In comparison to batters and bowlers, India has produced a relatively scarce number of quality all-rounders. Top-order batters and spin spinners have always dominated the cricketing landscape. However, the few all-rounders that have emerged are not just numbers but remarkable talents on the world stage.

These Indian all-rounders have consistently showcased their versatility with both bat and ball, winning matches single-handedly, inspiring their teammates, and setting a benchmark for aspiring young cricketers. Here's a writeup to the top 5 Indian all-rounders who have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket history.  

Kapil Dev

It's no surprise to find Kapil Dev topping the given list. Kapil Dev, an embodiment of raw spirit and grit, has the potential to be remembered as one of India's best athletes. He bowls for extraordinarily lengthy durations that modern bowlers could never imagine, and he has never missed a match due to fitness difficulties. The former captain is India's third-highest wicket-taker in Tests.

But, above all, the 1983 World Cup win was the catalyst for the halo around him. His incredible catch to eliminate Viv Richards in the World Cup final may have been the turning point in the West Indies' dominance. In 382 international cricket matches, he has scored a colossal 9031 runs and 687 wickets. 

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin's career has been a rollercoaster, but it has significantly influenced his arsenal. He replaced Harbhajan Singh on the Indian team and shattered several test records. Ashwin, a street-smart cricketer, used several variations to confuse batters across forms.

Even though he was one of the players who lost his spot in the ODI and T20 teams owing to India's glut of spinners, no one could match his test supremacy. With cautious knocks and daring ramp shots, Ashwin is one of India's top all-rounders. He has scored 4302 runs and taken 744 wickets in his current international spell across all formats.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja completely transformed the fielding aspect of the game, including his all-round ability. Jadeja failed to gain a position on the Indian side despite playing as Virat Kohli's vice-captain in the Under-19 World Cup. Jadeja is still evolving as a limited-overs all-rounder, but his combination with Ravichandran Ashwin is lethal in Test cricket. Jadeja is now a match-winning batsman, ball player, and fielder.

India cannot omit him from any of their teams. With his recent retirement from the T20I side, his fundamental contributions in the ODI and Test formats will be crucial for the Indian team in the coming days. In his international career, he has made 6393 runs and scalped 568 matches in 279 matches.

Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja Entertain Once More at Chepauk

Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan was hyped as the future Kapil Dev during his early career. A great left-arm bowling all-rounder with the ability to swing the ball both ways joined the Indian team and immediately made an impression. He became the first Indian bowler to achieve a test hat-trick in the opening three deliveries of a test match.

After demonstrating his ability to knock rapid boundaries late in the innings, he was an easy pick to play for India in the 2007 T20 World Cup, when he was named Man of the Match in the final. In his 141-match career, he scored 2821 runs and scalped 301 wickets. 

Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri is a complete all-rounder both on and off the pitch. In some ways, he revolutionised the game by going against the tide. While batters began scoring runs more quickly, his defensive tactics, such as his ability to play long innings and tire out the opposition and subsequent high scores against formidable opponents, greatly benefited him.

He was a right-handed batsman who bowled left-arm orthodox, an unusual breed of player. But at times, Ravi Shastri became so vicious that he blasted six sixes in one over. His excellent statistics of 3830 runs with 151 wickets in test cricket and 3108 runs with 129 wickets in one-day internationals speak for themselves. Adding cherry on the top, he is also excellent at coaching and commenting.

In an exhilarating finale at Edgbaston, Birmingham, the India Champions triumphed over the Pakistan Champions in a one-sided affair during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) final. This much-anticipated clash brought together cricket legends from both sides, culminating in a victory for the Indian team led by the dynamic Yuvraj Singh.

WCL 2024 winning moments

In a heartfelt video, Irfan Pathan credited Yuvraj Singh for his leadership. Pathan highlighted how Yuvraj’s strategic decisions and team management led them to victory. The comments from other players and cricketing experts echoed similar sentiments, praising Yuvraj’s captaincy and the team’s overall performance.

See Also: Yuvraj Singh reveals his all-time XI – No spot for MS Dhoni!

