Cricket and India go hand in hand. It’s like two inseparable things. The sport runs in the veins of the country.
While cricket wasn’t invented here, we’ve held on to it like it’s ours. And this passion has given us many legendary cricketers.
Greatest Indian Cricketers of All Time
In this article, let’s look at the Top 11 Greatest Indian Cricketers of All Time — players who shaped the history and future of Indian cricket.
Quick Overview: Top 11 Greatest Indian Cricketers – Stats & Achievements
| Rank | Player Name | International Runs | Wickets | Major Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 34,000+ | — | 100 centuries, ODI & Test legend |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 28,000+ | — | 82 international tons, modern great |
| 3 | Jasprit Bumrah | — | 350+* | 2024 T20 WC hero, India’s pace spearhead |
| 4 | Sunil Gavaskar | 10,122 (Tests) | — | First to 10,000 Test runs |
| 5 | Kapil Dev | 9,000+ | 687 | 1983 WC winning captain, all-round icon |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | 17,266 | — | Won all 3 ICC white-ball trophies |
| 7 | Anil Kumble | 2,500+ | 956 | India’s top wicket-taker |
| 8 | Rahul Dravid | 24,000+ | — | Over 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs |
| 9 | Rohit Sharma | 19,000+ | — | 3 ODI double centuries, top opener |
| 10 | Ravi Shastri | 5,600+ | 200+ | 1985 WCC POTS, top coach |
| 11 | R. Ashwin | 1,500+ | 765+ | India’s top home Test match-winner |
11. Ravichandran Ashwin
India were almost unbeatable at home between 2013 and 2024. And the key man behind that dominance?
Ravichandran Ashwin. The master of spin used his clever mind and bowling variations to outwit batters.
With 537 Test wickets, 37 five-fors, and 8 ten-wicket hauls, Ashwin became India’s go-to match-winner. Add to that his 228 limited-overs wickets, and you have a complete bowler.
10. Ravi Shastri
Before becoming a legendary coach and commentator, Ravi Shastri was a fierce all-rounder.
He played a crucial role in India’s famous 1985 World Championship of Cricket win, earning the Player of the Series award. He scored 3830 Test runs with 11 centuries and picked up 151 wickets with his sharp off-spin.
His confidence, leadership, and presence on the field were unmatched. Shastri’s influence off the field later as India’s head coach further added to his legendary status.
9. Rohit Sharma
Opening the batting isn’t an easy task. But Rohit Sharma made it look effortless, just like his pull shot.
The right-hander is perhaps the greatest opener to play for India across formats. His numbers in white-ball cricket are simply excellent.
About 78 per cent of Sharma’s career runs have come in ODIs and T20Is combined. And he’s pretty close to 20,000 runs in international cricket.
Not many would’ve thought Sharma would have such a career after the initial hiccups. But he turned things around in 2013. Since then, he has been on an upward trend.
Like to Know: Rohit Sharma Record List
8. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is a pure textbook batter. Why so? Ask him to bat for hours, and he would just do it.
Dravid put a price on his wicket. He made the opponent bowlers toil hard to earn his precious wicket.
So India had a solid middle-order batter, who always held things together like a wall does. And this ‘Wall of India’ racked up more than 10,000 runs each in Tests and ODIs.
What made those runs special was his ability to soak up the pressure and transfer it to the opposition. This eventually resulted in some memorable victories for India. For this reason alone, Dravid is among the greatest Indian cricketers.
7. Anil Kumble
If Dravid was the match-winner with the bat, then Kumble stepped up with the ball. And he did so with a lot of courage. Remember when he bowled with a fractured jaw in 2002?
That’s how much cricket meant to him. And no wonder he reached various peaks in cricket.
What made Kumble stand apart was his subtle variations in speed and flight. He set up batters and deceived them cleverly with his variations.
This worked wonders for Kumble as he fetched 956 wickets in international cricket. The leg spinner still tops the wicket charts for India in Tests and ODIs.
6. MS Dhoni
Captain Cool is here. MS Dhoni is one of the greatest to lead India in international cricket.
Not many led the team like he did. And the results were to be seen by everyone. India reached the No. 1 Test ranking and won three ICC titles under his leadership.
Sure, Dhoni’s captaincy was a game-changer. But you can’t overlook his batting skills.
MSD aggregated 17266 international runs. And more than 10000 of them came in ODIs while batting down the order for most of his career.
His wicketkeeping? It was flawless. Batters couldn’t escape from his quick hands behind the stumps.
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5. Kapil Dev
It’s been more than three decades since Kapil Dev retired. But India hasn’t quite found a pace-bowling all-rounder like him.
It will be, in fact, hard to find a complete package like Dev. He swung the ball away and hit sixes with a lot of power.
If that wasn’t enough, Dev led India by example. It was in 1983 when he guided the team to its maiden World Cup victory.
And that set the cricketing scene in India on fire. Dev’s leadership and all-round skills made a huge difference in India’s growth trajectory. So he is rightfully among the greatest Indian cricketers.
4. Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar is perhaps among the most technical batters India has ever seen. He had an excellent batting technique, with a solid defence to back it.
And he showed a glimpse of it in his debut Test series. Gavaskar aggregated 774 runs across four Tests against a formidable Caribbean attack.
Not many could do this on their several trips to the West Indies. But Gavaskar? He was built differently.
And Gavaskar got rewarded for his hard yards on the crease. He was the first one to amass 10,000 runs in Tests.
3. Jasprit Bumrah
Words might fall short to describe Jasprit Bumrah’s greatness. Not many have had an impact like him in a short period.
India has had to struggle to find a true fast bowler for many years. Then came Bumrah in 2016.
And in a decade of his presence, he has bowled India to many wins. The most memorable being his contribution to the 2024 T20 World Cup victory.
Bumrah is one bowler a captain can rely on without thinking twice. When nothing happens, just give the ball to Bumrah and rest back. That’s how trustworthy his trade is.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Dangerous Bowlers in World
2. Virat Kohli
If consistency had a face, it would be that of Virat Kohli. A few have managed to be consistent throughout their careers. And Kohli is a prime example of it.
India were in a fix as to who would fill the void left by Sachin Tendulkar. And then Kohli stepped up as the natural successor.
He has batted like his idol. Responsibly. Holding on to the batting lineup like his life depends on it.
And no wonder Kohli’s right behind his idol in the all-time Indian greats list. He has accrued close to 28,000 international runs and 82 hundreds.
Kohli’s greatness, though, isn’t limited to his batting. He was an excellent captain who instilled the hunger to always win, no matter the situation. And aptly so, India enjoyed a great success under him, especially in Test cricket.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
There’s cricket, and then there’s Sachin Tendulkar. The man who carried a billion dreams.
He scored nearly 35,000 runs and made 100 international centuries. His journey — from facing legends like Wasim, Waqar, and McGrath to dominating every major attack — is unmatched.
Tendulkar wasn’t just a player. He was — and still is — an emotion for every Indian cricket fan. Not many have come close to his stature. So undoubtedly, Tendulkar is the greatest-ever Indian cricketer.
These cricketers didn’t just play the game — they changed it for India. From Sachin’s records to Dhoni’s calm leadership and Bumrah’s match-winning spells, each one has made the country proud. Their passion, performances, and impact make them true legends. And while new stars will shine, these names will always be remembered as the greatest in Indian cricket.
