Gutenberg’s Printing Press. Columbus setting sail in 1492. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Moon Landing.
Rarely does an event feel so monumental that it promises to change the course of the world as we know it.
But on November 2nd, it felt like one of those moments: India’s women cricket team winning the World Cup. Alright, perhaps not at the level of Gutenberg or the Moon Landing, but you get the point. Some moments carry an emotional force that transcends the game itself.
India has long been called the “Sleeping Giant” of world sport, a nation of passion and population, yet far from realizing its global potential. We are reminded of this with every passing FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. But even within cricket, India’s most popular sport, women’s cricket remained the final frontier.
This wasn’t an underdog story like Kapil Dev’s men of ‘83. There were expectations for the home nation, shadowed by past disappointments. A semi-final run felt realistic, but beating this world-class Australian side? Let’s be honest, not many dreamed that far.
And yet, here we are.
It wasn’t a flawless campaign by any measure. This was an imperfect victory, and that’s what made it so special. Three losses in a row. Mandhana and Harmanpreet not quite at their best early on. In-form Pratika Rawal getting injured on the eve of the semi-finals. The public turning against the team on social media. We had seen this story before.
But when Jemimah Rodrigues fought her inner demons to script an unforgettable semi-final chase, every run she took held a nation’s breath. Her silky cover drives gliding across the field, the hunger burning fiercely in her eyes, and that smiling face, the charming grace masking the depths of fear, self-doubts, and the what-ifs. She stretched her body and mind to the limit because she knew she had to see it through and remain at the crease till the end. Oh, that muddied jersey, I’ll never forget.
Then came Shafali Verma, the out-of-favor young star meeting the moment. Dancing around the pitch, hitting sixes down the ground, taking magical wickets that turned the tide as if pressure meant nothing to her.
And when the ever-positive Amanjot Kaur sprinted in for Laura Wolvaardt’s catch…dropped, caught, dropped, and caught again, in that moment, we finally started to believe.
Every player stood up and in the field, they put their bodies on the line, diving around the boundary. Lifting the trophy in the presence of Diana Edulji, Anjum Chopra, and other pioneers, bringing in Rawal on a wheelchair, celebrating with Mithali Raj and Jhulani Goswami, this was poetic justice.
Deserved world champions, a team whose grit, grace, and courage have the power to ignite the nation.
The barrier is now shattered.
Think of the impact this win will have on India’s sports culture and even its social fabric. Somewhere in a small town, a mother realizes that her daughter could dream bigger than she ever dared to. Somewhere in a boardroom, an executive finally questions pay disparity. Somewhere in the stands, a young girl’s destiny just changed, dreaming of becoming the next Richa Ghosh or Shree Charani, inspired by World Cup heroines like Deepti Sharma.
Change will not come overnight.
But on this night, it began.
This is part of a new series of short articles, where I try to aim for 500 words and make every word count. This one ended up at 549 words.
Every sports fan hopes their heroes will keep going forever. But at some point, we all have to let go.
With MS Dhoni, that time has come—for the fans, for CSK’s team management, and sadly, for Dhoni himself.
***
From No. 3 in 2005 to No. 9 in 2025
Age should never be a barrier in selection.
Pravin Tambe debuted at 41 and played till he was nearly 48. Brad Hogg lasted till 46. And Faf du Plessis? Still the fittest cricketer around at 40.
So why are we questioning MS Dhoni all of a sudden?
This season, his batting has come under scrutiny more than once. Against RCB chasing 197 , Dhoni walked in at No. 9 with the score at 99/7 in the 16th over. The game was already gone.
For a player whose legend began with that148 at No.3 against Pakistan in 2005, it felt strange, almost uncomfortable, to see him bat so low.
“…his knees aren’t what they used to be. And he’s moving okay, but there’s still an attrition aspect to it. He can’t bat ten overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us.”
He is still lightning fast behind the stumps. He can still clear the ropes. But if he’s not fully fit, what message does that send for a league striving to be the most professional in the world?
***
And yet, the very next game made the discomfort even harder to ignore. We witnessed the bore of a game against the Delhi Capitals.
Enough time for a counterattack. But there was no intent. No pressure put on Delhi. Just a quiet 30* off 26.
Yes, the openers and middle order are out of form. But this version of Dhoni looked like a shadow of the old finisher, mistiming lower full-tosses and missing free hits.
Maybe it was a slow pitch. Maybe the lack of game time. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s time.
There is one more aspect we have not touched yet: The business perspective.
CSK is a franchise that understand brand value, and Dhoniis the brand. He fills the stadiums, drives social buzz, and brings new fans to the game.
But does it still make cricketing sense?
A few years ago, India only had a handful of finishers—Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and MS Dhoni. Retaining him made sense.
But things have changed. The IPL is now full of power hitting finishers: Shashank Singh, Ashutosh & Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Rovman Powell, and plenty more. The supply of wicketkeepers is even higher. Gaikwad has already taken over the captaincy.
The league has moved forward. The question is—has CSK?
What does CSK want more? A winning team built on the next generation of heroes or to hold on Dhoni’s legacy so tightly that the glow of Dhoni’s greatness slowly dims?
“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
Okay, that’s a bit too much. Dhoni will never be a villain. Not after everything he has done for Indian cricket. But the longer this drags, the more it risks leaving a sour taste on an otherwise glorious career.
The greatest finishers don’t just know how to close games. They know when to walk away.
The IPL 2023 win may have been the perfect send-off. But the past is the past. Dhoni still has a chance to finish this in his own way.
Don’t be surprised if he retires mid-season, like his sudden Test retirement in the middle of the 2014 Border-Gavaskar trophy. Or if he vanishes with a cryptic Insta story. That’s Dhoni.
He has always done things this way. This time, it will be no different.
But when it’s over, we will all come together. And we’ll cry.
Because legends do not fade quietly.
***
Bonus: What do the Fans Say?
In a poll I did on X, 69.7% of the people were of the opinion that MS Dhoni should retire.
Vote 👇
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) April 6, 2025
Here is a fan’s interview after the Delhi Capitals match. Even the greatest of fans are not happy.
Niccolò Machiavelli argued in his famous political treatise, The Prince, that it is “much safer to be feared than to be loved.”
The BCCI has taken that philosophy to heart, wielding its soft power in ways that are gradually eroding trust in cricket.
The Champions Trophy may just be the tipping point.
The Accusations
Since cricket’s resumption after the financially and mentally taxing COVID-induced break, the BCCI has increasingly dictated terms. Subtle but significant decisions across the last four ICC tournaments have raised serious concerns.
2021 T20 World Cup: India’s last two matches were scheduled against Scotland and Namibia, conveniently positioned as the final group-stage fixtures—providing them the best chance to boost their NRR if needed.
Champions Trophy: On the flip side, in a format where an opening loss is nearly fatal, India starts against Bangladesh while their toughest fixture—New Zealand—is left until the end.
2024 T20 World Cup: Matches in the Caribbean were scheduled to suit Indian prime-time television, not local fans. It was decided ahead of the tournament that if India qualify for the 2024 T20 WC semi-final, they would get to play in Guyana irrespective of group stage standings.