In a video uploaded by Irfan Pathan on social media handles, he said, “Yuvraj Singh brought this team together. He clearly told me that he did not want me to bowl in the tournament. In fact, he wanted to see sixes with my bat. However, today they bowled me 3 overs.”

Match overview

Pakistan Champions’ captain Younis Khan won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for the Indian team. On the other hand, India’s strategy revolved around a disciplined bowling attack, aiming to restrict Pakistan to a manageable score.

First Innings: Pakistan champions batting

The innings started with a setback for Pakistan as opener Sharjeel Khan was dismissed for 12 runs off 10 balls by Anureet Singh at the end of the second over. This early wicket put pressure on the Pakistani side, which was somewhat alleviated by a promising partnership between Kamran Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood.

Despite the promising start, Pakistan’s innings faced hurdles as Vinay Kumar dismissed Sohaib Maqsood on the last ball of the fifth over. This wicket marked the beginning of a series of consistent losses for Pakistan, preventing them from gaining significant momentum.

Sohail Tanvir’s late efforts provided some respite for the Pakistan Champions. His aggressive batting helped push the total to a respectable 156 for 6. Tanvir’s contribution was crucial in ensuring Pakistan had a fighting chance.

Anureet Singh was the standout bowler for India, taking 3 wickets for 43 runs in his 4 overs. His performance was instrumental in disrupting Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Second Innings: India champions chase

Chasing 157, the India Champions got off to a steady start. The openers laid a solid foundation, which was built upon by Ambati Rayudu and Yusuf Pathan. Their contributions ensured that India remained on track during the chase.

Yuvraj Singh’s leadership was pivotal. His batting was a blend of caution and aggression, guiding the team through crucial phases of the match. Yuvraj’s strategic approach and timely boundaries kept the required run rate within reach.

Irfan Pathan, known for his all-round abilities, played an unexpected role by bowling three overs despite being primarily included for his batting prowess. His contribution with the ball added an extra edge to India’s performance.

The match concluded with India Champions comfortably reaching the target, lifting the prized WCL trophy. The final moments saw the team celebrating their hard-fought victory, with fans and players rejoicing in unison.

In a nail-biting final match of the World Championship of Legends on July 13, 2024, between India Champions and Pakistan Champions, India Champions secured a comfortable victory. Chasing Pakistan’s total of 156/6, India put on a stellar show, where Ambati Rayudu scored a quick 50 and Yusuf Pathan also played an explosive knock.

With Yuvraj Singh’s brilliant captaincy, India reached their target, finishing with a score of 159/5 in 19.1 overs, winning the match by 5 wickets with 5 balls in hand as well. Irfan Pathan was on strike in the final over when he hit a four to help India reach the target and win the trophy of the WCL 2024. He straight went to hug the India Champions captain Yuvraj Singh as they beat Pakistan convincingly.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan’s captain, Younis Khan, helped his side to post a decent 156/6 in their allotted 20 overs. India responded well where Ambati Rayudu scored a crucial 50 runs off just 30 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes while opening the chase with Robin Uthappa.

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s coming home’ – Team India to reach New Delhi on Thursday

Ambati Rayudu scores a quick fifty

Their onslaught against the Pakistani bowlers during the powerplay helped India to start well. Rayudu struck Aamer Yameen for a maximum in the first over and a boundary to set the platform. Uthappa also kept attacking in the next over, striking Yameen for two fours as well but he couldn’t score much as the same bowler quickly dismissed him. Arriving in third, Suresh Raina also hit a boundary on his second ball but was caught by Sohail Tanvir soon after, leaving India at 38/2.

Then Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship and added a vital 60-run partnership with Gurkeerat Singh Mann. Reaching his fifty, Rayudu positioned India strongly at 98/2 following 11 overs as well. Pakistan bounced back, though, dismissing Mann (34 off 33) and Rayudu (50 off 30) inside ten balls as well.

However, Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh added 42 runs as well. While Yuvraj (15* off 22) played the anchor’s role, Pathan’s quickfire 30 off 16 balls put India in a strong position. Meanwhile, Pathan was dismissed in the last over, caught by Shoaib Maqsood for a six, leaving India short of 7 runs to win from the last 10 balls. Then Irfan Pathan sealed the win by striking a boundary on the first ball of the last over as well.

