Throughout the long history Karnataka has produced probably the Greatest Cricketers. Their dominance in Indian Domestic Cricket like no other. From winning the Ranji Trophy Tournament for the Six times to proving the authority over the Indian cricket history to one of the toughest sides to reckon with in domestic cricket.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was founded in 1933-34 with a small college ground to one of the best venues in the world M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Karnataka association has been blessed with quality talents over the years. If batting has genius like Rahul Dravid, at that point bowling has a player like Anil Kumble in the long history of Karnataka. There are players with immense talent, dedication and very cultured who have played for Karnataka and later gone on to play for team India and leave an impact at world cricket like no other.
Let us take a look at the top 4 greatest cricketers from Karnataka:
Rahul Dravid:
A true example of a complete Cricketer and one of the greatest cricketers in the history to have ever grace this game of cricket. Many have come and many will come but take these words there will be no one like “Rahul Dravid” even in the coming decades.
If we talk about the records Rahul Dravid has a long list of records which are difficult to even go after. But what makes him the exceptional cricketer that even the opposition team was his admirer. Here are the words said by former Australian bowler Glenn McGrath which completely defined the consistency of players like Rahul Dravid.
“If there was one Indian player who could get a direct entry into the famous Australian side of the late 90s, it would be only Rahul Dravid”.
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With more than 10,000 runs in both formats of the game while playing at the highest level of cricket easily defined the greatness of players like Rahul Dravid. Had the ability to play long innings innings and many of great innings turned out as trendsetters in the Indian cricket history. Either it was Kolkata Test 2001 or 233 at Adelaide Test against Australia in 2003 the innings came at the time when team India was going through a transition phase.
Speculations were made that a great batsman can be a good captain? Under Rahul Dravid Captaincy, team India won the series against England after 21 long years and against West Indies after 35 long years. Captain turned out to be a successful slip fielder who has held the record of most number of catches (210) at the slip position in history. The most successful batsman after Sachin Tendulkar.
Gundappa Vishwanath:
91 Tests 6080 runs 41.93 Average these numbers are enough how great Gundappa Vishwanath was in an era which was dominated by the great West Indies Side in a bowling-friendly condition along with lethal bowling pairs in the history.
Nicknamed “Vishy” one of the finest cricketers in the 70s to early 80s who played for team India. Vishwanath was part of the 1975 and 1979 team India world Cup campaign. Many of his knocks were overshadowed as he played in Sunil Gavaskar times. But Gundappa Vishwanath was the match-winner even Sunil Gavaskar said Gundappa Vishwanath was the “little master”.
Had the ability to score runs against the tough sides like West Indies in 1978-79 and against New Zealand in 1975-86 at their lush green surface but all got unnoticed. Gundappa Vishwanath was the first player to score double hundred on his debut in first-class Cricket.
Anil Kumble:
132 Tests 619 Wickets, 271 ODIs 337 Wickets numbers are enough to back the case of Anil Kumble. The Enigma called Anil Kumble he was the complete mystery bowler but ending as the third highest wicket taker in international cricket could easily define the calibre of a player like Anil Kumble.
Even Viv Richards said “it was the bravest thing I have ever seen in my life” after Anil Kumble came in to bowl after breaking Jaw to dismiss great Brian Lara in a test match.
Anil Kumble is the second bowler in history after Jim Laker to get ten wickets in a test inning. Kumble started his career as a medium pacer but later made as a successful leg-spinner in history. Not a just bowler but Anil Kumble was the handy lower order batsman too.
Towards the end of his career he has also captained team India which even believed by Gautam Gambhir that Anil Kumble could have been the great captain if he played longer and definitely broke many records but unfortunately Anil Kumble captaincy period was not very long. Like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble remains a respected cricketer throughout his career.
Javagal Srinath:
67 Tests 236 Wickets, 229 ODIs 315 Wickets one of finest fast bowlers in the Indian Cricket history. But if you don’t know he has started his career as a batsman but later settled down as a bowler. Javagal Srinath was first spotted by Gundappa Vishwanath playing at the club cricket who later represented Karnataka cricket team and finally went on to play for team India and also known as “Mysore Express".
Since his debut series against Australia, he had made an impact by troubled the batsman like Allan Border which even believed by Allan Border. This bowler will going to be frontline bowler in the coming years for team India.
Had the ability to trouble batsman with his In-Swingers. But Srinath to the left-handers was the complete nightmare even the player like Brain Lara was clueless in front of him during his career.
If we talk about fast bowlers in Indian Cricket History, Javagal Srinath will always be at the top and was the reason for many batting collapses in his career. Alongside Venkatesh Prasad he was one of the best bowling pairs in 90s for team India. Javagal Srinath was a quality fast bowler who was successful in the subcontinent too and proving it wrong that fast bowlers can't succeed in subcontinent pitches.
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