Who was the most under-achieved Indian batsmen of all time?

[Harsh Thakor]

Some batsmen had incredible reserves of talent but could hardly do complete justice to it.On their day they would simply blaze away and could sit with the gods of Olympus.At their best they could join the very best displaying talent of poets or magicians.In this list I am ranking the most under-achieved batsmen in the history of Indian cricket in terms of difference between potential and performance.

 

1.Sandeep Patil

 

One of the most flamboyant batsmen the game of cricket has ever witnessed who could take an attack by the sword like a tiger ripping flesh.Not so elegant ,artistic or technically correct but posessed lightning reflexes and phenomenal power.On his day he reminded you of dynamite exploding taking domination to regions of the sublime. I never saw an Indian batsmen as explosive before Patil who brought a new dimension to Indian batting.Vishwanath was a great strokeplayer but Patil overshadowed everyone in terms of taking an attack by the scruff of the neck.

 

He scored his best innings when the chips were down.Remember his 65 at Sydney out of a paltry total of 210 and his classic  174 at Adelaide in 1980-81.Arguably he surpassed even Vijay Hazare for sheer bowling dominating and his hooks and drives off Lillee were close to the Viv Richards class.Never did an Indian batsmen play short-pitched stuff with such conviction.In 1982 in England his 129 not out at Manchester wa sone of the finset innings ever played in England after India wee literally in the depths of despair losing 3 wickets for 26 after England had scored 429 run sin the 1st innings.He showed considerable restraint in the first part of his knock but when he got going he resembled a bomber raiding an airbase.In one over when he got his century he hit Bob Wilis for 6 boundaries which was history.In this knock Patil revealed every ingredient of a perfect cricket innings executing every kind of stroke.

 

In Pakistan in 1982-83 although he failed he played 2 innings which I will never forget.He simply tore the heart of Imran an co at Faisalabad and Lahore making even the great Khan look ordinary at times.One felt like he was ripping the skin of a cricket ball when he was unleashing his onslaught.Rarely have I seen a batsmen take on  Imran at his best with such agression or contempt.

 

In the 1983 world cup his unbeaten 51 played a major role in paving the path for India to make the final.Finally in 1984 in Pakistan he played his last major innings scoring a match-saving century in the 2nd test in 1984.

 

Sadly he faded after 1984 from the home series versus England and played no role later in shaping Indian cricket,wit Azharuddin taking over the mantle.

 

It was sad that such a potential ornament or budding rose never justified his full potential.I would have loved to see a batsmen like him today who could devour pace with such ease.It is also ironical that he hardly got a chance to display his ful potentail aginst the great Carribean pace battery.

 

 

2.Vinod Kambli

At his best could even match the great Sachin Tendulkar with his amazing wristwork and eye-coordination.Revealed artistry of mythical proportions at his best. and could surpass even Sachin as a pure entertainer.Scored a classic 237 v England at Mumbai in 1992-93 and also one took Shane Warne to the shreds like none else.

 

 

3.Navjot Singh Sidhu

On his day displayed contempt for the fastest bowlers like when scoring a century at Kingston.Few batsmen displayed such grit and flamboyance facing the great Carribean pace battery.Took batting domination to mythical proportions from his debut versus Australia in the reliance cup itself.Sadly fell out on consistency.

 

 

4.Krishnamachari Shrikanth.

 

If anyone saw his blazing square drive executed of Andy Roberts in the 1983 world cup final one would feel it would be a permaent part of cricketing treasury and was the creation of a true batting great.At his best Shrikanth could be as explosive as Gordon Greenidge and literally shave the top of a cricket ball.Very successful in Australia in 1985-86 and also in many ODI's.At his best god's gift to batting .

 

 

 

5.Gundappa Vishwanath

No doubt he has a great record but in my view his performances did not do complete justice to his talent .Vishy took bating wizardry or artistry to regions of the divine.He overshadowed even Gavaskar on fast or bad wickets and won more matches.On sheer talent Vishy should have been in the league of Viv Richards or Greg Chappell.

 

 

6.Virendra Sehwag

 

Like Vishwanath a great record but did not justify his phenomenal reservoirs of talent.In terms of prowess in the league of Victor Trumper or Barry Richards who could execute strokes that were surreal.

 

7.VVS Laxman

 

A virtual re-incarnation of Vishwanath apart from his height.In my view as talented as Tendulkar and on his day capable of joining the gods of Olympus.One of the greatest ever batsmen in a run chase and with the tail.He could drop his wrists or manipulate  the most lethal of deliveries .Had he done full justice to his endowed talent he would have averaged above 50,in my judgement.

Edited April 10, 2019 by Harsh Thakor
missed a name

[Ankit_sharma03]

• Kambli definately 
• Yuvraj- his bulk of runs came in 4-5 yr phase only....pre n post was bad. didnt do much in test 
• Raina- shud have done way more.....way way more 
• Rahane- his career is far from over but till now a serious under achiever 

Edited April 9, 2019 by Ankit_sharma03

[rkt.india]

SRT

[Gollum]

Tendulkar

Vishy

Laxman

Gambhir

[Ankit_sharma03]

Just now, rkt.india said:

SRT

@Gollum- hum dono akele nahin aaj isko bhi troll vote aane wala hai, we knw by whom 

[Ankit_sharma03]

Rohan gavaskar- atleast he wud have made to feel like that by his Dad. Indian baap ne ye pakka sunaya hoga

- Humare time men hum bina helmet ke khelte the , tum helmet pehan ke nahin khel paye 

Edited April 9, 2019 by Ankit_sharma03

[rkt.india]

34 minutes ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

@Gollum- hum dono akele nahin aaj isko bhi troll vote aane wala hai, we knw by whom 

underachieved does not mean he was not great but he could be just much more especially in test cricket.

