Rahul Dravid and Jasprit Bumrah were left off of former India head coach Ravi Shastri‘s choice of the best five Indian cricket players of all time. Dravid is considered one of the best red-ball players to have played for the Men in Blue, while Bumrah improved and became a formidable force during Shastri’s tenure as India’s head coach.
Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were chosen by Shastri. They were both in the same dressing room as Ravi Shastri when India won the World Cup in 1983. Shastri has also provided analysis alongside Dev and Gavaskar.
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar was also included on the former all-rounder’s list. The greatest run scorer in international cricket history is Tendulkar. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, the past leaders of India, were Shastri’s final two selections. In white-ball cricket, Dhoni holds the record for most victories as India’s captain, but Kohli has equalled him in Test matches.
“Gavaskar will undoubtedly start. Without a doubt, Virat, Sachin, and Kapil. I’m examining the most significant figures of their time. MS once more. Cricket is still Bumrah’s thing. Thus, Sunny, Kapil, Sachin, Dhoni, and Virat will be the five,” Shastri stated during a “Stick to Cricket” episode.
Because of Tendulkar’s longevity and the strain of expectations he had to deal with, Shastri kept him at the top of the heap. The 63-year-old added that throughout his tenure, the Master Blaster had to contend with some of the most powerful pace attacks.
The greatest rivalry in cricket is named by Ravi Shastri.
Ravi Shastri was also asked to identify cricket’s most intense rivalry. He claimed that the rivalry between India and Pakistan was at its height during his lifetime. He did note, though, that the rivalry between Australia and India has intensified in the past ten years. The 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s MCG Test attracted the highest attendance of any Test match in Australia.
“I have played India-Pakistan in the past. The amount of external interest it creates is enormous. Nevertheless, I believe that India-Australia has embraced the recent ten years. There have been several outstanding series from Australia, England, and India. This time, the Boxing Day Test at the MCG drew larger attendance. The largest group to arrive since Bradman’s crew in 1936. He said, “People come in from all parts.”
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