Underrated Indian Test Players: The rise of the Indian Test team started with the epic series win against Australia in 2001-02. It was the first instance when fans started believing in the Test side. India under Sourav Ganguly went on to achieve credible feats overseas. They drew the series in England and Australia while going on to win in Pakistan. Rahul Dravid then led the side to a famous series win in West Indies and England.
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The Kohli – Test generation:
India was ranked 7th at the end of 2014 when Virat Kohli took over as Test captain. He transformed the Test side into a world-beating side across all conditions. India continued to top the Test rankings for 5 years in a row. They became the only Asian side to win two successive series in Australia. India was the only team who defeated the mighty Aussies at Gabba after 32 years.
The unassuming Test cricketers:
There were many players who contributed to India’s rise during the era. They went about their business in an unassuming style helping the team’s cause. Few of these cricketers weren’t appreciated enough during their tenure.
We look at 5 such underrated Indian Test players:
#1 Irfan Pathan
He was one of India’s most promising pace-bowling all-rounders. Irfan Pathan broke into the international circuit as very few cricketers would. He is the only Indian bowler to pick up a hat trick in the first over of a Test match. Pathan was the player of the match in the famous Perth Test in 2008. His career couldn’t quite take off the way everyone envisioned. Pathan finished with 100 wickets and 1105 runs in 29 Tests.
#2 Gautam Gambhir
Not many might be aware of the fact that Gautam Gambhir was once ranked as the number one Test batter. He is mainly known for his gritty knock in Napier that helped India salvage a draw. Gambhir formed a potent combination with Sehwag at the top. Sehwag ended up being one of the finest openers in world cricket while Gambhir had to largely remain under his shadow. The southpaw managed to score 4154 runs in 58 Tests at an average of 42 scoring 9 centuries.
#3 Umesh Yadav
He made his Test debut in 2011. Umesh Yadav was one of India’s rare bright spots during the 2011-12 tour down under. He picked up a five-wicket haul in Perth. His dismissal of Ricky Ponting was one of the highlights of the series. Yadav since then has been in and out of the Test team. During the Kohli era especially Yadav mainly played in home Tests. There are very few pacers who have as impressive numbers as Yadav does in Asia. He has picked up 165 wickets in 54 Tests so far at an average of 30.2. His strike rate of 51.6 is outstanding.
#4 Murali Vijay
He was called the ‘Monk’. Murali Vijay was a flashy batsman when he made his Test debut in 2008. He went on to remodel his game to suit the team’s needs. Vijay curbed his natural instincts after making a comeback in 2013. He was one of the best when it came to leaving the ball outside off-stump.
Vijay was brilliant against spin. It helped him capitalize later in the innings. He stroked a brilliant 144 at Gabba in 2014. Vijay has played many knocks that helped India prevail overseas. He scored 3982 runs in 61 Tests at an average of 38.3. Vijay notched up 12 Test centuries in the process.
#5 Shikhar Dhawan
He made one of the most spectacular debuts of all time. Shikhar Dhawan smashed the fastest century for a batsman on their Test debut. Dhawan’s easy approach to batting has often been criticized for lack of application. He played during an era where bowlers dominated. Dhawan is one of the only three contemporary Indian batters to score a century in New Zealand. He aggregated 2315 runs in 34 Tests at an average of 40.6 scoring 7 centuries.
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