SACHIN TENDULKAR
15921 runs in 200 Tests, 18426 runs in 463 ODIs with a total of 100 centuries
Inarguably one of the all-time great batsmen the game of cricket has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar holds quite a long list of batting records given his 24-year international career, which saw him becoming the first and only cricketer to play 200 Tests, a record 463 ODIs for India.
Though Sachin Tendulkar played a single T20I for India, he showed this immense talent and ability to adjust to the new T20 format, playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and even scored a century in the format as well.
Tendulkar evolved his game from time to time to update himself with the changing world of cricket and that is what made him an all-time great.
MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDIN
6215 runs in 99 Tests, 9378 runs in 334 ODIs with a total of 29 centuries
A surprise pick many would say, Mohammad Azharuddin was the first Indian to play 300 ODIs. Azharuddin is the only batsman to make three centuries in his first three Test matches and also scored a century in what turned out to be his last Test match.
Azharuddin led India in three ODI World Cups -1992, 1996, and 1999 and was one of the pillars of the team’s batting lineup in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also a terrific fielder in slips and covers and blazing fast in between the wickets.
Many might argue that Azharuddin might not be suited for T20 cricket, but anyone thinking it should go to YouTube and see his assault on Pakistan’s Ata-Ur-Rahman, who was clobbered for 24 runs in one over.
He would fit in easily in T20 cricket as a middle-order batsman, who could smash both spinners and fast bowlers on any kind of pitch and was quick in-between wickets as well, with his fielding being an added bonus.
MS DHONI (C&WK)
4876 runs in 90 Tests, 10773 runs in 350 ODIs, 1617 runs in 98 T20Is with 829 dismissals
MS Dhoni is perhaps the most successful wicketkeeper in modern times, given that he played all the three formats of international cricket, doing the most difficult job, keeping wickets. He started out as a hard-hitting batsman who could destroy bowling attacks at will, with decent keeping skills, and ended his career as one of the best wicketkeepers.
He is third on the list of most successful wicketkeepers with 829 dismissals and is the only middle-order batsman with more than 10,000 ODI runs under his belt. He was the first Indian keeper to his a double-century in Test cricket and the only captain to win all the three ICC trophies as well.
MS Dhoni is a dream pick for any fan or expert picking his/her all-time playing XI.
