Ravi Shastri Picks His Top 5 All-Time Indian Greats; No Place For Ganguly, Rohit, Dravid and Kumble

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New Delhi, July 22: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has stirred the pot by excluding several Indian cricketing greats from his list of the five greatest Indian cricketers of all time, leaving out the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and Anil Kumble.

Appearing on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside cricketing icons like Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, Shastri opted for a combination of flair, longevity, and impact in his selection.

His list included Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. The exclusion of Ganguly, Rohit, Dravid, and Kumble-all influential figures in Indian cricket's modern rise-has raised eyebrows in the cricketing community.

Shastri justified his top pick by singling out Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest of them all. "No. 1 would be Tendulkar because of the expectations and because of longevity. He played every pace attack of that era - Wasim, Waqar, Imran, the Aussies, South Africans like Donald and Pollock, and later Broad and Anderson too. He's pure, both technique-wise and in terms of legacy," Shastri explained.

Sunil Gavaskar, the first batter to scale the 10,000-run mountain in Tests, made the list for pioneering Indian batting in the 1970s and 1980s. Kapil Dev, India's first World Cup-winning captain, was selected for his all-round brilliance and inspirational leadership in 1983.

MS Dhoni, India's most successful limited-overs captain, also found favour for his captaincy, calm under pressure, and ability to finish games. And Virat Kohli, under whom Shastri enjoyed a celebrated coaching stint, was picked for his unmatched consistency and aggression across formats.

However, the omission of Sourav Ganguly, who transformed India into a combative team in the early 2000s, and Rohit Sharma, the captain of India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning side, surprised many. Similarly, Rahul Dravid, India's 'Wall' and one of its most dependable batters ever, and Anil Kumble, the country's all-time leading wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs, were also overlooked.

Shastri's list appears to favour big-match temperament, longevity, and captaincy success, especially under high-pressure environments. His picks also reflect an affinity with players who brought a revolution in Indian cricket or led during his own tenure in leadership roles.

While personal preferences vary, this list will undoubtedly spark debates among fans and experts, especially with the likes of Ganguly, Dravid, and Kumble left out of what is an already elite shortlist.