Cricket in India is not just a game but rather an event that brings a sense of celebration all across the nation. Being such a carnival for several years now, it isn’t hard to guess that the country has produced a number of aspiring talents who’ve headlined the game for all good reasons. But who is the most famous cricketer in India: Sachin, Virat, Dhoni, or Yuvraj?
After close analysis, we’ve framed the 10 most famous Indian cricket players list. Read all the way through and grab detailed information about all of them.
Table of Contents
Sunil Gavaskar
- Role: Right-Handed Opening Batsman
- Test debut: 6th March 1971
- ODI debut: 13th July 1974
- Birthplace: Bombay
Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, popular as Sunil Gavaskar, is among the renowned Indian legendary cricketers who’ve marked impeccable feats all around the world. He is often acknowledged as one of the most remarkable opening batters the world of cricket has ever witnessed. His ability on the field, alongside his records, speaks for the reason he gets listed among the most famous cricket players of all time.
Scoring the highest number of runs, 774, in his debut series, Sunil Gavaskar initiated his international journey with a clear message to the world, indicating what he is capable of. More than 10,000 test runs, 34 test centuries, most runs against the mighty West Indies, 4 consecutive tons at a couple of venues, and the list goes on. Not just that, he has also captained the Indian cricket team and led to a number of victories, including the famous 2-0 clean sweep over Pakistan.
Kapil Dev
- Role: All-Rounder
- Test debut: 16th October 1978
- ODI debut: 1st October 1978
- Birthplace: Chandigarh
Moving forward with our list of famous cricket players of all time, we’ve got the man who led the Indian cricket team to the first-ever World Cup title, Kapil Dev. Defeating the defending champions West Indies, Kapil Dev became the youngest captain in the history of cricket to be crowned world champion. It won’t be wrong to say that Kapil Dev is one of the few persons behind the success that modern-day cricket enjoys among the masses, especially in India.
Apart from brilliant captaincy, Kapil contributed with his batting and bowling alike. More than 5000 runs and 434 wickets in test cricket, together with 3783 and 253 in ODIs, speak for the quality he delivered throughout his career. Arjuna Award in 1979, Padma Shri in 1982, Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and Indian Cricketer of the Century in 1983 and 2002, respectively, the list of awards is pretty long. He was even inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame back in 2010.
Sachin Tendulkar
- Role: Right-Handed Batsman
- Test debut: 15th November 1989
- ODI debut: 18th December 1989
- Birthplace: Dadar, Bombay
Without any doubt, there are a number of Indian legendary cricketers, but the aura of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is different. No matter if you’ve been living around cricket for quite some time now or the love for the game is a recent alteration, Sachin Tendulkar is a name that is no stranger for sure. Popular as the “God of Cricket,” Sachin is nothing less than a brand. From being the most “complete” batsman of all time, he has been the most successful one as well.
With nearly 16000 runs in Test cricket and more than 18000 in ODIs, Sachin has spread his dominance all around the park. One hundred international tons, nearly 170 half-centuries, the first-ever person to hit a double ton in the limited-overs game, and the achievements count will never halt. Apart from the two evergreen formats in cricket, Sachin, with his brilliance, has even left his mark in the shorter variants, T20s. Learn more about the origins of the T20 format in our dedicated post!
Rahul Dravid
- Role: Right-Handed Batsman, Wicket-Keeper
- Test debut: 20th June 1996
- ODI debut: 3rd April 1996
- Birthplace: Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Speaking of the most famous cricketer in India, we’ve got one who is nicknamed “The Wall,” Rahul Dravid. Starting as a middle-order batsman, Dravid has played more than 500 matches for India and adopted different roles throughout his career. Besides 13288 and 10889 runs in test and ODIs, respectively, he also kept wickets in 71 matches, where he took 71 catches and resulted in 13 stumpings.
Although it didn’t go as everyone wished it to be, it is worth knowing that Rahul Dravid has also captained the national side for 25 Test matches and 79 one-day internationals. If any of you remember, replacing injured Ganguly, Dravid led India to the first-ever Test victory in Pakistan. Before getting inducted into ICC’s Hall of fame, Rahul Dravid was awarded the ICC Cricketer of the year twice and received the ICC Test Player of the Year recognition.
Sourav Ganguly
- Role: Left-Handed Batsman
- Test debut: 20th June 1996
- ODI debut: 11th January 1992
- Birthplace: Calcutta (Now, Kolkata)
While many consider MS Dhoni as the best captain Indian team has ever nested, cricketing pundits all around the globe consider the same for Sourav Ganguly, and rightly so. We’ll talk about that a bit later, but let’s stick with Ganguly as a player for the time being. Drawing back to 1996, when he made his test debut against England, Ganguly scored a breathtaking ton and showcased the amount of skill he bagged. A proud elite 10,000 runs group member, Ganguly packs 11,363 runs in ODI cricket alongside 100 wickets. Tagged as the God on the off-side, several bowlers, including the likes of Shoaib Akthar, list him among the most famous Indian cricketers whose spirit for the game rested on the most amazing end. Remember, he is indeed the sole cricketer who’s won four consecutive man-of-the-match awards in ODIs.
Talking about leading the side from the front, Ganguly captained India in 49 tests, out of which the team won 21, drew 15, and lost 13. Overall the win percentage sits around 42.85. It might appear a bit less to many, but the fact that he nurtured the team right from the budding stage can never be ignored. Ganguly also took India to the 2003 World Cup finale, where the team fought hard against Ricky Ponting’s Australia. Apart from that, he led India to 11 other tournaments finals, and that’s some heavy numbers, to be honest.