Cricket has always been a sport full of intense moments, but the recent World Championship of Legends (WCL) match between India and the South Africa Champions added an extra layer of drama. Brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan found themselves in a heated exchange over a miscommunication that led to Irfan’s run-out. This incident occurred on the first ball of the 19th over when Irfan played a lofted shot off Dale Steyn’s delivery.

The Incident: Irfan Pathan’s run out

It all began with Irfan Pathan facing Dale Steyn. Irfan played a lofted shot that landed safely between two fielders. The shot seemed to promise a chance for a second run. Seeing the opportunity, both Irfan and Yusuf decided to attempt a risky second run. However, a moment of hesitation from Yusuf led to a miscommunication.

See Also: India unlikely to tour to Pakistan for Champions Trophy; tournament to be played in hybrid model: Reports

Yusuf initially agreed to the second run but then hesitated, causing Irfan to be caught in no man’s land. Steyn, ever the sharp fielder, quickly collected the ball and dislodged the bails, resulting in Irfan’s dismissal.

Irfan was visibly frustrated by the run-out and did not hide his displeasure towards Yusuf. This mix-up added pressure on India, which was already struggling in its chase.

Impact on the match

India were chasing a formidable total of 210/8 set by South Africa. The run-out of Irfan Pathan was a significant setback. Despite this, India put up a fight, needing 153 runs to qualify for the semi-finals.

India managed to reach 156/6 in 20 overs, losing the match by 54 runs but securing enough runs to advance to the next stage. This result simultaneously dashed South Africa’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.

South Africa’s dominant batting performance

Jacques Synman, who had been in fine form, scored a blistering 73 off 43 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. His aggressive batting laid a solid foundation for South Africa.Wicket-keeper Richard Levi complemented Synman with a quickfire 60 off 25 balls, featuring 5 sixes and as many boundaries. Their partnership ensured South Africa posted a challenging total.

India’s bowling comeback

India’s bowlers staged a late comeback during the death overs, managing to restrict the flow of runs. However, the damage had been done earlier, and South Africa’s dominant batting display set a target too steep for India to chase.

Despite the loss, India’s performance were enough to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The team will need to address communication issues and build on their strengths to succeed in the upcoming matches.

In a thrilling encounter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Punjab Kings emerged victorious against the Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 1, 2024.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

The match began with Punjab Kings winning the toss and opting to bowl first, setting the stage for an intense showdown. CSK’s opening batsmen, Ajinkya Rahane and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, laid a solid foundation with a promising start in the powerplay. However, the dismissal of Rahane for 29 runs in 24 balls by Harpreet Brar shifted the momentum in PBKS’s favour.

See Also: Canada announce squad for T20 World Cup

As the innings progressed, CSK encountered setbacks with the quick dismissals of Shivam Dube for a golden duck and Ravindra Jadeja scoring just 2 runs off 4 balls. Despite these challenges, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s resilient innings of 62 runs off 48 balls and Sameer Rizvi’s contribution of 21 runs off 23 balls propelled CSK to a total of 162/7 in their allotted 20 overs.

Analysis of MS Dhoni’s Refusal of Singles

MS Dhoni’s refusal of singles during his innings drew attention and criticism, particularly from former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Pathan disapproved of Dhoni’s actions, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in cricket.

In a way, Mitchell completed two runs while Dhoni refused to take a single run. This act of Dhoni was not appreciated by many and even former all-rounder Irfan Pathan raised questions on this in a chat at Star Sports. 

“He shouldn’t have done that (refusing a single). This is a team game. Don’t do that in a team game. The other guy is also an international player. If he had been a bowler, I would have understood it for sure. You have done that with (Ravindra) Jadeja and with Mitchell as well. You don’t need to do that. He could have avoided it,” Pathan added.

The reaction you know, but the reason you don’t  

This incident resembles Dhoni’s previous occurrence during the IPL 2016 match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Kolkata Knight Riders. In that match, Dhoni’s call for a single led to the run-out of Irfan Pathan, prompting similar scrutiny of Dhoni’s decision-making on the field.

