Team India has been dominated by the right handed batsman throughout its long cricketing history. Numerous extraordinary records have a place with players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag or Rahul Dravid. However, throughout the long history left-handed batsman with their allure leave an effect on the world to prove their authority.
Although left-handed batsman contemporaries are completely different from right-handed contemporaries. The elegance in their cover drives, pull shots and cuts looked completely different and more stylish. Left-handed batsmen have a different approach towards the game and seem to be tougher than the right-handed contemporaries.
Having said that, let us take a look at the top five greatest left-handed batsman in Indian Cricket History.
Suresh Raina:
A proven match-winner for team India in every sense and one of the finest white-ball Cricketers for team India in the last two decades.
Raina had the ability to play the anchor role against any opposition to change the course of the match in just a few overs or drop the anchor role and mould himself into the situation while playing the aggressive shots in the death overs.
Since his debut at the age of 19 he has been the most dependable player for team India in ODIs for more than a decade along with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. Along with batting he has been the exceptional fielder with his acrobatic catches which makes him the most complete cricketer in the limited overs cricket.
Matches: 226; Runs: 5615; Average: 35.31; HS: 116*
Yuvraj Singh:
Yuvraj Singh was more than records and once in a generation player. An absolute entertainer in every perception. One of the greatest left-handed batsmen ever in the Indian Cricket History. Since his debut against mighty Australian at the age of 18 when he scored 80 ball-84 runs was the brief look at his ostentatious batting.
Despite the fact that Yuvraj Singh came into the spotlight after the match-winning knock against England in 2002 NatWest Final – it was the announcement from the most ostentatious player that "My Era Had Begun". But Yuvraj Singh mostly remembered for his Six Sixes that he had went berserk against Stuart broad in the first T-20 World Cup. A class player who has been the crucial pinion for Team India along MS Dhoni and rocket launch the art of chasing in ODIs.
When on song there are very few players in World who can time the ball as exquisite as Yuvraj Singh and his ability to dominate any bowler turned him the biggest match-winner in the limited overs cricket. An effective bowler who can contribute with ball too which include more profundity into his bore.
Matches: 304; Runs: 8701; Average: 36.55; HS: 150
Gautam Gambhir:
A complete talent wasted Gautam Gambhir who could has been most successful left-handed opener for team India in every format if had played longer. Gautam Gambhir was the part of two world cup campaigns of team India. Along with Virender Sehwag he was the most successful opening pairs of team India across both the formats.
The southpaw has been the dependable player throughout his career who took out the bail of team many times with his memorable knocks in the ICC Tournaments. Since his debut against Australia in 2003 where he has cemented his slot of an opening batsman and was one of the finest ODI cricketer for team India.
Gambhir has huge contributions in Indian victories on the overseas tour too with his sublime timing and resilience in every format of game. Either it was about to play the anchor role or adapt himself into the situation Gambhir has everything in his arsenal to be called as complete cricketer.
Matches: 147; Runs: 5238; Average: 39.68; HS: 150*
Sourav Ganguly:
Former India captain Rahul Dravid had once Reckoned that on the “offside first there’s God and then there’s Sourav Ganguly”.
Cricket can defined into the two sides - Off-side and leg-side. With his gifted timing Sourav Ganguly was the genious on the Off-side. A Successful captain or a batsman? Former India opening batsman was the most complete cricketer in his career and one of the most successful captains in terms of impact he has over Indian cricket history.
“Ganguly was the first captain that changed the perception of the way India played their cricket.Now, there is not much difference Indian and Australian teams ~STEVE WAUGH”
Sourav Ganguly formed the most successful opening pairs with Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs. His ability to counter attack against best bowling attacks with his stylish cover drives and big sixes characterized him as once in a blue moon player and probably greatest left-handed batsman ever produced by India.
“His biggest asset is his freakish sense of timing. When playing his big shots, he could be very dangerous ~SHAUN POLLOCK”.
Matches: 311; Runs: 11363; Average: 41.02; HS: 183