Travel Disparities: In the same tournament, Sri Lanka had to face airplane delays and four flights at four venues, while India stayed in one location and had gap between their Sunday to Sunday matches.
And now, India are playing all their matches in the same venue at Dubai while South Africa take a trip from Pakistan to Pakistan via the UAE.
I am not claiming that this is outright corruption or that ICC tournaments are rigged. Far from it.
But, these are not mere coincidences either. It raises serious concerns about the independence of fixtures, and that independence is what keeps sport fair and compelling to watch.
South Africa flew out to Dubai from Karachi after playing England. Then flew back to Lahore barely 12 hours after landing in Dubai.
Ironically, it is Team India, one of the greatest ODI sides in modern history, that is suffering from this loss of trust.
Let’s take a look at the squad:
Virat Kohli – The greatest ODI Player of all time.
Rohit Sharma – Legendary opener, three double centuries, including a 264-run masterpiece.
Shreyas Iyer – Resolved India’s #4 conundrum and as Abhishek AB on Twitter mentioned, the only #4s with a 100+ SR and 50+ average.
KL Rahul – The finest #5 batter of this generation.
Shami – India’s best ICC ODI bowler.
– 54 batters have scored 1500+ runs at No.4 in ODIs. – Only 7 of them averaged 50+ at this position. – But among them, just one has a 100+ strike rate.
Besides the core, you have the all-rounder engine room of Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. They can be the insurance policy and arrest the slide when wickets fall early or provide the finishing touch. On the field, they can stall opposition with economical spells, timely wickets, catches, and game-changing run-outs.
If the opposition somehow manages to get through these eight, then they pray that they do not run into ICC #1 Shubman Gill, the guile of Varun Chakravarthy, or Kuldeep Yadav’s artistry. The likes of Rishabh Pant are carrying drinks, and Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, and Sanju Samson are not even in the squad.
Since 2011, India has lost just seven ICC ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy matches out of 51. England lost six in the 2023 World Cup alone.
Yet, because of the UAE-Pakistan hosting fiasco, even die-hard cricket fans are now questioning the seriousness of this tournament. Heck, Peter Della Penna is not even watching the tournament at all!
I haven't watched a single ball of this Champions Trophy, first time I've not watched a major ICC event since 2005. I can't exactly call it a boycott. I just can't watch it seriously with a straight face when the thumb is so blatantly on the scales for one team vs all others. https://t.co/ZIZWqhsI3S
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) March 5, 2025
The Needless UAE Debate
This Indian side is one of the most balanced ODI sides in recent memory. However, the focus in the last couple of weeks has diverted to an unnecessary debate. Nasser Hussain & Mike Atherton claimed that India had an ‘undeniable advantage.’
Rassie van der Dussen pointed out that “If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches it’s definitely an advantage. I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that.”
(Side note: As someone who has been stranded a bazillion times in the Dallas Fort Worth airport, I can relate to David Miller’s frustrations. Once, I almost landed at my destination only for the plane to turn sent back to Dallas due to a tornado warning, forcing me to sleep in the airport — I get it, David. Flights have a way of ruining a good night’s sleep or an entire weekend, but that’s a whole other story.)
When the Nasser Hussain’s of the world question India’s authority, the whole world erupts. Journalists, fans, cricketers all weigh in, and the Indian Newtonian brigade swiftly respond with their equal and opposite stingers.
As CricBlog argues, India only playing in the UAE isn’t really that much of an advantage as critics claim.
Frankly, they could have broken the 400 barrier in the flat pitches of Pakistan. This team would have dominated anywhere.
The point isn’t whether India needs these advantages — it’s that they exist at all.
And dude, these players are accustomed to playing double Super Overs on a Sunday night into Monday morning for IPL matches, squeezing interviews and sponsorship committments, getting a few of hours of sleep, and traveling to another city for a game just 36 hours later. The kind of relentless schedule and travel is the reality for today’s IPL generation of professional athletes.
Hypocrisy, Thy Name is India
As William Shakespeare most certainly did not say, “Hypocrisy, Thy Name is India.”
The BCCI’s stance on cricketing relations with Pakistan is simple: “We refuse to play bilateral cricket Pakistan due to geopolitical reasons. We will not play them at all (well, of course, except in the cases of money, TV rights, and yep that’s about it, money).
When ICC tournaments were held every four years, I could understand the financial weight India-Pakistan matches carried, but with these tournaments happening every year now, the matches no longer hold the same significance. And honestly, they have become predictably boring.
The argument always has been, the ICC earnings from these encounters would be reinvested into grassroot cricket and growth of the game worldwide. Growth of cricket, my foot!
In a Big-3 led 10-team World Cup sport, the ICC’s exploitation of India-Pakistan is just a cash cow, stripping ICC fixtures of their independence and adding logistical burden for every other nation. As Jarrod Kimber rightly exclaimed on this point, “Can we just grow up as sport?”
Mohammed Shami admits that playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai has been an advantage for India 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5FrE3fPmAf
In school, sometimes a new kid arrives and gets all the attention. In the cricket world, India is the new (financial) kid. And they also happen to be the smartest student in the room.
Social media is already pandering to Indian audiences due to the views and monetization. Not only has the tune of the high level administrators become more rosy towards India, but YouTube channels of Pakistani cricketers, podcasts from Australia and England — EVERYbody caters to Indian audiences.
Is that a bad thing? No, can actually be pretty entertaining to be honest.
Nobody questions the BCCI anymore. Everyone just quietly wants to be friends with them and take a piece of the pie.
Remember in 2003 when teams accused Ricky Ponting of playing with a “spring bat”? How could a team be so good (and slightly arrogant). Well, India is that team now, and the BCCI is that board.
The ICC-B team, also known as the BCCI, need to clean up their image.
We love the cricketers.
Let us enjoy the cricket too. I will end it with the complete quote from Machiavelli:
“It is much safer to be feared than loved because….love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.”
All IPL owners are expected to bid in sale of The Hundred teams for a minority stake and change the name of franchises. This would add to the list of growing influence of IPL teams in world franchise cricket—CPL, SA20, MLC, ILT20.
Jay Shah becomes the youngest chair of the ICC, unanimously elected. Three of the last 4 ICC chairs have been Indian. In the last 15 years, Sharad Pawar (as president), N Srinivasan, Shashank Manohar, and Jay Shah have served at the highest ranked ICC position.
****
What Should India’s Role Be in the World?
India has clearly solidified its status as both a soft and hard power in world cricket now. One can even say that the BCCI has become a quasi-monopoly.
Now that it has established its dominance, what’s next? One question that currently keeps me up at night is,
“What should India’s role be in the cricketing world?”
Should the BCCI be doing more for the cricket world or should they act solely for Indian cricket’s self-interest?
Based on the current trajectory, there are three distinct possibilities how India’s reign will turn out:
(1) Absolute power corrupts the BCCI absolutely and results in the complete downfall of the ICC and international cricket as a whole.
(2) The BCCI focuses on enriching Indian cricket only, and the IPL becomes an all year round phenomenon.
(3) Indian cricket administration takes a vocal role in expansion of cricket in the world, leads the revival of cricket in smaller nations, and takes them along as the BCCI grows financially.
