Ravichandran Ashwin recently took part in a fun and interesting exercise. He was asked to pick the greatest-ever Indian men’s cricketer. He did this through a one-on-one knockout format after the 2026 Test series in Sri Lanka. The activity was shared on ESPNcricinfo’s Instagram handle. Ashwin went through a bracket of 16 all-time greats. He had to make some tough choices along the way.
In the Round of 16, Ashwin picked Sachin Tendulkar over Vijay Hazare. He chose Virat Kohli over Rohit Sharma. He also picked Kapil Dev over Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag over Sunil Gavaskar. In the other half of the bracket, Ashwin had to decide between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. He went with Dhoni after a long thought. He also picked Rahul Dravid over Vinoo Mankad, Jasprit Bumrah over Anil Kumble, and Sourav Ganguly over himself.
The quarterfinals brought more surprises. Ashwin picked Tendulkar over Ganguly. He chose Kapil Dev over Dravid. Then came the unexpected ones. He selected Sehwag over Dhoni. And in a big surprise, he went with Bumrah over Kohli. Dhoni is India’s most successful captain in white-ball cricket. Kohli is the country’s second-highest run-scorer with 85 centuries.
In the semifinals, Ashwin picked Tendulkar over Sehwag. He then chose Kapil Dev over Bumrah. Kapil led India to their first World Cup win in 1983 and took over 600 international wickets. In the final, Ashwin had to choose between Tendulkar and Kapil. He went with Tendulkar as India’s greatest-ever cricketer.
Tendulkar is India’s all-time leading run-scorer with 34,357 runs and 100 centuries. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2003 World Cup and India’s top scorer in the 2011 World Cup win. His records and longevity made him the clear choice for Ashwin. The exercise was a great way to celebrate the legends of Indian cricket.
Ashwin Picks Sachin, Dravid and Kohli Among India’s Greatest Cricketers in Test
Ravichandran Ashwin was recently asked to pick his top three Indian Test batters of all time. The former India spinner did not give a quick answer. He first listed his top five, which included Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Virat Kohli.
After some thought, Ashwin settled on his final three. He named Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli as the best Indian Test batters he has seen or played with. It is no surprise that these three names came up. They have been the pillars of Indian batting across different generations.
Ashwin had the privilege of sharing the dressing room with all three. He made his Test debut in 2011 and played alongside Dravid before the veteran retired in 2012. He was also part of the side when Tendulkar played his final Test in 2013. Ashwin retired from international cricket in 2024 and also stepped away from the IPL in 2025. He is now captaining Dublin Guardians in the new European T20 Premier League.
The numbers also back Ashwin’s choices. Tendulkar leads the list of India’s highest Test run-scorers with 15,921 runs in 200 matches. Dravid is second with 13,265 runs. Gavaskar is third with 10,122 runs. Kohli is fourth with 9,230 runs, and Laxman rounds off the top five with 8,781 runs. His choices are hard to argue with. They are the names that have defined Indian Test batting over the decades.
Ashwin Urges Rishabh Pant to Improve Shot Selection and Match Awareness
Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his honest thoughts on Rishabh Pant’s approach to Test cricket. He believes Pant needs to improve his shot selection and situational awareness. He said this on his YouTube channel after India’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Ashwin admitted that Pant’s performances in the two-Test series did not meet his expectations. He said he is sorry, but his expectations have not been fulfilled. He acknowledged that Pant’s aggressive style is part of his appeal. But he argued that the “that’s how Rishabh plays” argument should not shield him from criticism. He said it is about what the team needs at that moment, not just personal statements.
Ashwin pointed out that high-risk options are fine when the game allows it. But he is talking about moments when the game is on the line. He said Pant has played some brilliant knocks in Sydney and Brisbane. But he also reminded us that those wins were built by the whole team. He added that it takes 11 cricketers to win a Test, but only one moment of foolishness to lose it.
He stressed that Pant is experienced now. He has played over 50 Tests and needs to take more responsibility. He said the day someone tells him the truth, he will become an all-format player for India. Ashwin also rejected the idea of special treatment. He said if one player is called a “once-in-a-generation” talent, then that label should apply to everyone. He mentioned Yashasvi Jaiswal as another such player.
Ashwin also compared Pant to Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist. He said both were attacking players, but they also understood situations. He believes Pant has everything needed to become a more complete player. Ashwin wants Pant to succeed and believes he can. But he also wants him to be more accountable.
FAQs
Q. Who did Ashwin pick over Virat Kohli?
A. Ashwin picked Jasprit Bumrah in the quarterfinal.
Q. What does Ashwin want Rishabh Pant to improve?
A. Ashwin wants Pant to improve shot selection and awareness.
Q. How many Tests has Rishabh Pant played?
A. Pant has played more than 50 Tests.
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