[Ankit_sharma03]

3 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

underachieved does not mean he was not great but he could be just much more especially in test cricket.

Bhai tu kuch bhi likh lekin troll vote to koi dene wala hai , Trolls kab se logic sun ne lag gaye

[sandeep]

Sandeep Patil, Gundappa etc were the Veeru type of batsmen who needed a stable and robust batting unit around them to really succeed.  That is the advantage that Veeru had, which enabled him to really rip apart teams to shreds.  

 

Even in an individual skill like batting, cricket is very much a team sport.  

[AuxiliA]

Rahane has to be up there.

 

From performing on 3 of the toughest tours for an Asian batsman and being touted as the best Indian test bat of his generation, he has fallen a long way. 

 

It's even more frustrating to think that had he improved like his contemporaries (Kohli, Pujara) or even maintained his 2014 level at a time which was supposed to be his prime, we may have won a series in SA and England. 

[Deleted_User_1]

None in the list. It is Mohinder Amarnath. That dude knew how to play quicks and spin. Solid technique, albeit a slow player. Viv Richards hailed him as the best player against fast bowling after the India in WI 1982-83 series. He was one of main stays during the WC 1983 win. Too bad, he was grossly inconsistent. The same player in the home series against WI in 1983-84 scored several ducks and got dropped. In fact, getting in and out of the Indian national team was a regular act for him. Once he called the selectors "a bunch of jokers."

 

Also a straight shooter. As a selector wanted to drop Dhoni as test kaptaan after the disastrous overseas tours post WC 2011, but Srini mama came to the rescue and he Jharkhandi ruled for another 2 years before he quit on his own. Jimmy does not suck up to people, that is probably why he is not around as a BCCI babu!

[Gollum]

Mohinder Amarnath deserves a mention too like danda said. He made what 15 comebacks in his career? 20-year-long career and some 60 odd test matches !!!! Granted he was inconsistent but don't forget the role played by daddy. Lala used to pick fights with everyone, ex-players, selectors, Jimmy's team mates, hell he was the only one to stand up to that madarchod Vizzy....in that sense he was like Yograj but more principled. My grandpop told me Lala and Vizzy would bicker a lot when they were radio commentators as well, hate was carried forward to their post playing careers. Jimmy gets his admirable traits from his impressive father no doubt, absolutely no compromise, stubborn as *. 

[Gollum]

Having second thoughts about Vishy, dude didn't give a * about stats and records. So many potential not outs missed, so many innings cut short at the cost of showmanship...our very own Doug Walters. VVS was a bit inconsistent and weak against swing, also his batting position meant not many conversions into 100s. Sehwag didn't have the technique or mindset to succeed in certain conditions, won't call him underachiever in tests, of course in ODIs different matter. Gambo was a dissapointment, never seen a batsman fall so steeply and inexplicably (aged 29, not much reliance on hand-eye like Viru, coming off an excellent season) like he did post 2011 WC. When he had to step up and become the batting leader, he somehow lost interest, failed....big reason behind our decline as a test team then. 

Edited April 9, 2019 by Gollum

[Temujin Khaghan]

Sehwag punched way below his weight ..

Should have scored 12k test runs easily if he watched his over weight and his loose tongue..

[Laaloo]

Sachin and that speaks volumes

[Laaloo]

6 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

@Gollum- hum dono akele nahin aaj isko bhi troll vote aane wala hai, we knw by whom 

Since you want it so much, here you go enjoy..

[Gollum]

15 minutes ago, Laaloo said:

Sachin and that speaks volumes

Exactly, calling the likes of Sachin, Federer, Messi, Woods etc underachievers is actually a tribute to their genius. 

[Harsh Thakor]

20 hours ago, Gollum said:

Tendulkar

Vishy

Laxman

Gambhir

I made a major error in missing out on Laxman who was flawed genius.I have instated him in my list at no 7.A Vishy of his generation with as much talent as Sachin.I have added his name to the poll.

Edited April 10, 2019 by Harsh Thakor
missed name

[Harsh Thakor]

17 hours ago, Gollum said:

Mohinder Amarnath deserves a mention too like danda said. He made what 15 comebacks in his career? 20-year-long career and some 60 odd test matches !!!! Granted he was inconsistent but don't forget the role played by daddy. Lala used to pick fights with everyone, ex-players, selectors, Jimmy's team mates, hell he was the only one to stand up to that madarchod Vizzy....in that sense he was like Yograj but more principled. My grandpop told me Lala and Vizzy would bicker a lot when they were radio commentators as well, hate was carried forward to their post playing careers. Jimmy gets his admirable traits from his impressive father no doubt, absolutely no compromise, stubborn as *. 

Great batsmen no doubt,the best ever against great pace at his best.However in terms of sheer talent not in the class of  Sandeep,Vishy ,Viru or Laxman.Possibly he was undone by the bias of the selectors.A great man to bat for your life but not as much to win games.

[gakgupta]

Sehwag ...