Since the first point is an extreme case, we will rule this out for the rest of our discussion and direct our focus on the final two points.
We will explore what can happen if the BCCI only focuses on its self-interest by utilizing Adam Smith’s ‘invisible hand,’ dig deeper into the possibility of India helping other nations by employing Smith’s ‘impartial spectator’ & Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ‘mirror,’ and keep up the hope of India becoming world cricket’s ‘Brother’s Keeper’ by studying this Bible verse as well as a Sanskrit shlok.
The Invisible Hand
Imagine you are having a lavish dinner at a restaurant. The chefs, waiters, and all the other staff are at your service with a smile. The food is delicious.
All in all, a great time.
But let’s hold back a moment and reflect—Did you come to the restaurant to help the chefs and waiters?
No.
You went there only to enjoy a nice meal and have a good evening. Did the chef and waiters do their best only to please you?
Probably not. They were doing their duty, and you happened to be a beneficiary.
And that folks is what Adam Smith calls the ‘invisible hand.’ Smith states that it is “not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest” (Theory of Moral Sentiments). Basically the implicit idea behind free market capitalism.
We can apply this same idea to how Indian cricket can proceed in the future. Contrary to the popular belief, the BCCI can choose to only focus on the betterment of Indian cricket, and it might actually not turn out to be a bad thing for the rest of the nations.
If Indian cricket and the brand value of the IPL grows, the pay checks will get bigger, the standard of facilities will rise, and more people in the world (even non-cricketers) will gain employment. Overseas cricketers and coaches will become better, young kids from around the world will pick up cricket as a sport organically, and the sport will grow competitive with abundant prospering talent.
Choice 1: Follow your own interests, and the others will grow as a by product.
I Am My Brother’s Keeper
While self-preservation can be a driver for progress, on the opposite end of the spectrum is using power as a tool to help others.
A passage from Ezekiel 25:17 in The Bible embodies this idea perfectly,
“Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper, and the finder for lost children.”
Much of cricket’s problems stem from the imbalance between the different nations. Poorer financial health, unstable governments, lack of domestic awareness.
Bangladesh promises yet never delivers, West Indies excites with an underlying sense of nostalgic disappointment, Pakistan is well…Pakistan, Kenya disappeared, and Zimbabwe is as close to the rope of disappearing as Suryakumar’s catch was on the 29th of June.
Maybe a better redistribution of wealth, an odd tri-series with India as a participant, more TV rights, etc. can help tip the scales back in balance.
A prominent Sanskrit Shlok captures this sentiment:
“Sarve Bhavantu Sukinha” May all be happy
“Sarve Santu Nirayamaya” May all be free from illness
“Sarve Badryani Pashyantu” May all see what is auspicious
“Maa Kaschid-Dukha-Bhaag-Bhavet” May no one suffer
“Ohm Shanti Shanti Shanti” Om Peace, Peace, Peace
The world is a better place when everybody prospers and nobody suffers.
If we focus on doing good for the larger masses of people, then the society will benefit and in turn, the individual will be prosper as well. In our scenario, if the BCCI makes their aim to help cricket grow as a sport worldwide and use their monetary power to support other struggling nations, then it will help them in the longterm as well.
Choice 2: The ones in power have a moral obligation to help others for the sake of doing the right thing.
Individuality Versus The Collective Good
Let’s not be naive.
There is no way that the BCCI takes ownership of becoming the cricket world’s caretaker. Or is there?
Human beings are complicated.
We are not merely satisfied by our own successes. What do we sometimes value more?
External validation.
Rousseau describes this aptly—“Social man lives always outside himself, he knows how to live only in the opinion of others…from their judgment alone that he derives the sense of his own existence” (Discourse on Inequality). We do not judge ourselves honestly. Rather, we take society as a mirror and judge ourselves as a reflection to others.
This is where things get interesting. By all objective measures, India is doing well. They are winning World Cups, have the approval of billions of fans, and have the power.
But you can sense that the BCCI wants something more. They are trying everything to be a little bit bigger, better, grander (see: Building a 100,000 spectator stadium to host the World Cup final….).
So with self-interest and external validation as the chief motivators, is India heading in the wrong direction?
Not quite.
And this is where Adam Smith comes back to the picture.
Impartial Spectator
Smith partially agrees with Rousseau that individuals do not necessarily uplift others for the sake of uplifting others.
He asserts that it is “not the soft power of humanity” or the “feeble spark of benevolence which Nature has lightened up in the human heart.”
Rather, it is a “stronger power, a more forcible motive. It is reason, principle, conscience, the inhabitant of the beast, the man within, the great judge and arbiter of our conduct.”
He calls this strong internal force—The impartial spectator from which “we learn the real littleness of ourselves…and the natural misrepresentations of self-love.”
Smith argues that this impartial spectator, that we each have within us, is what “prompts [us] to sacrifice [our] own interests to the greater interests of others.” The impartial spectator is a realization that we are flawed beings, and that is okay. We can have selfish desires, and it is natural that we judge ourselves based on what others will think. We don’t have to try to be perfect and do the right thing all the time.
But deep down, an impartial spectator will guide us to go to greater heights and inspire us to becoming altruistic beings.
The BCCI will make mistakes. They will try to promote Indian cricket interests like never before. It may seem that they are only helping other cricket boards or donating to charities for a photo-op (or tax breaks), but every now and then, they will end up doing the right thing and sacrifice for the greater good due to the impartial spectator (the inner checks & balances in this case).
Choice 3: Even if it feels that going all in and fighting for individual gain is the right way to go, sometimes an inner voice will force us to do the right thing for everybody.
Nash from CricBlog podcast had an interesting perspective. Although the BCCI is set to receive an absurd 38% from ICC’s pie in the next cycle, that is still a sacrifice given the BCCI provides about 90% of revenue in the first place.
.@NashvSant with his take on the 38% India receives from the ICC's revenue distribution model. Thoughts?
🚨 Listen to full episodes of The CricBlog Podcast 🚨
I will leave you with this final thought from Robert Frost’s acclaimed poem,
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I couldn’t travel both…and,
I took the one that’s less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Which road will Jay Shah, and the BCCI take?
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My Two Cents
Money is power, and power corrupts, but all that is powerful may not be corrupt.
As outsiders, we always assume the worst in others, especially those in power. But maybe, we ought to give them a chance.
Although Choice 1 seems the most realistic, and Choice 2 the most idealistic, I think Choice 3 is where we will end up being.
Personally, I like Choice 2 the best. I like to see the best in people believe that deep down, we all want to help others without expecting anything in return.
Picture a future where cricketers from other countries do not retire prematurely to take up another job. A future where the Netherlands and Scotland are just as worthy prospects as England are for the annual Euro Cup. A future where the BCCI sets cricket camps funds domestic 4-day tournaments around the world. A future where they use abundant resources to help other sports in a country grow.
Some of this is already happening. Although it happened 3-5 years too late, investing in the Women’s Premier League was the step in the right direction. Other examples including increase support for groundsmen and staff, raising Ranji trophy salaries, and distributing wealth to the Indian Olympians at Paris.
