Yuvraj Singh

Full Name: Yuvraj Singh
Born: December 12, 1981, Chandigarh
Major teams: India, Punjab, Yorkshire
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox

Achievements: More than 1000 ODI runs in the 2005-06 season; 4000 runs in ODI career with 7 centuries.Yuvraj Singh made an explosive entry into international cricket when he smashed a blistering 84 against Australia in the Nairobi Mini-World Cup in 2000-01. Since then Yuvraj's aggressive batting and sublime fielding at the point region have been the hallmark of many Indian victories.After the initial hurrah, Yuvraj's batting was soon found to be suspect against quality spin and questions were raised about his commitment levels to the team cause. Yuvraj found himself out of the team but made a strong comeback against Zimbabwe in 2002 with a couple of matchwinning knocks.Then Yuvraj played a pivotal role in India's dream run in the Natwest Series that culminated in the memorable final triumph against England thanks to a glorious partnership between Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif. After waiting in the wings for 15 months, Yuvraj made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2003 and notched up a century against Pakistan in only his third outing. The 2005-06 season has witnessed a phenomenal consistency from Yuvraj in ODIs with Man of the Series awards in successive tournaments. The gifted strokemaker has shown a matured and calculated approach in finishing games with clinical precision.

Virender Sehwag

Full Name: Virender Sehwag
Born: October 20, 1978, Delhi
Major teams: India, Delhi, ICC World XI, Leicestershire,
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak

Achievements:First ever Indian to score 300 runs in a Test innings; highest individual score by an Indian in Tests (309); highest-ever Test score at over a run-a-ball (254 off 247 balls against Pakistan); involved in the highest opening partnership for a Test played away from India (410 with Dravid).Virender Sehwag, whose physical attributes resemble that of his idol Sachin Tendulkar, has been able to emulate the little master in decimating attacks from all around the world. But more than his repertoire of strokes, it's Sehwag's audacious approach to batting that puts him in a league of his own.When Sehwag made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1998-99, the cricket world was already abuzz with talk of his batting style bearing a striking resemblance to that of Tendulkar. Sehwag quickly made his mark with his swashbuckling style and a dazzling array of shots.Initially stereotyped as a One Day player who lacks the technical prowess for a Test outing, Sehwag proved his detractors wrong by scoring a breathtaking ton on his Test debut against South Africa. Sehwag confirmed his growing stature as a Test batsman, when, opening the innings in Tests on the tour of England in 2002, he made two scintillating knocks of 80 and 100 in his first two matches.Since then, Sehwag's pyrotechnics at the top of the order has put fear in the minds of opposition bowlers and has given India an edge over their rivals. The watermark of his illustrious career has been the magnificent 309 against Pakistan in 2004. It was the highest score by an Indian batsman in a Test match, not to mention the fastest 200 by an Indian batsman in Tests and the second-fastest 300 in Test match history in terms of balls faced.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Full Name: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Born: July 7, 1981, Ranchi, Bihar
Major teams: India, Jharkhand
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Fielding Position: Wicketkeeper

Achievements:Highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs (183 not out); highest number of sixes (10) in an ODI innings by a wicketkeeper (most by an Indian); highest batting average for a wicketkeeper.Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the new poster boy of Indian cricket. With his long mane and swashbuckling batting style, Dhoni has the whole country drooling over him at this moment.Dhoni got his big break in the Indian team courtesy his exploits against Pakistan A, in the triangular tournament in Kenya, where he destroyed bowling attacks with disdain. After making his one-day international debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in December 2004 Dhoni remained subdued in the first four matches he played.It was his fifth one-dayer, against Pakistan at Vishakapatnam, which heralded MS Dhoni's arrival at the big stage when the dashing wicket keeper cracked a dazzling 148 from just 123 balls. Dhoni followed it with another cracker of an innings against Sri Lanka on 31 October 2005, when he clobbered his way to a mammoth 183 off just 145 balls, thus breaking Adam Gilchrist's record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs.During this blitzkrieg, Dhoni also broke Saeed Anwar's record of most runs scored off boundaries by scoring a total of 120 runs off 4s and 6s eclipsing the previous record of 118.Riding on the good showing in the One-Dayers, Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka and in only his fifth Test, scored his maiden century to help India avoid follow-on against Pakistan. Ever since, Dhoni has been a crucial member of the Indian side.