Indian cricket has evolved over the years to produce some talents that have gone down as all-time greats. Right from the time we played our first test back in 1932, plenty of stalwarts and legends have pushed their limits to give something back to the game – and enhancing our reputations as a cricketing nation.
Most of these players play with zero fear and a willingness to take on any opposition and this is what sets them apart. Here are some of the most fearless Indian cricketers of all time:
Sunil Gavaskar:
One of the first superstars of Indian cricket, Sunil Gavaskar was also the first batsman in the history of the game to amass 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Mind you, this was the time when there were no helmets and pitches were not as batsman friendly as they are today.
The reason Gavaskar stands out as one of the most fearless to have played the game was because he averaged 64.45 against a West Indies side that consisted of four of the greatest fast bowlers (Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall)…all bowling at the same time!
Sachin Tendulkar:
The one player who destroyed the world’s best bowlers on multiple occasions, Sachin will forever be remembered as the one player who always played with a winning mindset. The Indian team around him; especially in his initial phases, did not share the same desire to win. However, Sachin would go out and sometimes win matches on his own – batting hours in the middle to save a Test match or turning on the heat to chase down a big score in an ODI.
Sachin’s fearlessness inspired many generations of cricketers and his story is still spoken with adoration. He will forever be the greatest to have played the game in the eyes of a billion.
Sourav Ganguly:
Dada as Ganguly is affectionately known, is a player who never let his aggression drop or let the opposition know he didn’t care what they thought. He took on opposition with plenty of mind games and once infamously made Steve Waugh wait for the toss.
Ganguly instilled a winning mentality into the team and did not back down from a challenge – both as a batsman and as a captain. He is well respected by the entire cricketing fraternity and will forever remain a legend of Indian cricket.
Rahul Dravid:
Zen temperament but probably the most aggressive mental make-up, Rahul Dravid had the innate ability of sticking around for hours without losing concentration. Matthew Hayden once quipped, “All this going around is not aggression. If you want to see aggression, look into Rahul Dravid’s eyes.”
Dravid was someone who never displayed any aggression as a player but never stepped back when the chips were down. He’s a real winner and an excellent role model to any youngster.
MS Dhoni:
Hailing from a small city, Dhoni’s rise to the pinnacle of Indian cricket is one that will be repeated for years to come. Dhoni has the moniker, Captain Cool but his captaincy and batting were anything but. Probably the most powerful hitter of the ball in the history of the game, Dhoni could damage any bowler’s psyche with his power hitting and timing.
What’s better is that Dhoni is also one of the most fearless when it comes to pressure situations. He has taken his teams home plenty of times in the last few overs or even the last few balls of the game! A real legend of the game, Dhoni is easily the greatest captain to have lead India.
Virender Sehwag:
Sehwag was a once in a lifetime player and world cricket is very fortunate to have witnessed a batsman of his caliber and talent. Sehwag never gave two hoots about the situation the team was in. For him, it was all about playing your natural game no matter what the situation and he succeeded on multiple occasions.
He is also the first Indian batsman to crack a triple century for India and he did it in Pakistan of all places. Sehwag also didn’t care about reputation and has destroyed the best bowlers right from the word go.
Kris Srikkanth:
A player who displayed aggression in the early part of the innings, Srikkanth was a really strong hitter of the ball. He relished a challenge and never let the opposition settle down. He was one of the main reasons India won a World Cup back in 1983 as he scored what turned out to be an all-important 38 runs in the final.
Srikkanth might not be acquainted with the current generation of cricketers but a lot of his tales as a batsman have gone down in history, making him one of the most fearless batsmen of his generation.
Yuvraj Singh:
The player for the biggest of occasions, Yuvraj Singh is one who never backs down. Right from the time he made his career, Yuvraj has mixed aggression with elegance and the result is a wonderful sight to watch in full flow. He is also fearless and not someone who gives up easily. Having found himself out of the team for many reasons – poor form, lack of fitness and cancer, Yuvi just keeps digging deep and finding something special.
He is a legend of the shorter format for India and was hugely instrumental in ensuring India won both the T20 World Cup in 2007 as well as the World Cup in 2011.
Virat Kohli
The modern day Indian cricketer and one of the best batsmen in world cricket, Virat Kohli is one of the most fearless Indian cricketers ever. He plays a very aggressive brand of cricket and inspires the nation with his fearless conduct on the field.