I am proud to announce that the @BCCI will be supporting our incredible athletes representing #India at the 2024 Paris Olympics. We are providing INR 8.5 Crores to the IOA for the campaign.
To our entire contingent, we wish you the very best. Make India proud! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳…
I am pleased to announce prize money of INR 125 Crores for Team India for winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The team has showcased exceptional talent, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and support… pic.twitter.com/KINRLSexsD
When the two biggest sporting leagues in the world unite!
BCCI Honorary Secretary, Mr. @JayShah, visited the @NFL headquarters in New York to meet with Commissioner Mr. Roger Goodell and his distinguished team. This introductory meeting focused on sharing… pic.twitter.com/beWeqFEOJi
The unsung heroes of our successful T20 season are the incredible ground staff who worked tirelessly to provide brilliant pitches, even in difficult weather conditions. As a token of our appreciation, the groundsmen and curators at the 10 regular IPL venues will receive INR 25…
What is greatness? William Shakespeare once aptly said,
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.”
Today we discuss the greatest Indian cricketers of all-time across formats and eras. Some of them are born geniuses. Others toiled their way to greatness, one ball at a time.
Let’s be honest, we have all done this exercise in our head a few times in our lives. However, with India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory, the nation now has new heroes.
We considered over 150 cricketers who have represented India in the last 130 years and came up with the Top 60.
Here is sneak peek—Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni have been chosen as the Top 5 Greatest Indian cricketers of all-time.
We looked at India’s major victories and which players contributed to those triumphs. This includes famous Test wins, T20 & ODI World Cup wins, Champions Trophy, etc.
World Cup Wins: 1983 ODI World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup
Other ICC Wins: 2002 Champions Trophy, 2013 Champions Trophy
Runners Up: 2000 Champions Trophy, 2003 ODI World Cup, 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, 2023 ODI World Cup
Major Test Series Victories: India Tour of England 1971, India Tour of England 1986, Australia Tour of India 2001, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21
For cricketers who played before the 1970s, we considered anecdotal references and stories as well as first class statistics.
Statistics
We considered statistics across formats in each of the areas: batting, bowling, fielding, keeping, and captaincy.
Most Wickets
Test
ODI
T20I
A Kumble (619)
A Kumble (334)
Y Chahal (96)
R Ashwin (516)
J Srinath (315)
B Kumar (90)
K Dev (434)
A Agarkar (288)
J Bumrah (89)
H Singh (417)
Z Khan (269)
H Pandya (86)
I Sharma (311)
H Singh (265)
A Singh (83)
Z Khan (311)
K Dev (253)
R Ashwin (72)
R Jadeja (294)
R Jadeja (220)
K Yadav (69)
B Bedi (266)
V Prasad (196)
A Patel (62)
B Chandrashekar (242)
M Shami (195)
R Jadeja (54)
J Srinath (236)
I Pathan (173)
R Bishnoi (48)
Most Runs
Test
ODI
T20I
S Tendulkar (15921)
S Tendulkar (18426)
R Sharma (4231)
R Dravid (13265)
V Kohli (13872)
V Kohli (4188)
S Gavaskar (10122)
S Ganguly (11221)
SK Yadav (2432)
V Kohli (8848)
R Dravid (10768)
KL Rahul (2265)
VVS Laxman (8781)
R Sharma (10767)
S Dhawan (1759)
V Sehwag (8503)
MS Dhoni (10599)
MS Dhoni (1617)
S Ganguly (7212)
M Azharuddin (9378)
S Raina (1605)
C Pujara (7195)
Y Singh (8609)
H Pandya (1523)
D Vengsarkar (6868)
V Sehwag (7995)
R Pant (1209)
M Azharuddin (6215)
S Dhawan (6793)
Y Singh (1177)
Most Matches As Captain
*Matches Won/Matches Captained
Test
ODI
T20I
V Kohli (40/68)
MS Dhoni (110/200)
MS Dhoni (41/72)
MS Dhoni (27/60)
M Azharuddin (90/174)
R Sharma (49/62)
S Ganguly (21/49)
S Ganguly (76/146)
V Kohli (30/50)
M Azharuddin (14/47)
V Kohli (65/95)
H Pandya (10/16)
S Gavaskar (9/47)
R Dravid (42/79)
SK Yadav (7//10)
Most Dismissals As Keeper
Test
ODI
T20I
MS Dhoni (294)
MS Dhoni (438)
MS Dhoni (91)
S Kirmani (198)
N Mongia (154)
R Pant (49)
R Pant (133)
K More (90)
D Karthik (27)
K More (130)
R Dravid (86)
S Samson (13)
N Mongia (107)
KL Rahul (56)
I Kishan (12)
Most Catches
Test: R Dravid (209), VVS Laxman (135), S Tendulkar (115), V Kohli (111), S Gavaskar (108)
ODI: M Azharuddin (156), V Kohli (151), S Tendulkar (140), R Dravid (124), S Raina (102)
T20I: R Sharma (65), V Kohli (54), H Pandya (47), SK Yadav (45), S Raina (42)
The Honorable Mentions
Future Stars
These players were not considered in the list (currently), but will most likely be considered greats of Indian cricket by the time they retire.
Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill, Ravi Bishnoi, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal (712 runs in a series, wow!), Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul
For each cricketer listed, we considered the number of international matches played across formats (longevity), player of match/series awards (impact), notable achievements (specific Test series & World Cup stats), and if they captained India, played 100 Tests, and/or won a World Cup.
If a retired player satisfies any of the following criteria, then they automatically make the list:
9 Player of the Match Awards
300+ International Wickets
10000+ International Runs
*Note: Shri Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji, two of the greatest cricketers of Indian origin after whom the ‘Ranji’ and ‘Duleep’ trophies are named, do not feature in this list because they represented England in their international career.
Without taking any more of your time, let’s go!
60. Kiran More (1984-1993, Baroda)
Role: Wicketkeeper/Batter
A constant figure behind the stumps for India in the late eighties, More will be remembered for the most stumpings in a match (6) in Narendra Hirwani’s debut Test where he took 16 wickets.
Matches Played: 143
Runs: 1848
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 4th Most Dismissals in Test for India
Possibly the best forward short-leg fielder of all-time, his contribution cannot be understated in uplifting India’s spin quartet. Has one Test century to his name, 8 FC tons, and 276 FC wickets.
Matches: 34
Runs: 1095, Wickets: 22
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 53 catches in 27 Tests, the best ratio for a non-wicketkeeper.
The highest T20I wicket-taker for India…and has yet, never played a single T20 WC game. Was not picked for 2021 T20WC and was on the sidelines of the others (including 2024). However, it was ODI cricket between 2016-2019, where the duo of Chahal-Kuldeep became a deadly combination. Lack of batting prowess probably hurt his ability to find a place in the XI more often.
Matches Played: 152
Wickets: 217
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Highest wicket-taker in T20Is for India (96)
5359 runs at 37.47 average with 6 ODIs in the lower middle order, Jadeja will be remembered for match-winning knocks, quick finishes, and athletic fielding. International career ended due to match-fixing investigations.
