This is one of the most fun articles to write ,as everyone’s list will not be the same and so we will also try to name our all time India Test 11 and there are some names are those names that will there in everyone’s list and they have been the best test match players that India has ever seen. We would like everyone else to debate this topic and come out with their lists as well so that more and more players are recognised for their invaluable contributions to test cricket.
There have been almost 300 players that have represented India in Test cricket over 90 years of history of test cricket for the Indian team so to choose the best 11 of the lot is extremely difficult and that is what is the fun part about it. So, let’s take a look at our all time India Test 11.
Openers:
Sunil Gavaskar:
This is a name that will be on everyone’s list and he will be the first name on this all time test 11 for the Indian team. Sunil Gavaskar is the greatest opener not just in Indian cricket but one of the greatest of all time as far as world cricket is concerned. He is the first batter to ever cross the landmark of 10,000 test match runs and he even broke the record of Sir Don Bradman of 29 centuries and himself made 34 centuries. He revolutionized the defensive nature of playing cricket and leaving the ball outside the off stump.
Virender Sehwag:
If Sunil Gavaskar was the one who made defensive batting the key to test cricket batting , on the other hand it was Virender Sehwag who showed the cricketing world that you can also attack all the time and with great hand eye co- ordination test match batting van also be entertaining . He was the first batter to hit a triple hundred for India and he then went on to smash a second triple hundred and could have got a third one as well but got out for 293 Runs. In 105 Test matches he got 8586 runs with 23 hundreds.
Middle Order:
Rahul Dravid:
The best number 3 Indian cricket has ever seen and rightfully he finds his place as the number 3 in this all time test 11. Rahul Dravid served Indian cricket extremely well for over 16 years and he was a true legend of the game. He played an amazing 164 test matches for India over the years and was the only batter to play over 30,000 balls in his test career. He scored an outstanding 13,288 runs at an average of over 52 and also scored 36 centuries. He will always be remembered for his services to Indian cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar:
Probably the one name that will be written down without any discussion needed to be had. What do you say about this man that hasn’t already been said? The greatest Indian batter of all time without a doubt, Sachin Tendulkar played 200 record test matches for India with a record 51 hundreds with a record 15,921 runs as well at an average of 53.79. No all time test 11 will be complete without him.
Virat Kohli (C):
This was the first spot in this team that was a tough call between two people, VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli. Both these legendary batters have served India with great aplomb and it ultimately cane down to Virat Kohli scoring more runs in foreign conditions with more hundreds to his name and looking at the fact that Virat Kohli still has a good 5-6 years left in him and he has played 99 test matches till now and has scored over 7500 runs so he comes in.
MS Dhoni (Wk):
This again was a very tough call to take as the former captain Sourav Ganguly was also in the running but his batting plus his wicket keeping skills gave him an edge over Dada. MS Dhoni played 90 test matches in his career and scored 4876 runs at an average of over 38 and he was the best wicket keeper batter for India so he is in the team.
Kapil Dev:
Just like Sachin Tendulkar, this is a name that is an automatica selection in thus team because he was the best all rounder that ever played for India. Kapil Dev played 131 test matches for India and he got 5248 runs at a staggering strike rate of over 94 and also picked up 434 test wickets so he is obviously in the team.
Also Read | Indian bowlers with most wickets in Test cricket
Bowlers:
Ravichandran Ashwin:
Yet again for this spot there were two contenders, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin but since Ravichandran Ashwin has already surpassed 417 Wickets of Bhajji and also has a few more years left ahead of him , he earns this spot as well as he is a handy lower order batter so he makes the team. A truly Great cricketer.
Anil Kumble:
Anil Kumble has to be in the all time test 11 for India as he is the highest wicket taker in test cricket for India. He was the biggest match winner for India and his records speak for themselves. In 132 test matches that he played in he picked up 619 test wickets with 5 wickets in an innings for 35 times. One of the greatest of all time and deservedly finds a spot in this team.
Zaheer Khan:
One of the best fast bowlers that India ever produced on the world stage and the b at left arm fast bowler of his generation. He was the kind of swing and he got a lot if batters our in his career. In the 92 test matches that he played he picked up 311 test Wickets and was an inspiration for budding fast bowlers and he was the one who bought the slower ball in Indian cricket as well.
Javagal Srinath:
The last name on this list is the very quick fast bowler Javagal Srinath and he was one of the most lethal fast bowlers ever for India. He had a glittering test career as well and in the 67 test matches that he played in he picked up 236 test wickets and is one of the true legends in the history of Indian cricket.
