Godfather of Cricket in India: The Legendary Figures of Indian Cricket

While many of us have already heard and are aware of the term “godfather,” to choose and idolize someone as the godfather requires a lot of thought and personal reflection, as it implies a deep respect and admiration for their values, actions, and the influence they have had on your life. In Indian cricket, numerous legendary cricketers have imprinted their names in history and achieved milestones while driving India to historic wins and transforming it into a cricket powerhouse. However, idolizing someone as the “Godfather of cricket in India” is no easy task, as there are numerous serious contenders for this title. But some players have done miraculously well to change the course of the game and bring fate to a point where it plays no role, and only talent matters. Here is a list of celebrated players who can fit into the role of godfather in Indian cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar (God of Cricket)

Often referred to as the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, also known as the ‘Master Blaster’, is one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He played a total of 664 international cricket matches, scoring 34,357 runs, and captained Team India from 1996 to 1999 and again from 1999 to 2000. Making his debut in a Test against Pakistan on 15 November 1989, Sachin Tendulkar holds numerous records in both Test and ODI cricket, including the most runs scored and the most centuries. The right-handed batter leads the ODI and Test cricket rankings for the highest run getter with more than 18,000 runs in ODIs and 15,000 runs in Test cricket, respectively. Sachin achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the only cricketer to score 100 international centuries. He smashed 51 centuries in Tests and 49 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

As the most worshipped cricketer in the world, his fans idolize him by saying, "Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God." Sachin was included in the all-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, and he was one of only two specialist batsmen of the post–World War II era, along with Viv Richards, to get featured in the team. In 2019, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

If Sachin is called the God of Cricket, MS Dhoni can be easily called the godfather of Team India. Dhoni is considered India’s most successful captain and prolific wicketkeeper-batsman, with the only captain to win three different limited-overs ICC tournaments — the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Known as ‘Captain Cool’ and ‘Thala’, his contributions have significantly reshaped the Indian cricket team, especially after the retirement of legendary players like Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly. Under Dhoni’s leadership, the Men in Blue won the Asia Cup in 2010, 2016, and 2018.

He made his first appearance for the Indian cricket team on December 23, 2004, during an ODI match against Bangladesh, and a year later, he played his inaugural Test match against Sri Lanka. In international cricket, he has amassed 17,266 runs, with over 10,000 of those runs in ODIs at an average exceeding 50.

As his fellow cricketer, Vinay Kumar, said, “MS Dhoni is like the university of cricket; he’s an expert in the sport”, his fans felt his presence as the finisher turns the game in the blink of an eye. He also led Chennai Super Kings to win the IPL title five times.

Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian cricketer and captain Sunil Gavaskar was given the title – Godfather of Indian Cricket by legendary West Indies cricketer Viv Richards. He debuted in a Test match against the West Indies in 1971 and had multiple exchanges of captaincy with Kapil Dev during his career. In 125 Test matches, he accumulated 10,122 runs with an impressive average of 51.12, featuring 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Gavaskar scored 3,092 runs across 108 matches at an average of 35.13, with his standout performance being a remarkable 103 not out.

Celebrated as one of the greatest opening batsmen not in India but across the world, Gavaskar was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009. Known for his exceptional technique against fast bowling, particularly against the formidable West Indies. Gavaskar was the first cricketer to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev led India to its first World Cup title, revitalizing Indian cricket and shaping its future. Kapil Dev is the only player in cricket history to score more than 5,000 runs in Test matches while also having achieved over 400 wickets (434 wickets), a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. He made his debut in an ODI match against Pakistan in 1978 and retired in 1994, as the first player to take 200 ODI wickets.

He was voted the Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002. The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame inducted Kapil Dev on March 11, 2010. Credited for transforming the Indian Cricket team, he has inspired a new generation of players post-1983, after India’s World Cup win.

Other Potential Contenders for “Godfather of Cricket In India”

These legendary players have already made their name in the hearts of fans across the world; however, in present-day cricket, several players can etch their name in the history of Indian cricket in the list of “Godfather of cricket in India”.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, praised as “King Kohli” and often referred to as the “New god of Cricket” by his fans, media, and cricket pundits for his skills, records, and ability to lead his team to victory. Debuting in 2008 against Sri Lanka, Kohli is the highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League, third in T20I, third in ODI, and third in international cricket. He has the second-most hundreds in international cricket and the most in One-Day Internationals.

For three years in a row, Kohli received the award for the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World. His strong captaincy, reliable batting, and high standards of fitness have had a big impact on current cricket. Being an inspiration to the young generation and fellow cricketers, he is one of the appropriate contenders for the title of Godfather of Cricket in India.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is considered one of the greatest limited-overs opening batters of all time, and for the same reasons known as “God of ODI & T20 Cricket”. The right-handed batter, who made his debut in 2007, holds numerous batting records, including most runs in T20 Internationals, most sixes in international cricket, most double centuries in ODI cricket, most centuries at Cricket World Cups, and joint most hundreds in Twenty20 Internationals. With an individual score of 264, he also holds the world record for the highest individual score in a One-Day International.

Rohit Sharma is one of the worthy contenders for the title “Godfather of Cricket in India. He has earned a reputation as a prolific run-scorer across all formats of the game and has won the hearts of fans and fellow players with his captaincy and playing style. His ability to perform under pressure, especially in big events like the World Cup & Champions Trophy, makes him everyone’s favorite.