Matches: 211
Runs: 5935
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 50 dismissals to his name in ODIs to go along with 5000 runs
Pivotal to India’s maiden Test series victory in England, Sardesai had a fruitful 1971. 789 runs at 60.69 with three centuries. Also had a spectacular 1965, averaging 120 in 3 Tests against New Zealand.
Matches Played: 30
Runs: 2001
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 642 Runs in West Indies (1970-71), 449 vs England (1963-64), scored 200* as his first hundred
Solid batter, had a great record against New Zealand – 507 runs at 84.5 with 3 centuries and England – 1181 runs at 43.74 with 3 centuries and 5 fifties.Scored 38 first class tons.
Matches Played: 55
Runs: 3208
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 586 runs vs England (1961-62), Scored 100 in final Test
India’s best wicketkeeper before Kirmani. Had the challenge to keep to the Fab 4 spin quartet. Handy batter himself, scored 2 Test hundreds and 16 fifties.
Matches Played: 51
Runs: 2725
Player of Match Awards: 2 (1 ‘fielder of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Took 66 catches and inflicted 16 stumpings in Tests.
Now known for his public speaking abilities, it was Sidhu’s bat that did the talking in the late 80s and early 90s. Could hit sixes at will and established a formidable career as an opener. Has a double century to his name in the West Indies.
Matches Played: 187
Runs: 7615
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Scored four consecutive centuries in the 1987 ODI WC
Player of the series in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, Shastri won several matches for India in his career. Scored 11 Test hundreds including a 206 in Sydney along with 11 four-wicket hauls in Tests. Later, coached Team India and lives in the hearts & minds of Indian cricket fans through his voice.
Matches Played: 230
Wickets: 280, Runs: 6938
Player of Match Awards: 14
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅ (11 ODIs, 1 Test)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 77.75 average vs Australia (10 Tests), Player of the series (World Championship of Cricket)
Was the central figure behind the stumps in the seventies and eighties. Kept for India’s spin quartet, the dibbly dobbly medium pacers, and Kapil Dev. Two Test tons to his name as well.
Matches Played: 137
Runs: 3132
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 3rd Most stumpings in a career.
India’s captain in the overseas 1971 Test victories over England and West Indies.Although he only had a solitary hundred in Test cricket (143), he dominated FC cricket: 15380 runs at 47.03 average and 36 centuries.
Matches Played: 39
Runs: 2186
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Got close to Test hundred several times: 99, 91*, 91, 87, 85, 80.
Uncoventional, yet effective. Pant may rise up this list as his career grows, but he has already made a case for himself with his exploits in Test cricket, especially against Australia. 89* at the Gabba, 97 at Sydney (2021), 159* also at Sydney (2019), 146 at Birmingham, and 114 at the Oval. Also to make an international comeback and and help India lift the 2024 T20WC squad after the accident that changed his life around is a wonderful story on its own. Short career so far, but impactful nevertheless.
Matches Played: 139
Runs: 4345
Player of Match Awards: 4
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Joint Most dismissal in a Test match (11 vs Australia, 2018), Six times dismissed in the 90s in Test cricket
43. Krishnamachari Srikkanth (1981-1992, Tamil Nadu)
Role: Batter
Before Sehwag, there was Srikkanth. Scoring 4091 ODI runs with 4 hundreds at 71.74 SR (quick for the time) established him as India’s mainstay at the top of the order. Top scored in the 1983 WC Final.
Matches Played: 189
Runs: 6153
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Has a high score of 123 in both Tests and ODIs, Most Runs in World Championship of Cricket (1985)
Ishant Sharma’s spell against Ricky Pontinghad everyone convinced that India had found their next fast bowling sensation. Did he fulfill his potential? Maybe, maybe not. Described as ‘unlucky’ for early part of the career, the 2011 series against West Indies rejuvenated his Test career. He would go on to establish himself as the leader of the attack with a magnificent 7/74 at Lord’s in 2014.
Matches Played: 199
Wickets: 434
Player of Match Awards: 6
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 22 wickets vs West Indies (2011)
One of India’s most gifted swing bowlers.Set the tone in ODI cricket. Had his best Test against England at Lord’s in 2014 when he took 6/82. Also made several crucial runs at #8.
Matches Played: 229
Wickets: 294
Player of Match Awards: 11
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 4th Most Maidens in T20I career (10)
Scored India’s first Test ton (and his only 100) and was independent India’s first Test captain. Also scored 31 first class hundreds and took 463 wickets to go along with 10,426 FC runs. A prominent figure in India’s early cricket history and contributed through various roles after his cricketing career.
Matches Played: 24
Runs: 878
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored India’s first Test hundred
Went onto score 112 during the partnership of 203 with Vijay Merchant, becoming the first Indian to score an overseas Test hundred. Had an outstanding FC career with 30 tons and over 13,000 runs.
Matches Played: 11
Runs: 612
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored India’s first overseas Test century, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is named after him
Not being picked for most of his 20s, Suryakumar Yadav has made the most of his opportunities since 2021. 2432* T20I runswith 4 T20I hundreds, 20 fifties, 168.65 SR at 42.66 average not only make him India’s premier T20 batter, but one of the best T20I batters of all-time.
Matches Played: 109
Runs: 3213
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Most Player of the Match Awards in T20Is (16), 2nd Most T20I runs in a year (1164 in 2022)
India’s number 4-5-6 of Yuvraj-Dhoni-Raina is one of the most dynamic middle orders of all-time. Raina had it all, the off spin, the fielding, and the batting. His clutch finishes in the 2011 QF and SF will be remembered for generations to come. 5615 ODI runs at 93.5 SR establishes him as an ODI great.
Matches Played: 322
Runs: 7988
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Hit century on Test debut (120), First Indian to score a century in each format
Mohammad Shami in the ODI World Cups is a legendary figure. 55 wickets, best of 7/57 at the best average (13.52) and best strike rate (15.81) of anyone in the list. Don’t forget his memorable spells in Test cricket either.
Matches Played: 188
Wickets: 448
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 5th Most Wickets in ODI World Cups (55)
Possibly India’s most misunderstood cricketer, Gautam Gambhir’s performances at clutch times established him as the batter of his times. The 2007 T20 WC Final, 2011 ODI WC Final, and the stonewalling 137 against New Zealand will be remembered as his most prominent knocks.
Matches Played: 242
Runs: 10324
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Highest Individual Scorer in the 2007 T20 World Cup Final (75) and the 2011 ODI World Cup Final (97), 463 runs vs Australia (2008-09), 445 runs vs New Zealand (2008-09)
Considered one of India’s greatest captains. Led India in its first overseas Test win (NZ, 1967).
Matches Played: 46
Runs: 2793
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘batsman of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1968), Made 64 (206) and 148 (348) at #6 vs England in 1967. This still stands as a record for the most number of balls played by a #6 batter in the history of Test cricket (554).
Although Venkataraghavan had 1390 wickets in his first class career, he was often left out as the fourth of the spin quartet. Yet he played for 18 years and took 156 Test wickets. Was India’s captain in the 1975 & 1979 ODI World Cups.
