Test Cricket – The format is very different from the other forms of cricket and played among the professional players at the highest level of cricket. Also called as the longest format of a game which is played for 5-long days to get to the result which is either Win, loss or draw. In the last few years test cricket has started playing with the new Innovation in cricket called ‘Day and Night Test Match’.
This was started to protect the values and existence of Test Cricket which have been buried with cricket like T-20 in the recent one decade. Throughout the long cricketing history Team India has produced many greats players either it were E.A.S Prasanna to B.S Chandrasekhar of 60s the best spinners in the Indian Cricket History or it were Sunil Gavaskar to Gundappa Vishwanath who were best batsman of the team in 70s. While towards the 90s there were players Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble who were trendsetters in the Indian Cricket History. Having said, let us take a look at the greatest test XI of Team India of All-Time.
Sir Sunil Gavaskar:
There is no second thought about the first opener of this team which would be none other than the ‘Sir Sunil Gavaskar’. Arguably the greatest opener that world cricket has ever witnessed. Team India in the 70s was a complete underdog side before Gavaskar came out as a trendsetter to let the world see how the greatest opening batsman in the world looked like?
Since his series against West Indies where he scored 771 runs, world cricket has started believing this Indian batsman is very rare and his abilities to counter-attack with glorious straight drives and extra cover drives were few of the Unmatched things of this rare talent in cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar was the first cricketer to touch the milestone of 10000 runs at an average of 51.12 in 125 matches and his 34 hundreds – record was held by him for two decades with the career best-score of 236* and 13 centuries against the West Indies team of 70s put him very above others in the league and define his batting strengths.
Virender Sehwag:
The most destructive opener of all-time that world cricket has ever witnessed. If 70s to 80s was an era of Sunil Gavaskar then here is a player who has reclassified the role of an opening batsman in modern day cricket like no other. Many players have come or many will come but the abilities and calibre of destroying the bowling attack in the first hour of batting by ‘Virender Sehwag’ will remain unmatched in the coming decades or centuries.
Sehwag's ability to counter attack against any opposition in the world makes him the most flamboyant opener of all-times. Not a good player in terms of technique like Gavaskar but a gifted player of hand-eye coordination which was seen in many of his knocks when he took the game away from opposition with his whirlwind batting. There were speculations that Sehwag was the player of one series only with his improper foot work but he has records to back his case.
In 104 Tests Virender Sehwag has amassed 8586 runs at an average of 49.34 and strike rate of 82.23 which include 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries. The Sultan of Multan was the trendsetter of modern day cricket with only cricketer in Indian Cricket History to have two triple hundreds and six double hundreds under his name. Sehwag's attacking approach towards the game is another reason that he would be the Second opener of this team. Combination of Gavaskar and Sehwag set the world on fire under any conditions against any bowling attack.
Rahul Dravid:
Rahul Dravid – the greatest ever test batsman in the history of entire cricket. With the amount of the records he would be having his name in every test XI of all-time. In the late 90s when team India was at the verge of losing its existence in test cricket then came the player from Karnataka who is known as “The Wall Of Cricket” with his unmatched front foot defense batting approach to save the Indian Team in test cricket with many of his brilliant knocks.
If we say Rahul Dravid a record book himself it won't be wrong in any way. The most number of dot balls -31258 balls. The most number of runs while at Batting number 3 – 10000 runs only Kumar Sangakkara is ahead of him in terms of runs in the history. But Rahul Dravid was the first one to score 10000 runs while batting at number 3. The most number of catches at Slip position – 210 catches still the record held by Rahul Dravid. He was the first cricketer in the history to score a century against every test playing nation. Rahul Dravid also holds the record of 4 hundreds in 4 innings. Here’s an interesting read to Records of Rahul Dravid that are impossible to be touched
In 164 tests Dravid has scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.44 which include 36 centuries, 63 half-centuries and 5 double hundreds in which 3 of them came in overseas conditions. Rahul Dravid's overseas batting average of 53 is better than his home average of 51 which again justified how genius this player was in his cricketing career. There is no doubt over his selection in this team for this place.
Gundappa Vishwanath:
91 tests 6080 runs 41.35 average which include 14 centuries and 35 half-centuries. These numbers are more than enough to know how great this right hander was and was way ahead of its time. Gundappa Vishwanath along with Sunil Gavaskar were best batsman in 70s and 80s for team India. Whom even Sunil Gavaskar was a fan and considered Gundappa Vishwanath better than him.
