The Inside View: Issue 5

Welcome everybody once again to another issue of 'The Inside View'. Today's article as always looks deep inside the legacy of Indian Cricket and selects its Indian XI of all time.

The last issue on John Wright and the issue on foreign coaches sparked quite a lot of interest from my peers, friends and of course yourselves, the readers out there. It's good to know that many of you enjoy reading this column, and I thank each and everyone of you for your support.

It's a good time to be a Indian supporter at the moment, and why not? The team is in unity and harmony. For once India is recognised as one of the fitter and athletic nations in World Cricket, India has arguably the greatest batsman on the planet today in their line-up, and two of the most inspirational leaders in John Wright and Sourav Ganguly.

Despite the smell of success being very sweet at the moment, Indian Cricket has had a long, dark and turbulent past of inconsistency, disharmony and lack of co-ordination.
The legends which India has produced though have continued to bloom and blossom and make their great impact on the cricketing world.

Some legends have had a most negative impact on our game, while some due to their sheer dedication, sacrifice and desire have made every stroke, every run and every wicket seem like a unforgettable and everlasting memory. Despite the legacy of Indian Cricket being so turbulent, it is also inexplicably rich and full of tradition.

The Best XI

Arguably the greatest opening batsman, the game has ever seen selects himself as the opener and the captain for CricketWeb's Best Indian XI. With over 34 centuries at an average of over 50, with a extraordinary and unbeatable batting record against the then World Champions, West Indies, the name that first comes to mind when picking an opener for the Indian Squad is of course Sunny Gavaskar.

1.Sunil Gavaskar (Capt.)

This next man distuingishbly gives his orthadox, defensive and sometimes dour opening partner some life, colour and some much needed ruthless aggression. A fighting tiger with a record to boot, this man pipped the likes of Kris Srikkanth, Ravi Shastri and the legendary Pankaj Roy for the openers spot. A man who is not afraid of any bowling attack and doesn't mind the occasional verbal fight, with over 3000 Test runs in over 50 matches with an average of 42, the second opener is Navjot Singh Sidhu.

2.Navjot Singh Sidhu

The third name in this World's XI is synonymous with solidity, reliability and dependabilty. A man who has been the conisistent mainstay of India's batting throughout the 90's and into the new millenium. A man so valuable to this Indian line-up that he could just walk into any other International team purely on skill. Also a handy ODI player, this man's ability to pace his innings and rescue a team in dire straits only add to his quality. A consummate professional and team man, he occasionally don's the wicketkeeping gloves for his nation just to add balance and stability. With over 5000 Test Runs at an average of 53 and 6500 ODI runs at an average of 40, this man is ofcourse Rahul Dravid.

3.Rahul Dravid

This next man is so humble and hardworking, yet so prodigiously gifted in the art of batting. With eyes like a hawk and the reaction's and reflexes of a vicious crocodile, this man has every stroke in the cricketing book, and an abundance of elegance. Destined to be the greatest batsman in the history of the game since Donald Bradman, this man is a run machine. With over 34 centuries in the shorter game and over 12,000 runs, and 31 centuries in the Test match version, this man will go down as the greatest Indian batsman ever produced. Each innings is a work of art, more artistic and more visually stunning than the last one. The man of course is Sachin Tendulkar, and is the first name that comes to mind when naming a Best XI.

4.Sachin Tendulkar

Number five on our list was contended by a few great players. But only one man had the pure distinction of being selected. The Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1987, this man was Sunil Gavaskar's right hand man in terms of batting stakes. An elegant strokeplayer and with a lot of dedication and passion, this man ammassed over 6000 runs in a test career which spanned over 100 tests. With 17 centuries at an average of 42, this man ofcourse is Dilip Vengsarkar.

5.Dilip Vengsarkar

This next man was an incredibly stylish and wristy strokemaker. Every big innings made by this man was of great calibre and of great entertainment. A mainstay of India's batting throughout the 70's and 80's this man along with Vengsarkar and Gavaskar brought many Indian fan's great happiness. With over 6000 test runs at an average of 42, this man is Gundappa Viswanath.

6.Gundappa Viswanath

Voted as Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century, this next spot of number seven is filled by arguably the most talented and important cricketer India has ever fielded. A demon with the ball and extracting swing and movement from even the most docile of Indian tracks, this man carried the Indian attack on his shoulders for most of his career, and also carried out the role as a specialist batsman superbly on many occassions. One of the true great all rounders in World Cricket, the man who took a one time record of 434 Test Wickets is Kapil Dev.

7.Kapil Dev

After an exhausting list of Wicketkeepers India has gone through, only one real candidate stood out clearly as head and shoulders above the rest. A true workhorse in the 80's for India, this man was not only a capable batsman, but one of the greatest keepers to grace the game. His ability behind the stumps has not been seen by many future Indian Keepers. This man is ofcourse Syed Kirmani.

8.Syed Kirmani

Number nine on our list is the most successful Indian Spinner of all time. While he may not get many games now, he was the ultimate lethal weapon in India's bowling arsenal throughout the 90's. A unorthadox and quick action for a leg spinner, this man captured the imagination of the entire nation when he claimed a unbelievable 10/74 against Pakistan in Delhi. Over 300 test and 300 ODI wickets, this man is no other than Anil Kumble.

9.Anil Kumble

The famed spin quartet of yesteryear brings back many a memory. With such a fine history and rich tradition in spin bowling, four men were candidates to fill this number ten spot in our CricketWeb Best Indian XI. Although this famous, cunning and aggressive spinner got the pick. With plenty of fire in his belly and a record to boot, this man bamboozled the best during the 60's and 70's. With over 260 wickets at an average of 28, the number 10 position goes to none other than Bishen Singh Bedi.

10.Bishen Singh Bedi

The last spot in our team goes to a true workhorse, and a genuine nice guy. A man who has had the responsibilty for an always depleted pace attack throughout his career. The man known as 'The Mysore Express' has sacrificed, bled and burned for his country. A genuine hardworking fast bowler, this man had he been born in a country and conditions which were condusive to fast bowling, perhaps his career would've been different. But this man, still deserves his spot in the Best Indian XI. Arguably the greatest Indian fast bowler since Kapil Dev, and with over 300 ODI wickets at an average of 28 and over 250 Test Wickets at an average of 29, the last spot in our lineup goes to the hardworking, yet supremely talented Javagal Srinath.

11.Javagal Srinath.

The CricketWeb Best Indian XI

1. S Gavaskar (Captain)
2. N Sidhu
3. R Dravid
4. S Tendulkar
5. D Vengsarkar
6. G Viswanath
7. Kapil Dev
8. S Kirmani
9. A Kumble
10.B Bedi
11.J Srinath

These players were purely selected on merit, ability, level of impact on Indian Cricket and ofcourse statistically also. Many legends such as Mohammad Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar did not earn any mentions due to their illegitimate and wrong actions.

If any of you have any feedback on the column today, any questions you would like answered or even a different Indian team you want selected, please email me at sangrah.bhatia@cricketweb.net. Your feedback is important to us, as your comments always help improve the column.

The Indian Season gets underway soon, in October against New Zealand, and good news is that Sachin Tendulkar will be fit and firing against the kiwis. A good Indian Winter of Cricket is on the cards, and one is bound to get lots of excitement when New Zealand and Australia tour later in the year.

Until Next Time,

Take Care,

Sangrah Bhatia





Posted by Sangrah