5 greatest cricketers of Indian origin who played for other teams

4. Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Hashim Amla raises his bat on completing a century

Currently ranked as the top batsman in Tests and ODIs, the bearded South African willow exponent has ancestral roots in India; his grandparents were originally from Surat, Gujarat.

Amla has been as steady as a rock for the Proteas’ line-up, holding the innings together at No.3, while also performing opening duties in the ODI arena. Technically sound and blessed with immaculate footwork, he has scored a plethora of runs all over the world since his debut in 2004.

He seems to reserve his best for India – scores of 159 and 253 not out are a clear reflection of his dominance over his ancestors’ birth nation. Since then, the soft-spoken cricketer has only gone from strength to strength, and was announced as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013.