Harsh Thakor
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Here I am ranking the 15 best Asian batsmen of all time in order of merit.
Taking into consideration even ODI's ,in addition to test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar
Virat Kohli
Javed Miandad
Sunil Gavaskar
Rahul Dravid
Virendra Sehwag
Kumar Sangakaara
Younus Khan
Zaheer Abbas
Inzamam Ul Haq
Mahela Jayewardene
Hanif Mohammad
Aravinda De Silva
Vijay Merchant
Gundappa Vishwanath
VVS Laxman
Majid Khan
Saed Anwar
Salim Malik
Dilip Vengsakar/Mohinder Amarnath /Asif Iqbal
Tendulkar's staggering figures of 100 centuries and technical perfection speak for itself.Arguably even surpassed Bradman and more complete than anyone.Maybe he did not win as many games as he could.Longevity of Muhammad Ali.
Kohli not as clinical or perfect but better in shaping wins than Sachin.Craftier with better wristwork than Tendulkar.A champion in taking India across the line.At times faltered in English conditions like in 2014 but came back spectacularly to virtually single handedly carry the show in England in 2018.Unfortunately also played in many lost causes overseas.
Miandad the ultimate man in a crisis or on bad wickets.Only batsmen whose average never fell below 50.No batsmen was a greater scourge to the eyes of opponents or niggled them more.Not so elegant or technically perfect but a genius in his own right with mastery of improvisation.In late 1980's the best batsmen in the world in test cricket.The ultimate batsmen in his era to take a team home in finishes in ODI's with great craftsmanship in piercing the gaps.
Gavaskar broke records facing the greatest bowlers and was a better 2nd innings player than Sachin,but not at his best in ODI's.Technically the equal of Sachin but better when the going was hard.His best test innings are better than that of Tendulkar,Minadad or Kohli.Maybe feel out on being too defensive but still shaped important wins for India,particularly against West Indies.
Dravid was the ultimate wall who would better any batsmen of his time in ressurecting it from the grave.At one stage statistically overshadowed Tendulkar in terms of average and in matches won.Had the 6th best overseas abating average of all and more instrumental than even Sachin in shaping important victories for India in test cricket.
Sehwag almost posessed the same talent as Tendulkar,was more explosive than nay one and at his best could even win games more than Sachin.Lost out on consistency.No batsmen had a greater penchant for mammoth scores or could score at such a blistering rate.Although not consistent overseas he still played some of his finest innings abroad.
Sangakaara was the ultimate epitome of consistency with great fluidity in strokes.In terms of figures next only to Sachin.Scoring over 13,00 runs, 35 centuries and averaging over 55 makes him statistically the best left-handed batsmen ever.Considered his best in Australia.
Younus Khan was not the most artistic or elegant but delivered goods when needed more than any batsmen after Javed.Played some of the games greatest knocks to turn or win games or ressurect team from the grave.
Jayewardene was elegance personified and a master on bad wickets.
Zaheer Abbas was poetry in motion more than anyone and the best on flat wickets.The best Pakistan ODI bat of all and in first class cricket the best ever.In English first class cricket scored a century in each innings 8 times and a double century and a hundred in a single match 4 times.Scored 2 double hundresd in tsets in England and against India at home looked a re-incarnation of Bradman
Inzamam posessed talent of the Lara class but fell out on lack adaisical approcah.Against express pace he could even better Sachin .Statistically the best match-winner as a batsmen averaging 78 in games won with 75% of matches when he scored centuries in winning causes.
Hanif Mohammad was the ultimate boulder or batting technician with a great knack for making mamoth scores .Technically close to the best batsmen of all time.
Aravinda De Silva was amongst the most artistic and graceful of batsmen with the ability to master bad wickets.Also technically very sound and at his best in a crisis.
Vijay Merchant had the 2nd best first class average after Bradman and was prolific in 2 of the wettest Englsih first class seasons.in 1936 and 1946.Hrad to envisage even modern greats surpasssing Merchant then.
Vishwanath was the ultimate batting magician who took batting wizardry to depths unexplored.A better batsmen than even Gavaskar on bouncy or bad wickets .His 5 best innings are in the Viv Richards or Lara class.India's best match-winner in his day averaging more than Gavaskar in games won.
