The other day I was just surfing
different sports channels on T V and on
one sports channel they were showing the test match between India and England played at the Oval in 1979 where
Sunil Gavaskar scored a monumental 221 in the last innings of the match .
Chasing 438 runs India almost got there scoring 429 / 8 and the match ended in a draw. On the other
channel, I was watching the Adelaide test match where Rahul Dravid scored 233
and 72 runs to help India win the test match in 2003. I was very fascinated
with the idea of seeing Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid playing at the same time albeit being from different
era. There and then I started imagining an Indian team comprising of players
from different era. What if Sehwag could have Sunil Gavaskar as his opening
partner ? What if Kumble and Kapil Dev could bowl from 2 ends and make life miserable for opposing batsmen. So I
have decided to pick an all time test team which could take on the teams from
across the world. While picking this team I have had to leave out some of the
very best Indian test players who proved their mettle at the international
level. It was indeed a thankless job of picking the all time best test team
representing India. So here is in my
opinion the best Indian test team which can give any other team a run for their
money.
For the opening slot the first
batsman which I would pick is an obvious choice . Sunil Gavaskar,
the man who scored hundreds against the best bowling attacks of his era in
trying circumstances. Gavaskar played some of the finest innings against
genuine pace. He had a technique with which he could score runs against pace as
well as spin irrespective of the pitch. The knock of 96 which he played against
Pakistan on a rank turner while chasing
in the 4th innings was a true masterpiece against the likes of Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed
is still widely regarded as one of the finest innings played by an Indian batsman.
The opening partner for Gavaskar is a truly great player in his own right. Virender
Sehwag will open with Gavaskar. We cannot possibly find a more diverse opening
pair of batsman in Indian cricket, where Gavaskar’s technique is one of the
finest in world cricket, Sehwag hardly moves his feet against fast bowlers but
he is in a very good position at the time when the bat makes contact with the
ball. Sehwag is very well balanced while playing against any kind of bowlers. The
one thing which is common with these 2 great opening batsman is the appetite
for big runs which is exactly which is needed for test cricket. The impact that
Sehwag has had on world cricket for the last decade is there for all to see and
having a strike rate of over 80 is very unique in test cricket.
For the number 3 position I would
bank on Rahul Dravid one of the greatest no 3 players ever to have graced this
sport. Just like Gavaskar, Dravid also has a water tight technique and can bat
for long hours if the going is tough. The number 4 place belongs to the one and
only Sachin Tendulkar. His record speaks for itself and the passion with which
he has played the sport for the last 22 years is awe inspiring. Just like his
childhood hero Gavaskar, tendulkar has scored hundreds in difficult situations against Australia which has been the best team for majority of
tendulkar’s career. The first four batsman are enough for any bowling attack to
be weary of. For the critical batting position of no 5 I would choose G R Vishwanath
who was a wonderful player to watch. Vishwanath’s knock of 97 against the likes
of the rampaging Andy Roberts and Co at
the Chepauk is comparable to Gavaskar’s 96 against Pakistan in Bangalore. Vishwanath
was a fierce cutter of the ball and for sheer courage against the Aussies and
the feared foursome of the west Indian pace bowlers, Vishwanath truly deserves
a place among the pantheon of great Indian batsman. For the no 6 position I was
tempted to consider Mohinder Amaranth, V V S
Laxman and Mohammad Azharuddin, who have been all fine batsman in their
own right. but I choose the all rounder Vinoo Mankad. Vinoobhai, as he was
affectionately called was essentially an opener but he would adjust his game at
no 6 , not forgetting his credentials with the ball. Vinoo Mankad was one of
the best left arm spinners which this country has produced along with Bishen Bedi.
For the no 7 position of a wicket
keeper I would choose M S Dhoni ahead of Syed Kirmani for his sheer
attitude towards the game. He is a fine batsman albeit he must improve
his batting in overseas conditions. Kirmani was a very fine wicket keeper –batsman
and I would do grave injustice to him by
not picking him but Dhoni is an attacking batsman which is the need of the hour
in today’s day and age. Dhoni is also a decent wicket keeper and I would also choose
him as the captain of this great team. For the number 8 position of the team I would
choose the legendary all rounder and without a doubt the greatest medium fast bowler India has produced. down
the order Kapil Dev can change the complexion of the game within a short span
of time. His genuine swing bowling will
be required if the pitch is helpful for the fast bowlers. Kapil Dev is indeed
the cricketer of the last century as far
as Indian cricket is concerned. For the number 9 position
I would choose Anil Kumble the greatest spinner India has produced . Kumble
with his fighting attitude and his sheer competitiveness and perseverance to think
the batsman out was indeed of a rare breed . The greatest match winner for India
as far as bowling is concerned just cannot be left out of this team. There have
been great spinners who have played for
India, the likes of Subhash Gupte, B S Chandrashekhar and Bishen Singh Bedi
whose contribution cannot be forgotten. But for the number 10 position I would
choose the off spinner Erapalli Prasanna who would mesmerize the batsman with
his guile and flight. When Prasanna tossed
the ball, the batsman would
invariably be drawn into playing a false sense of security and would be
invariably castled or caught in the out field. For the last position I would
choose a fast bowler yes you all read it correct. India did produce a genuine
quick fast bowler named Mohammad Nissar who according to C B Fry was quicker
than Harold Larwood. Mohammad Nissar had the ability to demolish a batting line
up within a spell as he showed during
his short stint when he played for India. Today’s generation does not
even know of Mohammad Nissar but according to cricket experts he was genuinely
quick. So my all time great Indian test team looks like this.
Sunil Gavaskar
Virender Sehwag
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
G R Vishwanath
Vinoo Mankad
M S
Dhoni (capt and wk )
Kapil Dev Nikhanj
Anil Kumble
E A S Prasanna
Mohammad Nissar
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