Top 10 Indian test cricketers

[Majestic]

This is purely on test cricket. Ranking after today's loss vs New Zealand.

 

Sachin Tendulkar 

Sunil Gavaskar 

Rahul Dravid

Ravichandran Ashwin

Kapil Dev 

Ravindra Jadeja

Virat Kohli 

Jasprit Bumrah

Virender Sehwag 

Anil Kumble

 

I might change my opinion based on suggestions/view.

 

Edited October 26, 2024 by Majestic

[Lord]

Would put Shami in there somewhere maybe ahead of  Sehwag

[Number]

Pant for sheer number of match winning contributions and Pujara for 2 BGT wins which are the biggest achievements in Indian Cricket history.

[Vicks57]

Rishabh Pant being India's best red ball wicketkeeper batsman should be included.

 

Zaheer deserves a mention. His second stint was really good. Had no trouble dispatching top batters.

[express bowling]

Bumrah

Tendulkar

Ashwin

Pant

Shami

Jadeja

Sehwag

Gavaskar

Kumble

Kapil

Kohli

Dravid 

 

[Ultimate_Game]

2 hours ago, Majestic said:

This is purely on test cricket. Ranking after today's loss vs New Zealand.

 

Sachin Tendulkar 

Sunil Gavaskar 

Rahul Dravid

Ravichandran Ashwin

Kapil Dev 

Ravindra Jadeja

Virat Kohli 

Jasprit Bumrah

Virender Sehwag 

Anil Kumble

 

I might change my opinion based on suggestions/view.

 

 

I don't really understand why Kohli is in the mix. VVS Laxman has played much better and more impactful innings than Kohli. That 281 at Kolkatta, 167 at Sydney, winning us tight matches batting with the tail.

 

Kohli still doesn't have one match defining innings like VVS or Pant. They both deserve to be in the list ahead of Kohli. If the criteria is impactless runs then simply look at the record books and select top run getters.

[Majestic]

This is a top 10 list. Some posters need to understand we have achieved a lot more things than what he achieved in 2018 and 2020. Let’s not circulate the list based on 1-2 series.
 

India won a test series in West Indies and England in 1971, the England one had massive role played by Chandrasekhar. This doesn’t mean we include these names in every list. Impact has to be defined by overall career.

 

Someone like Bumrah can’t be #1 based on 175 test wickets only

[Majestic]

7 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

I don't really understand why Kohli is in the mix. VVS Laxman has played much better and more impactful innings than Kohli. That 281 at Kolkatta, 167 at Sydney, winning us tight matches batting with the tail.

 

Kohli still doesn't have one match defining innings like VVS or Pant. They both deserve to be in the list ahead of Kohli. If the criteria is impactless runs then simply look at the record books and select top run getters.

Kohli has phenomenal record in Australia and South Africa and as a test captain,he achieved phenomenal success and home dominance like never seen before. That’s why he is up there ahead of likes of Pant and Bumrah, former doesn’t have 3000 test runs and latter doesn’t have 200 wickets yet.

[Majestic]

9 hours ago, Number said:

Pant for sheer number of match winning contributions and Pujara for 2 BGT wins which are the biggest achievements in Indian Cricket history.

India won a test series in 1971 in England due to Bhagwat Chandrasekhar magnificent spell. He too should be included in this list?

 

Mohinder Amarnath won 1983 odi wc semis and finals, maybe we should include him in odi list too?

 

Longevity is a very underrated aspect of the game. 2020 tour to Australia win had contributions from 7-8 players, can’t give the credit to individuals purely.

Edited October 27, 2024 by Majestic

[Ultimate_Game]

11 hours ago, Majestic said:

Kohli has phenomenal record in Australia and South Africa and as a test captain,he achieved phenomenal success and home dominance like never seen before. That’s why he is up there ahead of likes of Pant and Bumrah, former doesn’t have 3000 test runs and latter doesn’t have 200 wickets yet.

 

In terms of impact, Pant and Bumrah have had more of an impact than Kohli. I can't recall one Kohli innings in a winning cause in Aus, Eng or SA. Pant has had a few, and Bumrah has won us Tests away.

 

At home it has been the old firm of Jadeja and Ashwin who made the difference and we always won at home anyway even before Kohli.

[Majestic]

4 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

In terms of impact, Pant and Bumrah have had more of an impact than Kohli. I can't recall one Kohli innings in a winning cause in Aus, Eng or SA. Pant has had a few, and Bumrah has won us Tests away.

 

At home it has been the old firm of Jadeja and Ashwin who made the difference and we always won at home anyway even before Kohli.

He has performed and won test matches in England and South Africa in 2018. Additionally, you could also believe that if he performed and team didn’t won, it basically meant others failed.

Kohli got 153 in 2nd test in SA 2018 but India lost because others failed. He got 6 tons in Australia but none in winning cause because rest failed. It probably means he batted in tougher conditions where others failed. 

Edited October 27, 2024 by Majestic

[BacktoCricaddict]

These lists depend on criteria chosen. I usually focus on contributions in wins with clutch performances under difficult circumstances. And, for that criterion, there are 2 guys who slot in first.

 

1a. Rishabh Pant

1b. VVS Laxman

 

The rest? We can argue about those forever, but Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Tendulkar will find a place somewhere in there. After that, there is no clarity.

[Majestic]

Contribution in wins is a very controversial topic especially in Test cricket. One player contribution can rarely win you a test match.

 

Kolkata test 2001 was one of all time great individual performances from Laxman and Dravid but it still required Harbhajan to bowl out opposition to win the test match. Otherwise, it would have been a drawn test and VVS-Dravid may not have gotten the same amount of credit.

[BacktoCricaddict]

Just now, Majestic said:

Contribution in wins is a very controversial topic especially in Test cricket. One player contribution can rarely win you a test match.

 

Kolkata test 2001 was one of all time great individual performances from Laxman and Dravid but it still required Harbhajan to bowl out opposition to win the test match. Otherwise, it would have been a drawn test and VVS-Dravid may not have gotten the same amount of credit.

True. But I like JJJ (jazbaa junoon judgement)

[Majestic]

Additionally, I am no Kohli fan. The reason I have him there is longevity and his overseas performance (SENA) which is quite comfortably well above rest of his era.