Harsh Thakor
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- Oct 1, 2012
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These batsmen in my view from the sub-continent who had the potential to become great but failed.Ranked in order of merit in term of relation of talent to performance.
1.Sandeep Patil
2.Mohsin Khan
3.Vinod Kambli
4.Krishnamachari Srikanth
5.Roy Dias
6.Ijaz Ahmed
Sandeep Patil was a revelation on the 1980-81 tour of Australia.At Adelaide he executed one of the most exhilarating displays of strokeplay ever seen by an overseas batsmen on Australian soil taking Lillee to pieces.It was counter-attack at its supreme height with a series of dazzling drives and hook shots.Above all he came back after being felled after scoring 65 in the 1st tset at Sydney.Reminiscent of Muhammad Ali rising from the ground after being felled.Arguably no Indian batsmen before dominated pace so effectively or with such contempt.Patil repeated the story when scoring an unbeaten 129 at Old Trafford in 1982 .It included scoring six succesive fours of Willis in a single over.In both these knocks he resurrected India from the depths of despair after the opponents registered a staggering 1st innings total.He also played a controlled 62 in the fina test at the Oval in 1982 which played an instrumental role in India saving the game.In the 1983 world cup semi -final at Manchester he gave dazzling display of stroke play when scoring a match-wining unbeaten 51 .Took Bob Willis again to shreds.
After a period of loss of form in 1983-84 he spectacularly came back to notch a match-saving century in the 2nd tset in Pakistan in 1984.Sadly he never regained his form and lost his place from 1985 to Azharuddin.
At his best I have not seen an Indian batsmen launch a more combative display of strokeplay than Patil aginst the great Imran Khan.In 1982-83 he literally shaved the top of the ball smashing Imran all over the park at Lahore and Faisalabad when scoring 68 and 85.
At his best he could have joined the greatest.Sadly never played in West Indies against the great quickies.
2.Mohsin Khan
I can never forget Mohsin's unbeaten 200 at Lords in 1982 and his 70 v West Indies in the 1983 world cup semi-final v West Indies.He also scored 149 at Adelaide and 152 at Melbourne on the 1983-84 tour of Australia.Mohisn had the technical organization of an architect and the artistry of a sculptor.In 1982-84 he was close to the best opening batsmen in the world and arguably amongst the top 7-8 batsmen in the world.His 70 in the semi-final i 1983 was a true classic on the fastest of tracks against the most ferocious pace.
Sadly he bowed out because of politics.
3.Vinod Kambli
Arguably in terms of pure natural talent even ahead of Tendulkar.At his best Kambli was a class act manipulating the ball like a genius and traversing regions few left-handers ever could.I recall his 237 at Mumbai in 1993 when he made every other batsmen look pedestal.The flow of hsi strokes was truly poetic and a sight to behold.
4.Krishnamachari Shrikanth
I have rarely seen an opener who could launch such a dazzling or breathtaking counter attack on the opposition.Against raw pace Shrikhant on his day could take domination to its ultimate height.Rarely have I seen an opener drive and cut the likes of Imran Roberts or Marshall with such pugnacity or certainty.Very prolific on 1985-86 tour of Australia.Played a major role in Idia's win in 1983 world cup final top scoring with 38.
5.Roy Dias
On his day Roy could launch the most blistering onslaught on the most lethal attacks.Took batting artistry to regions of the sublime like poetry in motion.Sadly he hardly had a proper international career.
6.Ijaz Ahmed
Succeeded on the fast Australian pitches and against top quality bowling.Capable of taking an attack to mercy.Politics worked against him sadly.
Left out stalwarts like Majid Khan,Asif Iqbal,Dilip Vengsarkar ,Zaheer Abbas,Salim Malik,Saed Anwar or Gundappa Vishwanath as they are arguably considered great batsmen or in that bracket.The batsmen I listed are those who faded out before they could even be considered for greatness.All had the potential to join the very best .
1.Sandeep Patil
2.Mohsin Khan
3.Vinod Kambli
4.Krishnamachari Srikanth
5.Roy Dias
6.Ijaz Ahmed
Sandeep Patil was a revelation on the 1980-81 tour of Australia.At Adelaide he executed one of the most exhilarating displays of strokeplay ever seen by an overseas batsmen on Australian soil taking Lillee to pieces.It was counter-attack at its supreme height with a series of dazzling drives and hook shots.Above all he came back after being felled after scoring 65 in the 1st tset at Sydney.Reminiscent of Muhammad Ali rising from the ground after being felled.Arguably no Indian batsmen before dominated pace so effectively or with such contempt.Patil repeated the story when scoring an unbeaten 129 at Old Trafford in 1982 .It included scoring six succesive fours of Willis in a single over.In both these knocks he resurrected India from the depths of despair after the opponents registered a staggering 1st innings total.He also played a controlled 62 in the fina test at the Oval in 1982 which played an instrumental role in India saving the game.In the 1983 world cup semi -final at Manchester he gave dazzling display of stroke play when scoring a match-wining unbeaten 51 .Took Bob Willis again to shreds.
After a period of loss of form in 1983-84 he spectacularly came back to notch a match-saving century in the 2nd tset in Pakistan in 1984.Sadly he never regained his form and lost his place from 1985 to Azharuddin.
At his best I have not seen an Indian batsmen launch a more combative display of strokeplay than Patil aginst the great Imran Khan.In 1982-83 he literally shaved the top of the ball smashing Imran all over the park at Lahore and Faisalabad when scoring 68 and 85.
At his best he could have joined the greatest.Sadly never played in West Indies against the great quickies.
2.Mohsin Khan
I can never forget Mohsin's unbeaten 200 at Lords in 1982 and his 70 v West Indies in the 1983 world cup semi-final v West Indies.He also scored 149 at Adelaide and 152 at Melbourne on the 1983-84 tour of Australia.Mohisn had the technical organization of an architect and the artistry of a sculptor.In 1982-84 he was close to the best opening batsmen in the world and arguably amongst the top 7-8 batsmen in the world.His 70 in the semi-final i 1983 was a true classic on the fastest of tracks against the most ferocious pace.
Sadly he bowed out because of politics.
3.Vinod Kambli
Arguably in terms of pure natural talent even ahead of Tendulkar.At his best Kambli was a class act manipulating the ball like a genius and traversing regions few left-handers ever could.I recall his 237 at Mumbai in 1993 when he made every other batsmen look pedestal.The flow of hsi strokes was truly poetic and a sight to behold.
4.Krishnamachari Shrikanth
I have rarely seen an opener who could launch such a dazzling or breathtaking counter attack on the opposition.Against raw pace Shrikhant on his day could take domination to its ultimate height.Rarely have I seen an opener drive and cut the likes of Imran Roberts or Marshall with such pugnacity or certainty.Very prolific on 1985-86 tour of Australia.Played a major role in Idia's win in 1983 world cup final top scoring with 38.
5.Roy Dias
On his day Roy could launch the most blistering onslaught on the most lethal attacks.Took batting artistry to regions of the sublime like poetry in motion.Sadly he hardly had a proper international career.
6.Ijaz Ahmed
Succeeded on the fast Australian pitches and against top quality bowling.Capable of taking an attack to mercy.Politics worked against him sadly.
Left out stalwarts like Majid Khan,Asif Iqbal,Dilip Vengsarkar ,Zaheer Abbas,Salim Malik,Saed Anwar or Gundappa Vishwanath as they are arguably considered great batsmen or in that bracket.The batsmen I listed are those who faded out before they could even be considered for greatness.All had the potential to join the very best .
