Indian batsmen and their favourite opponent (in terms of runs scored)
May 11, 2016 at 5:23 PM
The Bowlers are mostly battered by the batsmen in modern day cricket. But there are a few batsmen who never claim victory against a particular bowler. South Africa’s Gream Smith was India’s Zaheer Khan’s bunny, at the same time there are bowlers who are favourite opponents for Indian batsmen. VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar’s favourite opponent was Glen McGrath. So like VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar there are many bowlers who never able to win important battles against Indian batsmen.
Here are Indian batsmen and their favourite opponents:
Sunil Gavaskar
Legendary Indian opener Gavaskar is the first Indian batsman who defied the fiery fast bowlers of the world, particularly of the West Indies, with his sublime technique. Gavaskar was a Mumbai genre batsman. Immense practice and hard work made him a genius. Gavaskar was the harbinger of the east as when batsmen around the World intimated by West Indies’s fast bowler like Andy Roberts, Micheal Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshal, the finest ever West Indies’ formidable fast bowling quartet.
But Gavaskar who grew up as an invincible batsman frustrated them with his impeccable defense. He knew his stay at the crease will add runs to the board. When most of the batsmen fare to bat against West Indies bowler as they often got hurt due to their flawed technique Gavaskar handled them the best and score runs prolifically. In the very first Test tour, West Indies Gavaskar scored two half centuries.
Gavaskar registered a whopping batting average of 70.20 while playing in West Indies. He has scored 2749 runs against West Indies in 27 matches at an average of 65.45. He was the part of India’s most cherished victory of indomitable West Indies in 1971 tour of Caribbean. Gavaskar was known for his skill of chasing totals.
Sachin Tendulkar
Another little master from Mumbai appeared to rescue India. Tendulkar too grew up from Mumbai’s competitive culture of cricket. Tendulkar emerged the best ever modern day batsman in Test and ODI cricket. He was a complete batsman and cruised to break many coveted records.
Tendulkar has rivalries with every good bowler of each generation. When he started his career in 1989 he faced the great Pakistan trio Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, and Wasim Akram. In Australia Crag McDermott. Zimbabwe’s Henry Olanga tried for some time to decimate’s Sachin’s stature. But Sachin in the next match blew away Olanga with anger. But in the 21st century, he has intense fights with Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Glen Mcgrath. But, Sachin’s most loved opponents were Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. In Test cricket, he has 60.45 batting average against Sri Lanka and 76.50 against Zimbabwe.
In ODIs Kenya and West Indies were mercilessly battered by Sachin. Against Kenya, he has 107.83 batting average in 10 matches and against West Indies he has 52.43 in 39 matches.
Sourav Ganguly
India’s one of the most successful captain Sourav Ganguly who led India after fixing saga ripped apart Indian cricket. Ganguly’s aggression and cricket wisdom helped India to overcome the situations. He is the most successful Indian captains who won most number Test matches in overseas conditions.
Ganguly, a southpaw, was a treat to watch. In his debut in 1996 Ganguly hit hundred against England at the Lord’s. Since then he has been a prolific striker of the red and white ball. He has good Test career, but his favorite opponent was England as he registered an average of 57.82. Ganguly scored 983 runs with three hundred and five half centuries. Bowlers like Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Ashley Giles were proved toothless when Ganguly batted against them irrespective of the conditions.
Ganguly was a batter ODI batsman. His favourite opponents are South Africa and Bangladesh as he played Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, and Makhya Ntini at his prime form and battered them. His average against Bangladesh is 57.37 and against South Africa 50.50.
Rahul Dravid
India’s greatest modern day Test player who is known as the wall because of his ability to play the fast bowler and handled the crunch situation. Dravid has the highest Test batting average among the famous five batsmen of India.
It is difficult to choose one country whom Rahul Dravid played best. He dominates the proceedings against every bowler. His technique and patient made him the one of the greatest modern day Test batsman. Dravid has 60 plus average against five Test-playing nations. England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe are his favourite opponent. His average against these four countries respectively 60.93, 63.80, 70.00, 97.90 respectively. But one has to to take into account tat Bangladesh nd Zimbabwe are comparatively weak Test team. But, his success against England, New Zealand and Pakistan (53) made him one of the greatest batsmen.
