Is Indian cricket at its absolute peak? The answer is an emphatic yes! If anyone needs proof, look no further than Australian speedster Mitchell Starc’s recent statement—India is the only country capable of fielding three separate teams for Tests, ODIs, and T20s simultaneously. This is no empty flattery; it’s an undeniable testament to India’s unmatched depth in talent and dominance across all formats. Yet, not too long ago, self-proclaimed cricket experts, clueless television anchors, and armchair critics were baying for blood. After back-to-back Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia, they declared the Rohit Sharma-led team a spent force. Calls for the heads of both Rohit and Virat Kohli—two of the greatest cricketers of our time—grew louder. And then, in the most emphatic fashion, they silenced the doubters. Rohit and Virat, dismissed by the ignorant as ‘finished,’ led India to an unblemished triumph in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. Kohli, the world’s highest run-scorer with over 18,000 international runs, and Rohit, the battle-hardened captain with over 14,000-odd runs to his credit, spearheaded a clinical Indian campaign, inspiring the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and others to deliver match-winning performances.
India didn’t just win; they dominated. This is not an overnight phenomenon. Indian cricket has undergone a spectacular transformation over the decades. In the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, talent was scarce, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) struggled to find new players. Legends like Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, ML Jaisimha, and Ajit Wadekar had to stretch their careers beyond their prime because replacements were hard to come by. The Indian team was perennially the underdog, occasionally pulling off famous wins but largely remaining in the shadows of Australia and the West Indies. The nadir? Collapsing for a paltry 46 runs. Then came the watershed moment of 1983. Written off as no-hopers, Kapil Dev’s men stunned the mighty West Indies to lift the Prudential World Cup. That victory did more than bring home a trophy—it changed the psyche of Indian cricket. Kapil’s never-say-die spirit ignited a belief that India could take on and beat the best. The world began taking Indian cricket seriously.
Despite struggling in the 1960s and 1970s, some Indian cricket legends managed to etch their names in history. The spin quartet of Prasanna, Bishan Bedi, Chandrasekhar, and Venkat Raghavan laid the foundation in bowling, while Sunil Gavaskar’s immaculate technique earned him the title of ‘Little Master.’ Alongside him, Gundappa Viswanath showcased his elegance and skill in batting. But the real surge came with the emergence of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and Anil Kumble—players who collectively propelled India into the elite tier of world cricket. Then came MS Dhoni, the unflappable “Captain Cool,” who took India to unprecedented heights with his tactical brilliance and composure. But Dhoni led India to World Cup victories in both the ODI and T20 formats. He also holds the record for winning the most international trophies across formats. His legacy was carried forward by current skipper Rohit Sharma, who added to India’s glory by securing two major ICC titles—the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup and this year’s Champions Trophy. The introduction of the IPL in the late 2000s further revolutionized Indian cricket. It became a breeding ground for talent, producing the next generation of Indian greats and ensuring a continuous pipeline of world-class players. Fast forward to today—India is no longer just a cricketing superpower; it is the cricketing superpower. Mitchell Starc’s observation that India can field three international-level teams is not hyperbole but reality. India’s talent pool is so vast that players who would walk into the playing XI of any other international team struggle to cut here. Cricket in India is more than a sport—it’s a way of life. In a nation of over 1.4 billion people, where cricket is followed with religious fervor, it is no surprise that India has become the envy of the cricketing world. The sheer volume of talent emerging from domestic circuits and IPL is unparalleled. Other cricketing nations, once dismissive of India’s rise, now look towards its systems to emulate its success. The message is loud and clear: Indian cricket is at its zenith, and the rest of the world is playing catch-up. The doubters have been proven wrong time and again, and it’s time they accept the truth—India is the gold standard of world cricket. The reign of the Men in Blue is far from over; in fact, it has only just begun.
