Delhi, the capital city of India, has been a breeding ground for cricketing talent for decades. The city has produced some of the finest cricketers to have represented India at the international level. From the legendary left arm orthodox Bishan Singh Bedi to the former captain Virat Kohli, Delhi has been a constant source of talent for the Indian cricket team. In this article, we will look at the top 7 Delhi players who have played for India.
1. Bishan Singh Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi is a former Indian left-arm spinner who played for India from 1966 to 1979. He played 67 Test matches for India and took 266 wickets at an average of 28.71. Bedi was known for his accurate spin bowling and was regarded as one of the best left-arm spinners in the world during his playing days. He was born in Amritsar, but he moved to Delhi at a young age and played for the city’s Ranji Trophy team. Bedi’s performances for Delhi earned him a place in the Indian team, and he went on to become one of India’s greatest spinners of all time.
Bedi was known for his left-arm spin bowling, accuracy, and ability to flight the ball. He played 67 Test matches for India, taking 266 wickets, and 10 One Day Internationals, taking 7 wickets. He was also a successful captain of the Indian team, leading them to several victories.
After retiring from cricket, Bedi became a coach and commentator. He has been a vocal critic of the current state of Indian cricket and has advocated for the development of spin bowling in the country. Bedi has also been involved in social and political activism, advocating for environmental conservation and human rights.
Overall, Bishan Singh Bedi’s contributions to Indian cricket have been immense, and he remains one of the most respected and admired figures in the Indian cricketing community.
2. Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath is a former Indian cricketer who played for India from 1969 to 1988. Born in Punjab, India, in 1950, Amarnath made his Test debut for India at the age of 19 against Australia in 1969. He was a technically sound batsman and an accurate medium-pacer. His best performance in Test cricket came in 1983 when he scored two match-winning fifties against the mighty West Indies in the World Cup final.
Amarnath’s career was not without controversy, however. He was dropped from the Indian team in 1984, reportedly due to a clash with the then-captain, Sunil Gavaskar. He made a comeback to the team in 1986 and played his last Test match in 1989 against Pakistan.
He played 69 Test matches and 85 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India. Amarnath was a middle-order batsman and a medium-paced bowler. He was known for his ability to play under pressure and was regarded as one of India’s finest match-winners. Amarnath was born in Patiala, Punjab, but he moved to Delhi and played for the city’s Ranji Trophy team. His performances for Delhi earned him a place in the Indian team, and he went on to become one of India’s most successful cricketers of all time.
After retiring from cricket, Amarnath took up coaching and became a commentator. He has also served as a selector for the Indian team. In recognition of his contribution to Indian cricket, he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1976 and the Padma Shri in 1990.
Overall, Mohinder Amarnath’s contribution to Indian cricket is significant, and his performances in the 1983 World Cup will be forever remembered as a turning point in Indian cricket history.
3. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag is a former Indian cricketer who played for India from 1999 to 2013.Born in Delhi in 1978, Sehwag made his Test debut for India in 2001 against South Africa. He was an explosive opener who would often take on the bowlers from the outset. His most famous innings came against Pakistan in 2004 when he scored 309 runs off just 375 balls, becoming the first Indian batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket.
Sehwag was also a successful ODI player and was part of India’s victorious 2011 World Cup squad. He scored 8,273 runs in 251 ODI matches at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 104.33.
Apart from his batting, Sehwag was also a useful off-spinner and often bowled in limited-overs cricket. He took 96 wickets in ODIs and 40 wickets in Tests.
He played 104 Test matches and 251 ODIs for India. Sehwag was an aggressive opening batsman and was known for his ability to score runs quickly. He was born in Najafgarh, Delhi, and played for the city’s Ranji Trophy team. Sehwag’s performances for Delhi earned him a place in the Indian team, and he went on to become one of India’s greatest opening batsmen of all time. Sehwag holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket by an Indian, with his 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.
4. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team from 2003 to 2016. He is considered to be one of India’s greatest openers and was a crucial member of the Indian team that won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.He was born on October 14, 1981, in Delhi, India. He started playing cricket at a young age and made his debut for the Delhi Ranji Trophy team in the 1999-2000 season. Gambhir made an immediate impact in domestic cricket and was soon called up to the Indian national team.
Gambhir made his debut for India in an ODI match against Bangladesh in 2003. He quickly established himself as a key member of the Indian team and was known for his aggressive batting style and excellent technique. He made his Test debut in 2004 against Australia and scored his maiden Test century in his fourth Test match against Bangladesh.
Gambhir’s greatest performances came in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. In the World Twenty20 final against Pakistan, he scored 75 runs off just 54 balls and was named the Player of the Match. In the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, he played a crucial innings of 97 runs off 122 balls, which helped India win their second World Cup.
Gambhir was also a successful captain and led the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. He was known for his aggressive captaincy and his ability to motivate his team.
Gambhir announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in December 2018. In a statement, he said that he had achieved everything he had set out to achieve and that it was time for him to move on to the next phase of his life.
After retiring from cricket, Gambhir became involved in politics and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, in the 2019 general elections.
Overall, Gautam Gambhir’s contribution to Indian cricket is significant, and his performances in the 2007 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup will be remembered as some of the greatest moments in Indian cricket history. His aggressive batting style and excellent technique inspired a generation of young cricketers, and his leadership on the field was an inspiration to many.
5. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is a name that needs no introduction in the world of cricket. He is one of the greatest cricketers of all time and has been a major force in the Indian cricket team for over a decade. From his aggressive batting style to his exceptional leadership skills, Kohli has inspired a generation of young cricketers and has made a significant contribution to the world of cricket.