Shane Bond, Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar were his victim as his footwork and eye made these legendary bowlers look pale.
In ODI’s Rahul Dravid’s favourite opponent was Kenya as he has 71 plus batting average in 11 matches.
Virender Sehwag
India’s most destructive opener in both Test and ODI formats of the games. Sehwag who scored hundred in his debut Test against South Africa emerged India’s best weapon to face new balls. He doesn’t bother to hit each and every ball. The merit of the ball is not a matter to him. He has 50 plus batting average against five Test-playing nations including South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
He has scored two three hundred plus score against Pakistan and Sout Africa. His best opponent was Pakistan. The dashing opener battered the Pakistani bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohamed Sami, Naved ul Hasan Rana, Sabbir Ahmed like a straw that was disturbing Sehwag’s way.
Sehwag at Multan Test shed Pakistani bowlers into pieces.
In nine matches he scored 1276 runs at ana average of 91.14.
But Sehwag did not taste his Test success in ODI. But New Zealand bowlers were Sehwag’s best food in ODI as the letter scored 1157 runs in 23 matches at ana average of 52.59. The kiwi bowlers Daryl Tuffy, Jacob Oram, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori, Scot Styris, Tim Southe were looking hapless when Sehwag used to bat against them.
VVS Laxman
India’s one of the best Test batsman who helped India to win many Test matches and rescued them from pressure situations was Australia’s biggest enemy. Laxman loved to play fast bowlers so Australia, New Zealand, and West Indies are his favourite enemy. Against Australia, Laxman has 49.67 batting average while 57.16 and 58.42 against New Zealand and West Indies respectively.
But, Australian suffered the real torture. Laxman’s famous 281 at Eden Gardens defied Australia from a victory even after India follow on. Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s second innings partnership helped India to win the match.
Glen Mcgrath, Jason Gilespie, and BrettLee were his victims.
In ODIs VVS has five hundred and four of them came against Australia.
MS Dhoni
Current Indian limited over captain is a great ODI batsman. He played 91 Test matches but his success in ODI is unmatchable to Test cricket. His greatness relies on ODI cricket. He has fifty plus batting average against five teams- New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and West Indies. But Sri Lanka was the most vulnerable team to Dhoni storm. A whopping 61.35 batting average is 57 matches defined Dhoni’s authority against this opponent. Chaminda Vaas in his last days, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and even Muralitharan was battered by Dhoni.
If Sri Lanka wouldn’t be Dhoni’s favourite opponent, Pakistan should be as Dhoni’s famous 148 at Visakhapattanman gave a shock to Pakistan team.
Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Naved ul Hasna Rana were his victims.
Yuvraj Singh
Another Indian player who dominate in the shorter formats of the game but failed to cement in position in Test team. He played swashbuckling against almost every team. But this match winner is India’s favourite weapon against England. In T20 World Cup he hit six sixes against Stuart Broad and scored three hundred. In 2002 in the famous Natwest trophy final Yuvraj played a famous innings, in the 2000 champions trophy, Yuvraj Singh in his batting debut launched an onslought against Australia.
But England is special for him. In 2008 he made English bowlers Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson, Steve Harmison look hapless.
His average against England is 48.62.
Rohit Sharma
Three years past but his Test career yet to flourish. But Indian selectors’ decision to try since 2007 in ODI finally proved successful in the last couple of years. He scored 264 at the Eden Gardens in 2014. But Sri Lanka is not his favourite team. He loves to play Australian bowlers the best. In 23 matches he scored 1297 runs at an average of 68.26. The highest in 209. So far he hit five centuries.
Virat Kohli
The current Indian Test captain has flourished in limited over cricket and emerged the best batsman among the current generations of players. His Test career is yet to rise. Australia, Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lankan bowlers are his favourite. They way he batters Lasith Malinga is a treat for Indian fans. He is the most prolific copy book cricketers among the current generations of batsmen. Australia (55.66), West Indies (57.15) , Sri Lanka (56.24) and Bangladesh (69.75)bowlers are afraid of him.
James Faulkner is the prime victim among the Australian bowlers.