V.V.S.Laxman was like a Vishwnath of his day with perhaps more natural talent than anyone.The best batsmen in 4th innings run chases averaging 79.Above all scored more centuries that won game than anyone in his time.In 2003-04 the best batsmen in Australia adding ODI's .
Majid Khan at his best joined Viv or Barry Richards and the best batsmen on bad wickets.A master against great pace .In 1977 in West Indies batted like a master scoring 167 at Georgetown.
Saed Anwar was the most destructive left-handed opener ever who could match the domination of a Lara.Perhaps underachieved.
Salim Malik played some of the greatest knocks on bad wickets like at Leeds in 1987 and 1992 or when scoring 237 at Lahore versus Australia in 1994.On his day could take any attack to the sword.Did not succeed in Australia but very prolific against West Indies at home.At his best also a great ODI player,with his exhilirating stroke play.
Dilip Vengsarkar was a A master as a stroke player ,particularly on the onside who performed best in his era against the great West Indies pace quartet.Scored 3 successive centuries at Lords and instrumental in India's 1st test victory thee in 1986.For a period from 1986-88 the best batsmen in the world averaging over 100 in England and against West Indies and surpassing even average of Gavaskar in peak period.Twice topped batting averages against best West Indies pace attack.On ocassion salos took apart Imran Khan when other batsmen were struggling like in 1978 and 1982-83 at Karachi.However not at his best in Australia.
Mohinder Amarnath in 1982-83 in Pakistan and West Indies played express pace better than nay batsmen ever.Aggregated almost 1200 runs and averaging close to 70.Few batsmen wee more reliable than Mohinder who was technically very sound.In periods epitome of consistency.Also very effective in ODI's like in 1983 world cup and 1985 world championship tournament in Australia.
Asif Iqbal was the best no 6 batsmen after retirement of Sobers .Although he became a great batsmen late in his career few wee better in batting with the tail or in a crisis.At his best in Australai in 1976-77 topping the averages.
If it was only test cricket Gavaskar would be 2nd and Dravid 3rd.I placed Kohli and Miandad higher because of ODI's.Hanif would also move behind Younus Khan.
Taking into consideration even ODI's ,in addition to test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar
Virat Kohli
Javed Miandad
Sunil Gavaskar
Rahul Dravid
Virendra Sehwag
Kumar Sangakaara
Younus Khan
Zaheer Abbas
Inzamam Ul Haq
Mahela Jayewardene
Hanif Mohammad
Aravinda De Silva
Vijay Merchant
Gundappa Vishwanath
VVS Laxman
Majid Khan
Saed Anwar
Salim Malik
Dilip Vengsakar/Mohinder Amarnath /Asif Iqbal
Tendulkar's staggering figures of 100 centuries and technical perfection speak for itself.Arguably even surpassed Bradman and more complete than anyone.Maybe he did not win as many games as he could.Longevity of Muhammad Ali.
Kohli not as clinical or perfect but better in shaping wins than Sachin.Craftier with better wristwork than Tendulkar.A champion in taking India across the line.At times faltered in English conditions like in 2014 but came back spectacularly to virtually single handedly carry the show in England in 2018.Unfortunately also played in many lost causes overseas.
Miandad the ultimate man in a crisis or on bad wickets.Only batsmen whose average never fell below 50.No batsmen was a greater scourge to the eyes of opponents or niggled them more.Not so elegant or technically perfect but a genius in his own right with mastery of improvisation.In late 1980's the best batsmen in the world in test cricket.The ultimate batsmen in his era to take a team home in finishes in ODI's with great craftsmanship in piercing the gaps.
Gavaskar broke records facing the greatest bowlers and was a better 2nd innings player than Sachin,but not at his best in ODI's.Technically the equal of Sachin but better when the going was hard.His best test innings are better than that of Tendulkar,Minadad or Kohli.Maybe feel out on being too defensive but still shaped important wins for India,particularly against West Indies.
Dravid was the ultimate wall who would better any batsmen of his time in ressurecting it from the grave.At one stage statistically overshadowed Tendulkar in terms of average and in matches won.Had the 6th best overseas abating average of all and more instrumental than even Sachin in shaping important victories for India in test cricket.
