why he was always under fire. Barring all the stated reasons, it cannot be denied that he will be one of the greatest players of one-day cricket. He can hammer the seamers as effortlessly as he plays the spinners.

Popularly known as ‘Dada’, Ganguly can be rightly counted as one of the greats of Indian cricket.

Statistics

	Matches	Innings	Runs	NO	Avg.	SR	100's	50's
Test	113	188	7212	17	42.17	51.25	16	35
ODI	311	300	11363	23	41.02	73.70	22	72
IPL	59	56	1349	3	25.45	106.80	0	7

SACHIN TENDULKER

Profile

Sachin Tendulkar can unquestionably be called the 'face of modern cricket'. He follows Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Vivian Richards as his generation's most successful batsman. The only close competitors Tendulkar has faced are Brian Lara and, in more recent times, Ricky Ponting. Statistically, while Bradman scaled unreachable heights, Tendulkar, by his sheer consistency and longevity, marked his area with expansive width that shall, like the Australian great, probably never be conquered.

By the turn of the century, watching Tendulkar as India's lone warrior staging single-handed fights while carrying the hopes of a billion hearts was cricket's grandest spectacle. Too often his achievements would be let down by lack of support from teammates. Yet, his ability to continue to live to fight another day, shoulder blame unfairly and always delve into positives transcends Tendulkar beyond a cricketing icon to a role model and a prized treasure for the oft-tarnished image of the sport. Tendulkar went on to be the game's leading run-getter, half-centurion and centurion in the two most pre-dominant forms of the game.

It is paradoxical that at the start of all these achievements was performance of nothingness - a debut ODI duck and an unflattering 15 on Test debut against Pakistan as a 16-year-old. It underlines the old adage of attitude over talent reminding everyone that even legends have to struggle to find their feet. He did make it big, of course, one small step at a time. First replacing Sanjay Manjrekar as India's most formidable batsman of the time and then becoming the only contender to Sunil Gavaskar's stature in Indian batting history. Finally, even the great Don Bradman drew parallels between himself and Tendulkar. In between, captaincy called on a few occasions, but it was one thing he wasn't cut out for.

With the passage of time came India's ascendency after disappointing pasts during Tendulkar's foray in the peak of his career. He was now provided with the long-awaited support crew. But he still remained the mainstay while guiding his nation towards the summit of Test rankings. If Bradman started high and ended low, Tendulkar started low to rise unfathomably even miles before his end.

Tendulkar's long-awaited dream was finally fulfilled when he, as part of Team India, emerged victorious in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Throughout the tournament, he was a consistent performer with the bat. In an enormous acknowledgment to his batting genius, his teammates paid the Master Blaster rich tributes for his service to Indian cricket. Post-victory, Virat Kohli perfectly summed up the sentiment of many when he famously said that it was time that they carried Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders after he had carried the burden of the nation's expectations for 21 years. The genius batsman added another feather to his cap when he scored his 100th international hundred in the 2012Asia Cup after a year long wait. Tendulkar admitted he was under severe pressure but was relieved to have the monkey off his back.

Fast Facts

• Sachin Tendulkar is the world’s leading run-getter and centurion in Tests and ODIs.
• He became the first batsman to score a double century in ODI cricket.
• “Tendlya” is the only player to record 100 international centuries.
• He became the first batsman in history to record more than 15,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs.
• “The Little Master” was the first batsman in ODIs to reach the 10,000 run milestone.
• He holds the record as the youngest Indian to make a debut in international cricket.