The incident took place in the penultimate delivery of the 14th over, as Dhoni nudged a ball towards backward point and set off for a single. Pathan, on the other hand, took two steps before realising ball went straight into hands of Piyush Chawla and there was no single available. Dhoni by the time had reached half crease, and yelled ‘RUN’ at his partner in frustration. The hapless Pathan had to sacrifice his wicket in order to save his captain. Yet, such a gracious step from him wasn’t appreciated by Dhoni, who gave him a dirty look in his way back to pavilion.

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While some may attribute such incidents to miscommunication or misunderstanding, the refusal of singles reflects a disregard for the principles of sportsmanship and teamwork. In cricket, partnerships and collaborative efforts are integral to success; every run counts towards the team’s performance.

Former seamer Irfan Pathan has expressed concerns about Hardik Pandya‘s performance as an all-rounder at the international level. Pathan, who himself had a successful career as an all-rounder, believes that Pandya has not made a significant impact in ICC tournaments.

Pandya, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, has been struggling with poor form this season. This has led to doubts about his selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad, which is expected to be announced soon.

“They should not give him that much priority…” 

Irfan Pathan said, “What I feel about Hardik Pandya is that Indian cricket needs to make it clear that they should not give him that much priority as they have given him so far, because we still haven’t won the World Cup.” 

“If you think you are a primary all-rounder, you need to make that kind of an impact at the international level. As far as the all-rounder is concerned he hasn’t made that impact at the international level, we are only thinking about the potential.”

“Indian cricket needs to stop doing that. Stop giving preferences to individuals…”- Irfan Pathan

According to Pathan, there is a significant difference between performing well in the IPL and delivering at the international level. He emphasized the need for Pandya to play consistently throughout the year rather than selectively choosing tournaments.

“We are getting confused between the IPL performances and the international performances. That’s a big difference. First of all, he needs to play throughout the year. He cannot pick and choose.

“Indian cricket needs to stop doing that. Stop giving preferences to individuals, if you do that, you will not be winning major tournaments.

“What Australia has been doing for many years is that they are actually preferring the team game. Making everyone a superstar. Not one superstar, everybody is a superstar in the squad. If you don’t do that, you will not win big tournaments.” Pathan also opined some problems that are related to finishers and the team’s pace bowling unit.

“This is what I’m really scared about when it comes to the World Cup. Look, my worry is with the T20 World Cup, we are pretty much sorted as far as the top-order batting is concerned. We are pretty much sorted in the middle-overs as well.

“If we’re thinking Ravindra Jadeja is a number seven batter, you need a good finisher. His numbers are not that great as far as the strike rate is concerned at the international level. So, there is a worry for me there and the fast bowling.

“Apart from Bumrah, if I look at the guys playing in IPL, played before the IPL in the South Africa series, their numbers are not that great — be that it’s Arshdeep, be that it’s Mohammed Siraj, you know, the guys who played last.

“So these two departments, it really makes me worry. These are the departments that are going to be very, very crucial,” Pathan said.

See Also: Former cricketer questions for Rinku Singh but omits from his own T20 WC squad

Pathan’s remarks highlight the growing debate surrounding Pandya’s role in the Indian team and raise questions about his future in international cricket.

Irfan Pathan, former all-rounder of the Indian National Cricket Team, has raised doubts regarding the selection of Pat Cummins as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the upcoming 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Cummins had an outstanding year in 2023 as the captain of the Australian cricket team, leading them to victories in both the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. His commendable performance in the Ashes 2023 series also ensured Australia retained the Ashes urn.

Assessing Pat Cummins’ Transition to T20 Leadership

Recognized with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2023, Cummins was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a significant sum of 20.50 crores at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai. Following speculations, SRH officially announced Cummins as their captain on Monday, March 4, replacing Aiden Markram, whose leadership in the previous season was deemed inadequate.

Expressing his thoughts on Pat Cummins assuming the leadership role at SRH, Irfan Pathan acknowledged Cummins’ success as a captain but highlighted concerns over his performance in T20 cricket.

“While Cummins has proven himself as a strong leader, particularly with Australia’s recent triumphs, there remain doubts about his suitability for T20 leadership. His track record in T20 cricket isn’t as convincing, and his IPL statistics aren’t stellar either,” Pathan commented on Star Sports.

