Indian Cricket gems from the 90s: Sachin Tendulkar was the biggest brand in the 90s. He was not just the face of Indian cricket but world cricket in general. His popularity was such that he overshadowed many quality cricketers. But these bunch of cricketers often found ways to excel under pressure. Indian cricket had many such cricketers who got lost in the aftermath of scandals, the team failing to compete overseas, and many other reasons. These cricketers could have been top properties in a league like IPL had they gotten a chance to play in it.
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We look at a few such Indian Cricket gems from the 90s:
#1 Ajay Jadeja
He could have been one of the biggest superstars of Indian cricket if not for different reasons. Ajay Jadeja had a lot going for him during the 90s. He was the poster boy of a generation that was beginning to express itself. Jadeja could open the batting in addition to being a solid middle-order player in ODIs. His carnage against Waqar Younis in the 1996 World Cup quarterfinals is now the stuff of legends. Jadeja was a swift mover on the field. He could bowl medium pace too. Jadeja would have been a big hit in the IPL.
#2 Robin Singh
He was one of the early Indian players who made fielding look cool. Robin Singh was an effortless white ball player. He walked into tough situations and almost always found a way through them. Singh was a big hitter whose hitting arc was between backward square and long on. He bowled gentle medium pace with a knack for breaking partnerships. Robin Singh was a versatile player who never really exploded onto the scene. The IPL would have been a solid platform for him to showcase his skills.
#3 Javagal Srinath
He remains one of the fastest Indian pacers. Javagal Srinath was a lone wolf among India’s pace offerings in the 90s. He kept toiling hard day in and day out on helpless Indian wickets. Srinath though never gave up. He set many games up for India if not winning them. Srinath clocked good pace troubling the best batters of his generation. He was someone who could hit the ball hard and long. His cameos and pinch-hitting abilities deserved to be spoken about more. Srinath would have been a fabulous prospect for any IPL team.
#4 Mohammad Azharuddin
He still holds the record for being the only player to score 3 Test centuries in his first three Tests. Mohammad Azharuddin was once an emotion. He was an icon whose style influenced a whole breed of young players. Azhar’s wrists dominated a lot of dressing room conversations among opponents. He was someone who could blow away both pace and spin with effortless ease. Azhar was tailor-made for the IPL. The fans would have celebrated in joy seeing Azhar dispatch balls off his rubber wrists to the mid-wicket boundary.
#5 Vinod Kambli
It might surprise Indian cricket lovers that he holds the highest Test average among Indian batsmen who have scored more than 1,000 Test runs. Kambli scored two double centuries in his first two Tests. He was primed for greatness but temperament got the better of him. Kambli though made umpteen comebacks to the national side. But it never proved to be enough. Kambli was one of the most flamboyant left-hand batters the game has ever seen albeit briefly. He would have definitely enjoyed the riches of the IPL!