Nicknamed “Vishy” he was the most stylish batsman in the 70s for team India with elegant wrist making stroke ability. Probably there are very less number of cricketers who could match the class of shots shown by Vishwanath with his bat. However played in an era of Sunil Gavaskar but still Vishwanath remains the most admired cricketer of all times.
The more interesting part of his career was that team India never lost the test match when he scored hundred and his 13 hundreds never went in the vain while in one hundred the match was draw. He is by far the best middle order batsman in the Indian Test Cricket History and deserve the place with no doubt over its impact on the game.
Sachin Tendulkar:
Known as the “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar needs no introduction after having every batting record in his arsenal. His straight drive is one of the best things to witness in cricket among all his cricketing shots. Sachin Tendulkar batting is more off coaching manual.
In a career spanning for 24 years, Tendulkar has scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.79 in 200 tests for team India. Since his debut at the age of 16 years, Tendulkar set the world on fire with his elegant timing and stroke making ability against the A-List teams.
MS Dhoni (Wicket keeper and Captain):
With the talent of wicket keeping and astute captaincy, Dhoni is the best captain in the Indian Cricket History. Dhoni is not good in terms of technique but the ability to play big knocks with his whirlwind batting against quality test nations define the batting strengths of this player.
In 90 tests MS Dhoni has scored 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 along with 248 dismissals would be the obvious reason for his selection in this team. Dhoni was effective lower batsman with his hard hitting abilities but he has also played knocks up the order in a red-ball cricket who walks into test cricket with his own way of swashbuckling batting unlike the history of Indian cricket team.
Kapil Dev:
Nickname Haryana Hurricane. The greatest ever all-rounder in the Indian Cricket History whose replacement is still not found. However Kapil Dev is known as the world Cup winning captain of 1983 but his contribution with bat and bowl for team India was need no discussion.
A proven match-winner who was frontline bowler of team India in the early 80s and attacking batsman down the order to score runs in a quick fashion with his elegant timing. In 131 tests Kapil Dev took 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs at an average of 31.05 and bowling average of 29.64 with the highest wicket taker in test cricket for more than a decade.
Anil Kumble:
Nickname Jumbo. The enigma called Anil Kumble. Another gentleman of the game who hailed from Karnataka with a blend of class and elegance. Kumble would be having his name in any test XI with no brainer. He is the only bowler after Jim Laker to take 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan.
An unorthodox spinner but with the tally of 619 wickets in 132 tests defined his bowling strengths and just behind Shane Warne (708) and Muthiah Muralitharan (800) in test cricket. Apart from bowling, Kumble was an effective lower order batsman with 5 half-centuries and one century to add advantage over others in his selection in the team.
Erapalli Prasanna:
49 tests 189 wickets 30.38 average these numbers may not justify the player like Prasanna but the impact he had in his career is unequalled. He was the frontline right arm off break bowler in the early 60s to late 70s for team India. Prasanna was the fastest to reach 100 wickets in 20 tests in Indian Cricket History which was a record held by him for almost three decades.
Prasanna's command over his flipper was the unplayable thing to confuse the batsman on most of his occasions. The artist of spin bowling who had the abilities to let batsman dance on his tune. However he had missed the five years of cricket career since making his debut in 1961 and wanted to complete his studies but returned to cricket in 1967. Prasanna was successful in subcontinent pitches along with overseas conditions.
BS Chandrasekhar:
Wisden Cricketer of the 1972 and also awarded with Padma Shri in the same year. 58 tests 242 wickets 29.74 average there is no discussion to not have a player of such class in a team. He along with Prasanna were successful spinners in the 60s and 70s for team India.
A big match-winner whom even players like Viv Richards was the fan who in the interview told that Chandrasekhar was the most difficult bowler I have faced through my career. With the words from the great batting legend the impact of a player like Chandrasekhar is defined. With victories against England, New Zealand, West Indies and Australia in the 60s Chandrasekhar had the vital contribution with the bowl in those games.
Javagal Srinath:
The first ever right arm fast bowler in the Indian Cricket History. Known for Mysore Express who hailed from Karnataka. Team India has a long history of spin bowlers and hardly there is a bowler who could bowl quick in early 90s before the trendsetter Javagal Srinath came out as best fast bowler in the 90s for team India.
67 tests 236 wickets 30.49 average there is no doubt over his bowling strengths especially in the subcontinent pitches where there is no help for pacers but yet this bowler was effective during the course of his career. Srinath Inswingers was the best part of his bowling, even players like Brian Lara run for the money. The fast bowling trend in the Indian Cricket History was first started by this tall and aggressive bowler.
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