Sehwag almost posessed the same talent as Tendulkar,was more explosive than nay one and at his best could even win games more than Sachin.Lost out on consistency.No batsmen had a greater penchant for mammoth scores or could score at such a blistering rate.Although not consistent overseas he still played some of his finest innings abroad.
Sangakaara was the ultimate epitome of consistency with great fluidity in strokes.In terms of figures next only to Sachin.Scoring over 13,00 runs, 35 centuries and averaging over 55 makes him statistically the best left-handed batsmen ever.Considered his best in Australia.
Younus Khan was not the most artistic or elegant but delivered goods when needed more than any batsmen after Javed.Played some of the games greatest knocks to turn or win games or ressurect team from the grave.
Jayewardene was elegance personified and a master on bad wickets.
Zaheer Abbas was poetry in motion more than anyone and the best on flat wickets.The best Pakistan ODI bat of all and in first class cricket the best ever.In English first class cricket scored a century in each innings 8 times and a double century and a hundred in a single match 4 times.Scored 2 double hundresd in tsets in England and against India at home looked a re-incarnation of Bradman
Inzamam posessed talent of the Lara class but fell out on lack adaisical approcah.Against express pace he could even better Sachin .Statistically the best match-winner as a batsmen averaging 78 in games won with 75% of matches when he scored centuries in winning causes.
Hanif Mohammad was the ultimate boulder or batting technician with a great knack for making mamoth scores .Technically close to the best batsmen of all time.
Aravinda De Silva was amongst the most artistic and graceful of batsmen with the ability to master bad wickets.Also technically very sound and at his best in a crisis.
Vijay Merchant had the 2nd best first class average after Bradman and was prolific in 2 of the wettest Englsih first class seasons.in 1936 and 1946.Hrad to envisage even modern greats surpasssing Merchant then.
Vishwanath was the ultimate batting magician who took batting wizardry to depths unexplored.A better batsmen than even Gavaskar on bouncy or bad wickets .His 5 best innings are in the Viv Richards or Lara class.India's best match-winner in his day averaging more than Gavaskar in games won.
V.V.S.Laxman was like a Vishwnath of his day with perhaps more natural talent than anyone.The best batsmen in 4th innings run chases averaging 79.Above all scored more centuries that won game than anyone in his time.In 2003-04 the best batsmen in Australia adding ODI's .
Majid Khan at his best joined Viv or Barry Richards and the best batsmen on bad wickets.A master against great pace .In 1977 in West Indies batted like a master scoring 167 at Georgetown.
Saed Anwar was the most destructive left-handed opener ever who could match the domination of a Lara.Perhaps underachieved.
Salim Malik played some of the greatest knocks on bad wickets like at Leeds in 1987 and 1992 or when scoring 237 at Lahore versus Australia in 1994.On his day could take any attack to the sword.Did not succeed in Australia but very prolific against West Indies at home.At his best also a great ODI player,with his exhilirating stroke play.
Dilip Vengsarkar was a A master as a stroke player ,particularly on the onside who performed best in his era against the great West Indies pace quartet.Scored 3 successive centuries at Lords and instrumental in India's 1st test victory thee in 1986.For a period from 1986-88 the best batsmen in the world averaging over 100 in England and against West Indies and surpassing even average of Gavaskar in peak period.Twice topped batting averages against best West Indies pace attack.On ocassion salos took apart Imran Khan when other batsmen were struggling like in 1978 and 1982-83 at Karachi.However not at his best in Australia.
Mohinder Amarnath in 1982-83 in Pakistan and West Indies played express pace better than nay batsmen ever.Aggregated almost 1200 runs and averaging close to 70.Few batsmen wee more reliable than Mohinder who was technically very sound.In periods epitome of consistency.Also very effective in ODI's like in 1983 world cup and 1985 world championship tournament in Australia.
Asif Iqbal was the best no 6 batsmen after retirement of Sobers .Although he became a great batsmen late in his career few wee better in batting with the tail or in a crisis.At his best in Australai in 1976-77 topping the averages.
If it was only test cricket Gavaskar would be 2nd and Dravid 3rd.I placed Kohli and Miandad higher because of ODI's.Hanif would also move behind Younus Khan.