Matches Played: 72
Wickets: 161
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅ (7 Tests, 5 ODIs)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Best of 8/72 vs New Zealand (1965), took 35 wickets in the 1970-71 season
Will always be remembered for the player of the match in the 1983 ODI WC that changed the nature of Indian cricket. Was a stellar batter in his own right. In the 1982 season, he scored 1077 runs, 4 hundreds, and 7 fifties.
Matches Played: 154
Runs: 6302, Wickets: 78
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Player of the 1983 World Cup Final, 598 runs vs West Indies (1982-83), 584 vs Pakistan (1982-83), 445 runs vs Australia (1977-78), 237 runs & 8 wickets in 1983 ODI WC
Yet another member of the famed quartet, Prasanna was known for his flight. Dominated the Trans-Tasman teams in the late 1960s and the main contributor to India’s first Test overseas victory in New Zealand. He was a beast at the FC level, 957 wickets and 54,823 balls bowled. He was also an engineer.
Matches Played: 49
Wickets: 189
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘bowler of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 26 Wickets vs Australia (1969-70), 25 Wickets vs Australia (1967-68), 24 Wicket vs New Zealand (1967-68), 8/76 vs New Zealand
A player for the ICC tournaments like no other. Shikhar Dhawan between 2013-2019 was one of India’s prime match winners. Unfortunate injury in the 2019 World Cup ended his stint at the top, but not before he scored yet another magnificent century. Formed the star top order with Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli.
Matches Played: 269
Runs: 10867
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 187 on Test debut, Player of the Series & Most Runs – 2013 Champions Trophy, Most Runs – 2017 Champions Trophy, Highest Runs for India – 2015 ODI World Cup, Scored 5193 runs with Rohit Sharma
Marred by polio, Chandrasekhar had a different sort of jumpy action. The fact that he established a career is astonishing by itself. That he took 242 Test wickets, 42 in overseas conditions, is even more staggering.
Matches Played: 59
Wickets: 245
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘bowler of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 35 wickets vs England (1972-73), 28 Wickets vs Australia (1977-78), Best of 8/79 vs England (1972), 16 career 50fers
The Ashes documentary sums up the significance of Cheteshwar Pujara pretty well. ‘This man just bats…and bats…and bats…’ India will always remain indebted to Pujara for their first Test series victory in Australia in 2018. And in the 2020-21 series, he was just as gritty, assured, and monumental to India’s win. With 100 Tests and 19 hundreds to his name, he is has become a certified legend.
Matches Played: 108
Runs: 7246
Player of Match Awards: 6
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India?❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 521 runs vs Australia (2018-2019)
One of the more stylish batters, Viswanath was a mainstay of the Indian middle order for much of the 1970s. His name is connected to Sunil Gavaskar in more ways than one.
Matches Played: 116
Runs: 6519
Player of Match Awards: 2
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅ (2 Tests, 1 ODI)
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 568 runs vs West Indies (1974-75), 518 runs vs Australia (1979-1980), 497 vs West Indies (1978-79), 473 vs Australia (1977-78), 466 vs England (1981-82), Scored a century on debut
A man with three FC triple centuries batting at #8 shows you the depth in Indian cricket. Jadeja can finish T20 games, can score 77 in an ODI World Cup semi-final, destroy opponents with his spin or with his iconic direct hits. An all-rounder in all sense of the game. Currently #7 on India’s most Test & ODI wicket-taker list and still rising up the charts. 25 player of the match awards – Wow!
Matches Played: 343
Wickets: 568, Runs: 6307
Player of Match Awards: 25
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 26 Wickets vs England (2016-17), 26 Wickets vs Australia (2016-17), 24 Wickets vs Australia (2012-13), 23 wickets vs South Africa (2015-16), Best of 7/42 vs Australia (2023), Most Wickets in the 2013 Champions Trophy
India’s 2011 World Cup is remembered by many moments—Dhoni’s 97* and the six, Gambhir’s 91, Yuvraj Singh’s all-round performances, Suresh Raina’s crucial finishes, Tendulkar’s hundreds. But none of it would be possible without Zaheer Khan’s 21 wickets (joint most of the WC). His Test career was pretty stellar as well with 311 wickets. His stellar record against Graeme smith, the swing, his action, and celebrations will be what he is remembered by.
Matches Played: 303
Wickets: 597
Player of Match Awards: 12
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌ (92)
Notable Achievements: Highest Wicket-Taker of the 2011 ODI CWC
116 Tests, 6868 runs, 17 hundreds, 42.13 average. By the time he retired, he was statistically the best batter in the country after Sunil Gavaskar. Made the #3 position his own.
Matches Played: 245
Runs: 10376
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored 4 hundreds in 1979, 4 in 1986, and 4 in 1987.
Captain charismatic, wristy, and soft spoken, Azharuddin ruled the hearts of Indian cricket fans in the 90s. With 9378 ODI runs and 6215 Test runs, Azhar was central to India’s middle order. Unfortunately, the match fixing scandal brought down his career.
Matches Played: 433
Runs: 15593
Player of Match Awards: 23
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌ (99)
Notable Achievements: Scored hundreds in 3 consecutive Tests, scored a hundred on debut.
Regarded as “Bradman of the East”, Merchant scored 13470 first class runs at an average of 71.64 with 45 centuries. His international career was stalled due to the Second World War, but was considered one of the greats of the era. Spearheaded the legacy of Bombay’s batting in Indian cricket.
Matches Played: 10
Runs: 859
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Scored his highest score of 154 in his last innings in 1951.
If you are an Indian cricket fan, you have copied Harbhajan Singh’s bowling action in your living room on your way to the kitchen. Harbhajan was a mainstay in India’s XI for the better part of the decade in both Tests and ODIs. His contributions to the 2001 Australia series will always go down as one of India’s best individual performances. Also a handy six hitter down the order.
Matches Played: 365
Wickets: 707
Player of Match Awards: 11
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 25 career Test 5-fers, 32 Wickets vs Australia (2000-01), Best of 8/84 vs Australia
47.65 average with 7 centuries in Test cricket. His record in FC cricket even more incredible—18,740 runs, 60 tons, average of 58.38, and a couple of triple centuries to go with it. Also had 595 first class wickets. Led India to its first Test win, and according to The Wisden Cricketer, “When World II brought cricket to a standstill, much of the credit for keeping the game alive in India must go to Hazare, who with Vijay Merchant took part in run-scoring duels that drew crowds of 20-30,000 to Bombay’s Braborne Stadium.”
Matches Played: 30
Runs: 2192
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored an innings in each Test against Australia, first Indian to do so, scored centuries in 3 consecutive Tests, 543 runs vs West Indies (1948-49), first Indian cricketer to score a Ranji trophy triple century. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is named in his honor
Gupte was considered the best leg spinner of his era. His 9/102 was the best individual performance for decades to come. Unfortunately, he ended his career at 32 after a controversy in which he was wrongfully accused.
Matches Played: 36
Wickets: 149
Captained India? ❌
Notable Achievements: 34 wickets vs New Zealand (1955-56), 27 Wickets vs West Indies (1952-53), 9/102 vs West Indies (1958)
According to Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, Mankad was “one of the greatest allrounders that India has ever produced.” His name gets maligned with the form of dismissal, but Mankad is truly one of India’s legends. Was the other batter with Pankaj Roy in the record 413-run partnership.
