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.

Sachin Tendulkar

Full Name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Born: April 24, 1973, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Major teams: India, Mumbai, Yorkshire
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak googly

Achievements:Most runs and most centuries in ODIs; highest number of Test centuries; first cricketer to make 10,000 runs in ODIs; most runs in World Cup history; highest individual score by an Indian (186 not out); most Man of the Man awards in ODIs; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 1997-98
More than his cricketing genius, the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar lies in his approach towards the game of cricket and the commitment he shows while playing for his country. In terms of his mind-boggling cricketing achievements and the mass adoration he commands all over the world, Sachin is an once-in-a-lifetime cricketer.Since his debut against Pakistan in 1989-90 as a precocious talent, Sachin has metamorphosed into a cricketing phenomenon by dint of his skills and an uncompromising work ethic. In his illustrious career spanning 16 years and counting, Tendulkar has amassed 24,000 international runs made with the aid of more than 70 centuries.A statistician's delight, the Tendulkar juggernaut has broken cricketing records of all hues, while consistently setting new benchmarks of excellence. Till date, Sachin is the only player to score a century while making his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy debut. He has scored the highest number of runs and most centuries in One Day cricket. With at least five years of cricket still left in him, Tendulkar is sure to scale greater heights in both forms of cricket.But impressive as his statistics are, they cannot represent the true essence of his genius. Apart from his sublime skills, Tendulkar is blessed with a shrewd cricketing brain that helps him achieve a better understanding of the game and come up with his own set of innovations.

Rahul Dravid

Full Name: Rahul Sharad Dravid
Born: January 11, 1973, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Major teams: India, Scotland, ICC World XI, Karnataka, Kent
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm off break

Achievements:Longest streak of consecutive Tests since debut (94); greatest number of innings since debut before being dismissed for a duck; the best career test average among the contemporary test batsmen (58.55); Involved in the highest partnership (331 runs) in the history of ODI cricket along with Sachin Tendulkar vs New Zealand; ICC Player of the Year 2004.Throughout his illustrious career, Rahul "the Wall" Dravid has lived up to his moniker on umpteen occasions, stonewalling against the best of attacks to serve the Indian cause. Dravid-who averages around 60 in both forms of the game-can undoubtedly be called the most valuable player for India.An epitome supreme technical prowess, Dravid made an impressive debut against England scoring a fighting 95. He made his mark quickly and went on to play in 94 consecutive Tests since his debut, the run being ended only by illness before the second Test against Sri Lanka in 2005. This sure is an evidence of the phenomenal consistency the man has showed over the years.Notwithstanding his technical superiority, Dravid was stereotyped as the archetypal Test match player who is not fit for the shorter version of the game. Undeterred by such criticism, Dravid persisted and evolved his game to such an extent that he has been India's most prolific run-getter in the last two years.The year 2001 heralded the start of a glorious phase in Dravid's career. After defying his critics with a monumental 376-run partnership with VVS Laxman in the historic Calcutta Test, Dravid's glorious streak continued with double centuries against England, Australia and Pakistan including a brilliant run of centuries in four consecutive innings against England and the West Indies.Ever the quintessential team man, the unassuming Dravid has also shouldered the responsibility of donning the wicket keeper gloves to allow an extra batsman into the playing eleven for India. Unlike some of predecessors, the onerous task of Indian captaincy has not affected Dravid's sublime batting skills and he has earned accolades for innovative leadership.

Anil Kumble

Full Name: Anil Kumble
Born: October 17, 1970, Bangalore, Karnataka
Major teams: India, Karnataka, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Surrey
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak

Achievements:Highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs and Tests; best bowling figure by an Indian in a ODI (6-12 against West Indies); one of only two bowlers ever to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings; only the second player (after Shane Warne) to score 2000 runs and take over 500 Test wickets; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1996.
Anil Kumble made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in the Australasia Cup of 1989 and his Test debut against England in 1990. Notwithstanding his unorthodox action, Kumble has been India's leading leg-spinner for a long time now.Throughout his career, critics have tried to undermine Kumble's match winning abilities by ascribing his success to tailor-made pitches at home. But Kumble made his detractors eat their words by producing a brilliant performance in Australia in 2003-04, scalping an incredible 24 wickets in three Test matches. Again in the West Indies tour of 2006, Kumble's heroics helped India achieve their first series win in the Caribbean in 35 years.True to his unassuming persona, Kumble lets his records do the talking for himself. In December 2001, on his home turf at Bangalore, Kumble became India's second bowler, and their first spinner, to take 300 Test wickets. In March 2006, He became the first Indian bowler to reach 500 Test wickets, when he trapped Steve Harmison lbw in the Mohali Test.
But it was in 1999 that Kumble bowled his way to cricketing immortality when he took all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan, thus becoming only the second bowler in the history of Test cricket to do so.Not cast in the classical leg-spinner mould, Kumble relies more on his accuracy and variation than big spinning leg breaks. He is faster through air and mixes his leg breaks with well-disguised googlies and flippers. But more than his ability, it is his attitude and commitment toward the Indian team that has endeared Kumble to the cricket crazy fans.

Irfan Pathan

Full Name: Irfan Khan Pathan
Born: October 27, 1984, Baroda, Gujarat
Major teams: India, Baroda, Middlesex
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Left-arm medium-fast

Achievements:First bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match (first by an Indian in away match); ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2004 .In his short international career, Irfan Pathan has shown promise of becoming the world-class all-rounder India have been looking for since the great Kapil Dev.Pathan made his Test debut in Australia in 2003-04 following his impressive outing in the Under-19 Asian Championship in Pakistan. He quickly gained a reputation for providing India with vital breakthroughs and carried his good form to the subsequent VB ODI series as well, emerging as the highest wicket-taker.Pathan's ODI performance has been particularly outstanding, quite often making early inroads into opposition batting line-ups. The bulk of this early success can be attributed to the most lethal weapon in Pathan's armory-the inswinger that nips back into the right-hand batsman catching him plumb in front of the wicket. Pathan is also capable of reverse swinging the old ball.Apart from his bowling heroics, Pathan's more-than-useful batting skills have provided vital balance to the team. His first stint at No.3 position resulted in a spectacular 83 against Sri Lanka at Nagpur and since then, Pathan has made several useful knocks batting at the top order.Pathan became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match when he scalped three Pakistani batsmen in the first over of the Karachi Test against Pakistan in 2006. This was also the first hat trick by a paceman from India and the first hat trick for any Indian bowler in an away match.

Sourav Ganguly

Full Name: Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
Born: July 8, 1972, Kolkata, Bengal
Major teams: India, Bengal, Glamorgan, Lancashire
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Achievements:Most number of Test victories as India captain; more than 10,000 runs in ODI cricket; highest ODI score by an Indian in World Cup; first Indian captain to win a Test series in Pakistan; India captain in most number of Tests.Sourav Ganguly made his ODI debut against Australia in India's tour of Australia in 1992 but a lackluster show ensured that he kept toiling in the domestic circuit for another four years. In 1996, when he was recalled to the national side for a Test series in England, Ganguly took the cricket world by storm with consecutive centuries in his first two Tests.Following the heroics in England, Ganguly cemented his place in the One Day side and, along with Sachin Tendulkar, formed one of the most destructive opening pairs in history. Ganguly quickly made a name for himself in the shorter version of the game and his audacious strokeplay played perfect foil to Tendulkar's skills.When Saurav Ganguly took over the reins of the Indian team in 2000, he proved to be an assertive and uncompromising skipper. The aggressive and no-nonsense attitude of the captain encouraged a young Indian team to believe in themselves and deliver the goods. He went to become India's most successful captain with India winning a number of Test matches abroad.Ganguly is widely credited with grooming a bunch of talented youngsters like Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh. Ganguly led India all the way to the World Cup final in 2003 and later that year, in Australia, an imperious hundred at Brisbane set the tone for the series-where India gave the mighty Aussies a good run for their money

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.