He was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India. His father, Prem Kohli, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, was a homemaker. Kohli grew up in a middle-class family and started playing cricket at a young age. He was inspired by his father, who used to take him to cricket matches and encourage him to play the sport.
Also read: 7 Best Innings of Virat Kohli in IPL History
Kohli’s aggressive batting style and his ability to score runs quickly made him a key member of the Indian team. He was also a talented fielder and was known for his athleticism and agility on the field. He quickly became a fan favourite and was seen as the future of Indian cricket.
Kohli’s breakthrough moment came in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he played a key role in India’s victory. He scored 282 runs in the tournament, including a century in the quarterfinal against Australia. He was also part of the Indian team that won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and was named the Player of the Tournament.
Kohli was appointed as the captain of the Indian team in all formats of the game in 2017, and he led the team to several significant victories. Under his leadership, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018-19 and also reached the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. He is known for his aggressive and proactive captaincy and his ability to inspire his team to perform at their best.
Kohli was also a successful batsman and holds numerous records in international cricket. He has scored over 12,000 runs in ODIs, including 43 centuries, and has also scored over 7,000 runs in Test cricket, including 27 centuries. He is the fastest batsman to score 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 runs in ODI cricket and has also been named the ICC ODI Player of the Year three times.
6. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is an Indian cricketer who plays as a left-handed opening batsman. He was born on December 5, 1985, in Delhi, India. Dhawan is known for his aggressive stroke play and his ability to score quickly at the top of the order.
Dhawan made his debut for India in 2010 in an ODI against Australia. He struggled in his early international career, but soon found his form and became a regular in the Indian team. Dhawan’s breakthrough moment came in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he was the leading run-scorer of the tournament and helped India win the title.
Dhawan has since become a mainstay of the Indian team in all formats of the game. He has been particularly successful in One Day Internationals (ODIs), where he has scored over 5,000 runs at an average of over 45. Dhawan has also scored over 2,500 runs in Test cricket and has been a key member of the Indian team that has risen to the top of the Test rankings.
One of Dhawan’s most memorable performances came in the 2015 World Cup, where he was the leading run-scorer of the tournament and helped India reach the semi-finals. He scored two centuries and a fifty in the tournament, including a match-winning century against South Africa in the group stage.
Dhawan has also been a successful captain in domestic cricket, leading the Delhi team to the Ranji Trophy title in 2007-08. He has played for a number of Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, including the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In recent years, Dhawan has faced competition for his place in the Indian team from the likes of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. However, he has remained a regular in the ODI team and was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2021 ICC World Test Championship. Dhawan continues to be a popular and respected figure in Indian cricket and is likely to be a key player for the national team for years to come.
7. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is a young Indian cricketer who has made a name for himself in a short period. He made his debut for India in 2017 and has played 27 Test matches, 31 ODIs, and 41 T20Is for India.
Pant made his international debut in 2017 and has since established himself as one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world.
Pant’s journey in cricket started at a young age. He played for Delhi in domestic cricket and made his first-class debut in 2015. He soon became a regular in the Delhi team and his performances caught the attention of the national selectors. In 2016, he was selected for the Indian under-19 team for the World Cup and played a key role in helping the team win the tournament.
Pant made his international debut in a T20I match against England in 2017. He impressed in his debut match, scoring 26 runs off 16 balls. He then made his ODI debut later that year and continued to impress with his aggressive batting style. However, it was in Test cricket that Pant really made a name for himself.
Also read: 7 Best Rishabh Pant Innings So Far
Pant made his Test debut against England in 2018 and made an immediate impact. He scored a century in only his third Test match, becoming the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in England. He followed it up with another century in the same series, making him the first Indian wicket-keeper to score two Test centuries overseas.
Pant’s aggressive style of batting and fearless approach to the game have earned him many fans. He is known for his ability to score quickly and his willingness to take on the opposition’s bowlers. He has already scored several match-winning innings for India, including a 97-run knock against Australia in the fourth Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which helped India win the series.
Pant’s wicket-keeping skills are also highly regarded. He has shown great agility and reflexes behind the stumps and has taken some spectacular catches. He is also known for his ability to stump batsmen and has already recorded several stumpings in his international career.
Off the field, Pant is known for his fun-loving personality and his love for music. He has been seen dancing and singing on many occasions, both on and off the field. He is also known for his close relationship with his family, particularly his sister.
Pant has also been successful in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having played for Delhi Capitals since 2018. He played a key role in the team’s journey to the final of the 2020 season and was named the Player of the Match in the final.
Despite his young age, Pant has already established himself as one of the most exciting cricketers in the world. His aggressive style of batting, combined with his wicket-keeping skills, makes him a valuable asset to the Indian team. He has already played a key role in several of India’s victories and is likely to continue doing so in the future.
Pant’s recent form has been particularly impressive. He was named the Player of the Series in India’s Test series against Australia in 2020-21, having scored 274 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries and a match-winning century. He also played a crucial role in India’s victory in the fourth Test against England in 2021, scoring an unbeaten 101 in the second innings to help India win the match.
In conclusion, Rishabh Pant is a young and talented cricketer who has already made a significant impact in international cricket. His aggressive batting style and wicket-keeping skills have earned him many fans, and he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world.
As a conclusion we can say that Delhi has produced some of the finest cricketers to have represented India at the international level. From Bishan Singh Bedi to Virat Kohli, Delhi has been a constant source of talent for the Indian cricket team. The players mentioned above have not only made a name for themselves but have also contributed significantly to India’s success in international cricket. Their performances have inspired young cricketers in Delhi and across India to take up the sport and aim for greatness. With the rise of new talent in Delhi, it is clear that the city will continue to produce some of the best cricketers in the years to come.
