India’s history with cricket goes back quite a long way. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British Empire’s rule encapsulated the entire world. India, of course, was no exception. British expats, merchants, soldiers, and sailors would gather in India, and organize friendly cricket matches. The locals, enamored by these games, began playing themselves. Over the years, the British hold on India waned. However, aspects of British culture remained. One aspect that never left India was the love of cricket.
India and Cricket
To this day, cricket is India’s favorite sport. Children start playing the game from a young age. Men and women watch the Indian Premier League, which is one of the most popular cricket leagues today. Not to mention, the Indian cricket team dominates the international rankings. All this has led to cricket India’s favorite betting sport. If you take a look at cricket on Sportsbeti-io, and similar betting sites, you will find it is one of the most popular sports to wager on. So, in this article, we would like to look at the cricketers that have made Indian cricket what it is today.
Ranjitsinhji
Ranjitsinhji Vihaji II, or simply Ranji, is a name that is inseparable from Indian cricket. Born in 1872, Ranji was the son of a local ruler. Once he surrendered his right of inheritance, the young man went to study in Cambridge, England. There, he developed a deep passion for cricket, and joined the Cambridge university team.
Widely considered the greatest batsmen of his era, and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Ranji served as an inspiration for future Indian players. His massive success on the pitch led to international acclaim. Today, India’s first-class cricket tournament carries his name. The Ranji Trophy is an annual event, where India’s best teams compete for the prestige of being the country’s best.
Sachin Tendulkar
The Master Blaster himself makes the second spot on the list. Tendulkar is widely considered the best batsmen in cricket history. To this day, Tendulkar holds the records for highest run-scores in both One Day International and Test Cricket.
The Little Master began practicing cricket from the ripe old age of eleven. He made his debut five years later, when he was only 16-years-old. Very soon, Tendulkar won the hearts and minds of the cricket-watching public, which earned him a placement on Time’s 100 list of most influential people in the world, as well as a place in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Virat Kohli
Finally, we land on Virat Kohli. Certainly one of the most influential and celebrated players active today, Kohli has been named cricketer of the decade for the 2010s. His contributions were instrumental to India’s win in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions trophy. These accomplishments have resulted in Mr. Kohli earning a spot among some of the greatest batsmen of all time.
Though the last couple of years have been hard for the champion batter, he is still widely considered one of the best of all time. He has held the number one player rank in ODI on numerous occasions, and has certainly earned the respect he gets.
Final Thoughts
The three men mentioned in this article are some of the greatest players in cricket history. Their contributions have helped to elevate Indian cricket in the eyes of the international public. Without their contributions, who knows where cricket in India would be today?