Matches Played: 44
Runs: 2109, Wickets: 162
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: 526 runs vs New Zealand (1955-56), 34 wickets vs England (1951-52), 25 wickets vs Pakistan (1952-53), 8/52 vs Pakistan (1952), 9/55 vs England (1952)
When Yuvraj was on rhythm, there was no stopping him. He performed when it mattered the most, 2002 Natwest Trophy Final, 2007 SF vs Australia, and 2011 – The Entire World Cupwith both bat and ball. With the backdrop of cancer in the 2011 CWC, Yuvraj’s story is extraordinary. India never really truly replaced Yuvraj at #4 for the better part of the decade.
Matches Played: 399
Runs: 11686
Player of Match Awards: 34
Player of Series Awards: 8
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements:Six sixes vs England in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Player of the Tournament – 2011 ODI WC
Without Bumrah, there would be no 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Without Bumrah, there wouldn’t be several of the Test victories. When India needs to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, the ball is thrown to Jasprit Bumrah. Once in a generation comes a player so unique that everybody can just sit back and appreciate. We don’t know how Bumrah does what he does, but he is India’s national treasure for sure.
Matches Played: 195
Wickets: 397
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌ (Not Yet)
Notable Achievements: Player of the Tournament in the 2024 T20 World Cup, 23 wickets vs England (2021-22)
Perhaps played the greatest innings in the 21st century. The 281 against Australia came against a rampant Australian side while Indian cricket was reeling with the match-fixing scandal. VVS Laxman’s innings changed the narrative and drew India into its golden age. Will be remembered for his knocks against Australia across formats as well as the three gutsy rearguard knocks in 2010.
Matches Played: 220
Runs: 11119
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 503 runs vs Australia (2000-01), 494 runs vs Australia (2003-04), 474 runs vs West Indies (2002)
319, 309, 293, 254. Virender Sehwag’s legacy will forever be attached to his mammoth Test hundreds. He set the tone in ODI cricket as an opener, but it was Test cricket where Viru’s greatness is defined.
Matches Played: 363
Runs: 16892
Player of Match Awards: 31
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Highest Individual Test Score for India, 219 in ODI, 544 runs vs Pakistan (2004-05), 491 vs Sri Lanka (2009-10), 464 vs Australia (2003-04)
According to Sunil Gavaskar, Bedi was the “finest left-hand bowler” he had ever seen. At the time of his retirement, Bedi’s was the highest wicket-taker in Tests for India (266). Also took a mammoth 1560 wickets in first class cricket thanks to his exploits with Northamptonshire in County Cricket. Formed India’s fearsome spin quartet.
Matches Played: 77
Wickets: 273
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 31 Wickets vs Australia (1977-78), 25 Wickets vs England (1976-77), 25 Wickets vs England (1972-73), 22 wickets vs New Zealand (1976-77), 14 career 5-fers
All the accolades India are receiving now can be traced back to the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. He instilled confidence in the young side and helped build the cored that lifted the 2011 ODI World Cup (Zaheer, Sehwag, Yuvraj). Apart from captaincy, will go down as one of the great ODI batters in the history of the game.
Matches Played: 421
Runs: 18433
Player of Match Awards: 37
Player of Series Awards: 9
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 534 runs vs Pakistan (2007-08), 4th Most Player of the Match Awards for India
One of the great Test off-spinners of all-time, Ravichandran Ashwin helped establish the home Tests as a fortress. Apart from bowling, Ashwin established himself as one of premier spinner all-rounders of the generations with six Test centuries. His fighting spirit in BGT in the Sydney Test, holding up an end while battling a back injury epitomizes his character. One of the great thinkers of the game.
Matches Played: 281
Wickets: 744, Runs: 4200
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 11
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 32 Wickets vs England (2020-21), 31 Wickets vs South Africa (1979-1980), 29 Wickets vs Australia (2012-13), 28 Wickets vs England (2016-17), 27 Wickets vs New Zealand (2016-17), 26 Wickets vs England (2023-24), 25 Wickets vs Australia (2022-23), 36 career 5-fers
Took the baton from Vijay Merchant to continue to Mumbai school of batting. At the time of his retirement, Umrigar held the record for the most Tests, most runs, and most wickets.
Matches Played: 59
Runs: 3631
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: 560 runs vs West Indies (1952-53), Scored a 100 and took 5 wickets vs West Indies (1962)
One of the most pleasing batters to watch (especially the pull shot), Sharma has a made a career on the back of gigantic ODI hundreds: 264, 209, 208*, 171*, 162, 159, 152*, 150. Begun as a 2007 T20 World Cup champion, dropped before the 2011 WC, and reinvented his career as an opener in 2013. Post-2013, he never looked back. Finally made it big as a Test opener late in his career and capped his legacy with the great runs in the 2023 ODI WC and the 2024 T20 WC win as captain.
Matches Played: 481
Runs: 19199
Player of Match Awards: 42
Player of Series Awards: 9
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 2024 T20 World Cup & 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winning captain, 529 runs vs South Africa (2019-20), Scored 3 double centuries in ODI cricket
‘Jumbo’ is still India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs and Tests. A central figure in India’s XI for a decade and a half, he will always be remembered for his 10-wicket inning haul against Pakistan. Retired on a high as India’s Test captain.
Matches Played: 401
Wickets: 953
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 35 career 5-fers, 27 Wickets vs Australia (2004-05), 24 wickets vs Australia (2003-04), 23 wickets vs Australia (1997-98), 23 wickets vs West Indies (2006), 10/74 vs Pakistan and 8/141 vs Australia
The man in the center of each of India’s memorable overseas Test victories, Rahul Dravid, ‘The Wall’ was the glue to India’s middle order. He adapted his way to a fruitful ODI career, became a wicketkeeper, a captain, and eventually an U-19 & senior World Cup winning coach.
Matches Played: 504
Runs: 24064
Player of Match Awards: 25
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌ (Not as player)
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 619 runs vs Australia (2003-04), 602 vs England (2002), 496 runs vs West Indies (2006), 461 runs vs England (2011), Highest Scorer of the 1999 ODI Cricket World Cup
MS Dhoni arrived to the scene with the 148 v Pakistan and 183* v Sri Lanka in 2005 with that iconic hair. However, it was his exploits as captain between 2007 to 2013 (and later with the Chennai Super Kings franchise), that took him from great to legendary status. And don’t forget, behind the stumps, he was best in the business with lightning fast stumpings.
Matches Played: 535
Runs: 17092
Player of Match Awards: 22
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅ ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Player of the 2011 World Cup Final, Captain of India as India lifted the 2007 T20WC, 2011 ODIWC, and 2013 Champions Trophy
From a brash young man to fitness freak to the great Test captain, Virat Kohli’s evolution has been a dream to follow. Perhaps the greatest ODI batter and definitely the greatest chaser of all-time, his attitude defined his greatness and carried India to the upper echelons of world cricket.