It’s worth noting that although Aiden Markram struggled as captain in the IPL, he achieved considerable success in SA20, guiding Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive titles.

Beyond Leadership: Irfan Pathan Questions Pat Cummins’ Bowling Performance

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faces a conundrum in finalizing their four overseas players for the playing XI, with a pool including Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Glenn Phillips, Aiden Markram, and Marco Jansen.

Irfan Pathan echoed concerns about the selection, suggesting that players like Wanindu Hasaranga and Marco Jansen might struggle to secure spots due to the abundance of talented overseas options.

“There will be challenges. What’s on SRH’s agenda? This move raises questions. If Cummins assumes captaincy, what about Markram? Handing him the captain’s role for just a year, shouldn’t they support him? That’s a major query,” Pathan remarked.

“If both play, Hasaranga and even Marco Jansen could face exclusion due to the surplus of overseas players. SRH needs to strategize because Klaasen is also an overseas player. Personally, I advocate for Hasaranga’s inclusion in the playing XI. Setting leadership aside, Cummins’ performance as a bowler is yet to be observed,” he continued.

SEE ALSO:Watch: Shoriful Islam Playfully Mimics Angelo Mathews’ ‘Timed-Out’ Celebration, Adding Jest to Sri Lanka’s Match

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is scheduled to commence on March 22, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Match 23.

Irfan Pathan took to Twitter to say that it was “heartbreaking” to see MS Dhoni limp while running between the wickets in CSK versus DC IPL 2023 match

Irfan Pathan shared his considerations after Chennai Super Rulers (CSK) captain MS Dhoni was seen limping while at the same time running during their IPL 2023 match against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk on Wednesday.

Pathan wrote on Twitter that seeing MS Dhoni limp while running between the wickets was “heartbreaking.”

During his nine-ball, 20-run innings, Dhoni gave glimpses of his glorious past, rewinding the clock. In the midst of raucous applause from the packed Chepauk crowd, he came out to bat when CSK were struggling at 126/6.

The legendary cricketer didn’t get disheartened. In the 19th over that was bowled by Khaleel Ahmed, he hit two sixes and a boundary to give CSK the much-needed momentum at the end. Despite the fact that he is recovering from a knee injury, he chose not to convert the ones into twos.

Dhoni has been struggling with a knee issue starting from the beginning of IPL 2023 and the team management is dealing with the issue. The CSK skipper hasn’t missed any match because of the knee issue and looks set to play the total season.

“Jaha se chorte hai wahi se fir se shuru hoti hai Hamari dosti. Never been to the point at which we met and didn’t recall our bygone times. A few interesting recollections come back to life each time we meet.”

The inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane in India’s squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final has caused controversy among cricket fans worldwide. While a lot of experts and fans think it’s a step backward, others say Rahane’s return isn’t just due to his IPL form. They also say that his experience will be useful in English conditions against a team like Australia. The genuine purposes for Rahane’s re-visitation of the Test side following 15 months won’t be known as the choice panel gave out no subtleties.

Iyer recently had surgery on his back, and it will be some time before he can play again.

Irfan, on the other hand, was quick to point out that Rahane’s performance in the IPL 2023 for Chennai Super Kings will boost his confidence when he plays at The Oval on June 7.

“As far as the current form is concerned, he is looking in great touch. The format in which he is playing now is completely different but Rahane’s performance on foreign pitches has always been good and this has gone in his favour,”

Irfan added.

In this IPL, Ajinkya Rahane’s aggressive batting style has blown everyone away

In just five matches, he has scored 199 points while making as many as 11 sixes. To place things in context, Rahane’s best-at-any point strike rate in one season was 137 out of 2019 when he was a piece of the Rajasthan Royals.

Taking everything into account, the veteran of 82 Tests has scored 634 runs in 7 matches in the last Ranji Prize at a normal of 57. Due to his two towering scores of 191 and 204, his season was powered by just one half-century, so the average might be misleading.

However, in the absence of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, the selection committee has decided to rely on Rahane’s previous performance. They did have Sarfaraz Khan and Suryakumar Yadav as options, but they had never played in a Test match outside of India, so it wouldn’t have been wise to throw them into a big match like the WTC final.