Not MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli! Sunil Gavaskar names India's all-time No. 1 cricketer

Sunil Gavaskar named his all-time No. 1 Indian cricketer.  |  Photo Credit: BCCL

Indian cricket has been blessed with some of the greatest cricketers in all eras. From time to time, the Indian cricket fans have got to see several Indian cricketers weave their magic on the cricket field. The debate on who is India’s greatest cricketer ever is also something that has been widely discussed. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has also picked his all-time No. 1 Indian cricketer.

While Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are three cricketers with several laurels to their name, for Gavaskar, it’s Kapil Dev – India’s first World Cup-winning captain in 1983, who is on top of the list.

“Top of everything would be Kapil Dev, he would be No.1. For me, he is the best. All-time No.1 will always be Kapil Dev,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Fondly known as the Haryana Hurricane, Kapil became a huge inspiration for several aspiring Indian cricketers as India stunned two-time World Champion West Indies to clinch its maiden title in 1983. Kapil played a key role in the showpiece event while leading the team, both with bat and ball.

Gavaskar recalled how Kapil got India out of dire situations with the bat and the ball and also was one of the best fielders in the Indian team.

“He could win the match with the bat and with the ball. He would take the wickets and win the match for you. He would score a scorching hundred or quickfire 80-90 and turn the game around. He made an impact with the bat. He made an impact with the ball. Don’t forget all those catches that he took. So he was a complete cricketer,” Gavaskar added.

During his time as captain of the Indian team, Dhoni was lauded for his ability to remain calm under pressure. Gavaskar highlighted how the trait was similar between both Dhoni and Kapil.

RELATED NEWS

MS Dhoni said he would pick our calls in half-a-ring after retirement: RP Singh

Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma expecting first child: Alia Bhatt, Chris Gayle lead wishes for parents to be

Need MS Dhoni's calmness and Virat Kohli's aggression to be successful: Irfan Pathan

“Both (Dhoni and Kapil) were very, very similar. Both had similar approaches to the game. They loved playing the game. Both of them loved being in the center of action and they wanted to achieve great things for their teams. In that way, both are very similar,” Gavaskar said.

Before hanging up his boots in 1994, Kapil represented India in 131 Tests and 225 ODIs – where he scored 5248 and 3783 runs in Tests and ODI respectively and also picked up 434 and 253 wickets in both formats.