Matches Played: 531
Runs: 26922*
Player of Match Awards: 67
Player of Series Awards: 19
World Cup Winner? ✅ ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements:
692 runs vs Australia (BGT 2014-15), 655 vs England (2016-17), 610 vs Sri Lanka (2017-18), 593 vs England (2018)
Captain. All-rounder. Fast Bowler. Lower Order Six Hitter. India has never and may never see an enigmatic character like Kapil Dev again.434 wickets and 175* in the pivotal 1983 WC match against Zimbabwe are some of the highlights of his career.
Matches Played: 356
Wickets: 687, Runs: 9031
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: India’s first WC winning captain, 303 runs & 12 wickets in the 1983 WC, 23 career Test 5-fers, Best of 9/83 vs WI, 8/85 vs Pakistan, and 8/106 vs Australia, 32 Wickets vs Pakistan (1979-1980), 29 wickets vs West Indies (1983-84), 28 Wickets vs Australia (1979-1980), 25 wickets vs Australia (1991-92), 24 wickets vs Pakistan (1982-83)
India’s first superstar, Sunil Gavaskar defied bowling attacks around the world without a helmet. 10,000 runs and 34 Test hundreds became the benchmark for other batters to follow. The original ‘Little Master.’
Matches Played: 233
Runs: 13214
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 774 runs in West Indies (1970-71), 732 runs vs West Indies in India (1978-1979), 542 runs vs England (1979), 529 runs vs Pakistan (1979-1980), 505 runs vs West Indies (1983-84), 500 runs vs England (1981-82), 450 runs vs Australia (1977-78), 447 runs vs Pakistan (1977-78), World Championship of Cricket Winning Captain (1985)
Virat Kohli summed up Tendulkar’s contribution aptly after the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, “Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years.” Probably the greatest batter since Donald Bradman, Tendulkar was the soul of Indian cricket for two decades. Oh and his 154 ODI wickets largely go unnoticed in a career of stellar batting performances, but could have made a career as a successful leg spinner as well.
Matches Played: 664
Runs: 34357, Wickets: 201
Player of Match Awards: 76
Player of Series Awards: 19
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅✅
Notable Achievements: Highest Scorer in the 1996, 2003, 2011 WCs, 51 Test 100s, 49 ODI 100s (Hundred Hundreds), First Player to Breach the 200-run mark in ODI cricket, 493 runs vs Australia (2007-08), 446 runs vs Australia (1997-98)
Cricket can be separated into three financial segments: (1) India, (2) Australia-England, and (3) The Rest of the World. Financial growth means more talent acquisition, robust systems, better grassroots growth, and eventually, more World Cup wins.
Simple as that. Australia has been employing this model for decades.
India last won an ICC trophy in 2013, when the IPL was still in an infancy and the ‘Big 3’ were coming into being.
Team India has finally attained the silverware they deeply desired. The 2024 T20 World Cup victory ensures that the domination of Indian cricket has begun.
Indian cricket is now officially a monopoly in the cricketing world.
The Pros and the Cons of an Indian Cricket Monopoly
The Affirmative
Just like almost everything in life, there are two sides of the coin. First we begin with the affirmative.
1. Jarrod Kimber argues that the IPL and money flowing in cricket means players like Ali Khan and other Associate cricketers can now become professionals. Cricket has lost many cricketers like American legend Bart King because their individual international teams were simply not good enough. And this is not the first time we are seeing a monopoly in cricket. The Sunil Gavaskars, West Indian legends, South Africans, etc. played in County Cricket because it offered cricketers a great experience and financial incentive back then.
2. Furthermore, when Indian cricket grows, not only do Indian players flourish, but international players prosper as well. The profits BCCI earns are reinvested in the sport along with donations made to charities and investing in other sports. Sounds all pretty and rosy, doesn’t it?
3. The growth of the IPL has also resulted in the growth of other leagues around the world. While the CPL, PSL, and SA20 might not be at the same level as the IPL, one can argue that these tournaments have rekindled the passion for cricket that was missing in these regions and have provided additional opportunities.
4. The IPL provides financial security. Indian cricketers can now take up cricket as a viable career even if they do not make the international level.
The main argument against the Indian monopoly is that the BCCI can strong arm any cricketing decision to be in their favor.
1. Case and point, the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan are scheduled to host this tournament with India’s matches currently slated in Lahore. What is most likely going to happen is after few uncertain months, India will end up playing their matches in a neutral venue while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.
2. Despite the political tensions and bilateral international boycott against Pakistan, India will most definitely still be looped into the same group as Pakistan in every single tournament from now till forever. Why? Because money.
3. The backbone of the Indian monopoly lies in the Indian players. As long as professional Indian cricketers are barred from playing non-IPL leagues, the IPL will remain the greatest domestic T20 competition. Every other league is essentially fighting to be the second best league because there is no chance to upstage the IPL or just survive.
4. We can already see what happens when a couple of nations dominate the ICC decision making. We get 10-team World Cups, an unbalanced World Test Championship, direct entry to World Cups (without qualifiers for top teams), lack of knockouts in World Cup formats, no tangible movement for 2-tiered Test system, and many other such great ideas that do not see the light of day.
5. And finally, there are unspoken decisions that make you wonder: quasi-guarantee of last group match (in case NRR goes south), no reserve day for one semi-final, no evening matches (to potentially avoid dew), biased commentary, and a favorable flight schedule unlike Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and later Afghanistan.
Post the US Civil War (1861-1865), America entered the ‘Gilded Age’ that lasted till the end of the twentieth century. This was an era marked by remarkable economic growth, Industrial Revolution, and railroad expansion but also widespread political corruption, poor working conditions, strikes, and economic inequality in the United States.
I recommend you watch The Men Who Built Americaon Amazon Prime. It covers the stories of JP Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Henry Ford and portrays the journey of the great monopolies—U.S. Steel, Standard Oil, Tobacco Company, etc.
According to Statista, John D. Rockefeller’s net worth (inflation adjusted as of 2006) was $305.3 billion. Carnegie ($281.2 billion) and Vanderbilt ($168.4 billion) closely followed.
These men ran businesses unchecked across America for several decades until the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 (and later, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914) finally began to restore free market competition.
Most of these businessmen would go on to become larger than life philanthropists later in life and by the time the era had come to an end, the US had become a global economic superpower.
BCCI, fueled by the IPL, may change the economic face of cricket in the generations to follow, but cricket needs its own version of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act before it is too late.
A Warning
The economic imbalance had become so extreme that JP Morgan had to loan money to the US government and pull banks out of the Panic of 1907.
In the current proposed financial ICC model, BCCI is set to earn 38.5% of the ICC share (approximately $231 million out of the estimated $600 million) over the next four-year cycle. Apart from this revenue, Indian cricket earn loads of money from the IPL and broadcast deals. Imagine a situation where the BCCI loans money to the ICC in times of crisis and thereby holds a higher leverage in international cricket.
There are plenty of other examples of monopolies in world history as well. Think Dutch East India Company, the British Empire, De Beers, AT&T, and now the Big Tech companies in the US or the Ambanis and Adanis in India.
Just like them, the Indian cricket machinery has now has become both a soft and hard power in international cricket.
In fact, India has now become the new benevolent dictator in cricket. Is this good or bad?