Harbhajan Singh
- Role: Right Arm Off-Spin Bowling
- Test debut: 25th March 1998
- ODI debut: 17th April 1998
- Birthplace: Punjab
Harbhajan Singh Plaha, the Terminator who is commonly known as Bhajji, makes it to the list of famous cricketers’ names for all good reasons. From ODIs to Test matches, from T20 internationals to the likes of the Indian Premier League, Harbhajan Singh has mesmerized cricketing fans for more than 20 years with his special spin bowling. 417 wickets in test cricket, 269, 25, and 150 in ODI, T20s, and IPL; the numbers speak for his capability and contribution. Surprisingly despite bowing being his strength in, he has got two ODI hundreds against his name as well. If you don’t know, he was also the first Indian bowler to take a hat trick in Test Cricket; now, that’s a commendable feat.
Virender Sehwag
- Role: Right-Handed Batsman
- Test debut: 3rd November 2001
- ODI debut: 1st April 1999
- Birthplace: Haryana
With Virender Sehwag, you’re looking at one of the most entertaining, most famous Indian cricketers anyone has ever seen. Holding the record for scoring the fastest 300 and 250 runs in test cricket, you already know why he is listed among the most destructive batsmen of all time. Talking about triple centuries, it is quite a feat to achieve. While many fail to reach there once, Viru registers his name in the list twice. Not just in test cricket, Virender Sehwag has a double ton in ODIs as well. If you’ve seen him play, you already know the magic he brings into the field.
Yuvraj Singh
- Role: Left-Handed Batsman
- Test debut: 16th October 2003
- ODI debut: 3rd October 2000
- Birthplace: Punjab
No one can ever forget the famous cricketer in India who bagged the Man of the Tournament award in the 2011 edition of the World Cup, Yuvraj Singh. Not just in that specific tournament, but Yuvraj’s career was entirely an asset for the Indian national cricket team. However, the thing that made his contribution during the 2011 World Cup Cricket special was the fact that he not only played a pivotal role in India’s World Cup victory after 28 years but was also battling cancer at the same time.
Fighting the adversities, he made sure the whole nation enjoys the feeling of being crowned world champions. This is why Yuvraj lives as an inspiration for many as his efforts justify the saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
MS Dhoni
- Role: Right-Handed Batsman, Wicket-Keeper
- Test debut: 2nd December 2005
- ODI debut: 23rd December 2004
- Birthplace: Ranchi, Bihar
Have you ever wondered what a calm and composed cricketer might look like? Well, that’s exactly what MS Dhoni reflects. Having won all the ICC trophies for India and four IPL titles for CSK, undoubtedly, Captain Cool is among the best skippers everyone wants to have on their teams.
Unlike most of the batters who bat or have batted down the order, MS Dhoni has also dominated the batting department. Scoring more than 10,000 runs at an average of 50.6, there were a number of occasions when bowlers ended up receiving a thrashing from MSD’s fury. Not just another member of the Indian national team, Dhoni is rather an icon in international cricket everyone looks up to.
Virat Kohli
- Role: Right Handed Batsman
- Test debut: 20th June 2011
- ODI debut: 18th August 2008
- Birthplace: Delhi
To wrap up the list of the famous cricketers name, we’ve got the run-machine, Virat Kohli. If you ask anyone to name any four personalities in India as the best cricketer, you’ll find Virat Kohli in the majority of those. No surprise that Kohli is the most famous Indian cricketer, at least when the current generation is concerned. The former Indian skipper bags 27 Test and 43 ODI tons and is eyeing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 100s.
Not just the batsman-Kolhi, the fielder, and the captain, Kohli hasn’t failed to impress cricket fans all around the globe. Leading India in tests, Kohli bags a fantabulous record of 39 wins out of 66. The scenes are similar to ODIs, where the team ended on the winning side 65 times out of 95. As per numbers are concerned, he is definitely the most promising option India has ever opted for.
FAQ
Who is the most famous Indian cricketer?
When we talk about the famous Indian cricket players list, encountering a long one is evident, thanks to the number of talents the nation produces every year. However, the likes of Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and MS Dhoni grab the higher spot when the interest revolves around the old Indian cricket players.
Who is the king of IPL?
Considering the number of runs scored, it would be safe to say that Virat Kolhi is one of the best Indian cricketers the game has witnessed. Loaded with winning performances, Virat Kolhi is also popular as the king of IPL.
Who is the most dangerous batsman in the IPL?
Speaking of the most dangerous players of the IPL, Ab De Villiers and Chris Gayle are the two names you’ll find mutual in everyone’s list. Alongside them, the likes of some best Indian cricket players, including MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Suresh Raina, also have their names registered on the inventory.
Conclusion
That’s everything about the top 10 Indian cricket players worth knowing about. Here we’ve uncovered the best cricketers of all time who have made an immense contribution to Indian cricket. The 10 cricketers name listed in this write-up is purely based on their performances and how well the same benefitted their team, whether at the international level or the domestic ones.
Knowing about the famous Indian cricketers names not only helps polish your cricketing expertise but the same can help aid online betting in many ways. Having the information, together with fruitful tips and the convenience of Parimatch, you’re sitting at the most efficient spot to play bets on your favorite team.
Talking of convenience, you can even download our app and start betting on cricket matches right from your smartphone. Whether you’re more tending towards IPL betting or it is the international matches that you love engaging to, we at Parimatch ensure you make the most out of it.
Read More
- Highest Partnership in IPL
- Best Catches in IPL
- Best Wicket Keeper in IPL
- Best T20 Batsman
- Best Spinners in IPL
- Fastest Bowler in the World
- Best Indian batsman