Ravi Shastri Reveals His Top Five Indian Cricketers of All Time

Former India coach Ravi Shastri recently revealed his list of the top five Indian cricketers of all time, and to the surprise of many fans, two big names — Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Dravid — were left out. This decision drew attention, especially since Bumrah became one of the world’s top fast bowlers under Shastri’s coaching period, and Dravid is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test batsmen in cricket history. Despite their remarkable contributions to Indian cricket, Shastri opted for players who, in his view, had the biggest impact during their respective eras.

In his list, Shastri included Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. He played alongside both Gavaskar and Kapil Dev during the early 1980s and was part of the Indian squad that famously lifted the 1983 World Cup. Both Gavaskar and Kapil are legends of Indian cricket — Gavaskar being the first player to cross 10,000 runs in Test cricket and Kapil being India’s premier all-rounder who played a major role in transforming Indian pace bowling.

Sachin Tendulkar’s inclusion was almost expected. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in history, Tendulkar holds the record for the most international runs and centuries in both Tests and ODIs. His career spanned over two decades, during which he carried the hopes of millions of Indian fans. Shastri, who shared the commentary box with Tendulkar on several occasions after retirement, has often praised the “Little Master” for his incredible consistency and dedication to the game.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli were Shastri’s other two choices. Dhoni, India’s former captain, is known for his calm leadership and unmatched finishing ability in limited-overs cricket. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy — a feat no other Indian captain has achieved. Kohli, on the other hand, led India to multiple Test wins overseas and was a consistent run-scorer across all formats during his captaincy tenure. He holds the record for the most Test wins as an Indian captain and has been one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket in the past decade.

Explaining his picks on the show *Stick to Cricket*, Shastri said, “Definitely Gavaskar will start. Kapil, Sachin, Virat for sure. I am choosing the most important players of their time. MS too. Bumrah still has his career ahead. So, the five are Sunny, Kapil, Sachin, Dhoni, and Virat.” He clarified that Bumrah, while highly talented, still has time to establish himself among the all-time greats. As for Dravid, Shastri didn’t mention any specific reason for his exclusion but likely focused on players who had not just personal success but also had significant influence and leadership impact.

In the same conversation, Shastri was also asked about cricket’s biggest rivalry. He said that during his playing days, the India vs Pakistan rivalry was the most intense and followed with massive interest from fans and media. But in recent years, especially the last decade, the India vs Australia rivalry has become more significant in terms of competitiveness and crowd engagement. Highlighting this shift, Shastri pointed to the recent 2024–25 Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. That match recorded the highest attendance for a Test match in Australia since Don Bradman's team in 1936.

He said, “When I played, India vs Pakistan was the biggest rivalry and attracted huge interest. But in the last ten years, India vs Australia has become very popular. India, England, and Australia have had great series. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG this time had the biggest crowd since Bradman’s team played in 1936. People come from all over to watch.”

Shastri’s comments reflect not only his admiration for Indian cricket legends but also his insight into how cricketing rivalries and fan interests have evolved over time.