Greatest Indian Test XI of the 21st century in Australia

Cricket is an inseparable part of peninsular India. The emotions that are attached to the game are unlike any sport that is played in the country. It's a heartbeat of this nation and like a macroscopic element which connects every node of this nation.

Cricket is the insuperable binding agent to this vastly diverse country, and people who form the team that does this act are celebrated and worshipped at some point. Over the last two decades, Indian test cricket has seen many highs than lows. The players who have been responsible for the flourishment of the game are widely revered.

Since the game's inception, there have been many rivalries but none like India and Australia. Two countries pole apart in traditions but breathe one sport, that is cricket. Over the course of time, there have been many battles that have become legends of their own.

Though India has completed well in Australia over the years it is sad to say but has never been on winning side of the test series.

With a big test series ahead of the Indian team in Australia, let us look at their best 21st-century test XI down under based on their performances.

#1 Virender Sehwag

It has been established that Indian openers are just a formality in overseas conditions and as a matter of fact it has been proven many times. From the early 2000s till 2018, India hasn't been able to find a proper opening pair in Tests. Every time they travel to SENA countries they have a new opening pair and it has cost the team several matches overseas.

But, despite many struggles, Indian team found someone who performed well in overseas conditions especially in Australia. Virender Sehwag was a completely different batsman with his unique technique, attitude, temperament and style. But it was effective.

Sehwag, whose technique was doubted by many pundits because of his very nature of play. But he answered his critics with his bat and he went onto to score 1031 runs at an impressive average of 46.86. He scored two tons and 5 half-centuries which included some mind-blowing knocks like the one at MCG where he blasted Aussie attack before getting out for 195! His Adelaide century contrasting to his batting style is much remembered.

#2 Murali Vijay

The Tamil Nadu lad has been a real hope for Indian batting order at the top in this decade. He has managed to score runs in both England and Australia. His temperament is his weapon and has been nicknamed as 'monk' by his teammates.

Vijay, although has toured Australia only once in his career has scored staggering 482 runs at a brilliant average of 60.25 in 4 matches. He scored a brilliant hundred at Brisbane and had accumulated 4 50s in a single tour.

Though he was dropped from the England tour after first two matches he bounced back after a successful stint in English country cricket. He has already scored a century in the practice match before the series and this will be a great boost for India this time with them trying to win the series for the first time against a weak Australian side.

#3 Rahul Dravid

"Is there a more calming sight in the world than Rahul Dravid taking a guard?" - Harsha Bhogle

There is a sense of calmness, dignity, class, elegance and pride in his name.

Rahul Dravid, known as the wall of Indian cricket, was a true classical Test batsman who did whatever it the team needed him to do. He is undoubtedly the greatest No 3 India has ever produced and is up there with likes of pointing and Kallis.

The Karnataka-lad was an epitome of selflessness. His whole career was spent under the shadow of Sachin Tendulkar because a man who has scored more than 23,000 international runs can't be more underappreciated than Rahul Dravid.

He kept wickets, opened the innings whenever the team needed him to. From 2001-2006 he was India's best batsmen across all formats. He played some of the best innings by an Indian cricketer in some of the toughest situations.

Though Dravid didn't perform well in his last Australian tour but still managed to have had scored 1166 runs at an average of 41.6 which included a series defining double hundred (233) and a second inning fifty (72) at Adelaide in 2003!

#4 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar often cited as the greatest batsmen of all time, he has scored runs in every part of the globe. He was Indian cricket for 2 decades. He symbolised the transition of Indian cricket. In his illustrious 24 years career, Sachin managed to score 33000-plus runs in international cricket. The record is remarkable and alienated even in its existence.

Sachin thrashed almost ever great bowler in his time and there were some greats who bowled at him from the likes of Warne, Akram, McGrath, Waqar, Donald etc. Sachin impressed everyone with his classic batting during his first tour to Australia in 1991-92 where he scored two of his finest overseas centuries at Perth and Sydney.

The master has scored a staggering 1809 runs at a brilliant average of 53.21 garnished with 6 centuries, 7 half-centuries and a magnificently handled self-controlled double ton at Sydney(241). He holds the record for scoring most runs against Australians.

#5 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the man who has taken the world aback by his blitzkrieg innings' and immaculate run scoring ability in every part of the world has made him the greatest batter of his generation.

His consistent run-scoring ability has made hun earn the tag of "run-machine". At this moment of his career and especially after the recently ended England tour Kohli has scored in every nation.

In 8 matches he has played in Australia, he has the highest average among any Indian middle-order batsmen. He has scored 992 runs at an average of 62. It includes 3 awe-inspiring centuries at Adelaide and one each at Melbourne, Sydney.

He is the man who has the ability to take the game away from the opposition and that is why Australia will be targeting him throughout this upcoming series. It will be a testing time for him as a captain too. But, history awaits Virat Kohli in this 2018-19 tour of Australia as he could become first Indian captain to win the test centuries down under.

#6 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman, the classy Hyderabadi batter whose batting was all about wonderful timing and wrist-work was a true Aussies nemesis in every sense of the word. He was one among the great middle order trio of Indian test batting line-up from 2000 to 2012

Laxman's some innings' were better than most other Indian batters'. His 281 at Kolkata against Aussies is still regarded as the greatest Test innings by an Indian batsman. His partnership with Sachin at Mumbai in 2004 was a special one which helped India save itself from the series whitewash.

Laxman, though, failed in his last series down under still managed to score 1236 runs at an impressive average of 44.14. He scored 4 glorious match-defining centuries and half centuries down under. His debut century of 167 against likes of Warne, Gillespie and McGrath is considered as one of the best knocks by an Indian batter Down Under.

#7 Parthiv Patel

Though no Indian wicketkeeper-batsman has performed well in Australia, picking one would be like choosing the best amongst the worst.

This may come as a surprise to many, but when the performances are considered in terms of batting, Parthiv Patel has performed better than Dhoni.

The lad from Gujarat was only 17 years of age when he was selected for the Indian team. He was good behind the wickets and played an important role in that brilliant 2003-04 series for India.

In 4 Test matches that Patel has been part of the team Down Under, he has managed to score 160 runs at an average of 32 which includes an important half-century in the successful 2003-04 tour.

While on the other side MS Dhoni has only managed to score 311 runs at a dismal average of 19.44 which includes a lone half-century. Hence according to the performances, Patel would be apt to be in the side.

#8 Anil Kumble

Indian cricket has been blessed with some great spin bowlers. But, after the 80s when the legendary spin trio of Bedi, Prasanna and Chandrashekar retired, Indian cricket was in search of another man who could bowl 50 overs in an innings from one end and try to help the team win. But boy, did they find one in 1990!

Anil Kumble, like all great players that have emerged from the state of Karnataka, played the game of cricket just the way it should be. Kumble was never a big turner of the ball, but his variations, line and length did the job for him. And he ended up with 619 test wickets, third highest ever in test history.

Kumble was the man to whom captains turned to when the team needed wickets. He didn't disappoint his captains. He picked up 49 wickets on Aussie soil which included four 5- wicket hauls which included a brilliant 8-for at SCG. He also was a handy batsman down the order.

#9 Zaheer Khan

Indian cricket was truly blessed with Zak-attack! The Mumbai lad was once in a generation kind of bowler in Indian cricket. Zaheer Khan started his career in great fashion in 2000 champions trophy and showed his potential to the world with his fast and deadly inswinging yorkers and accurate line and length.

For almost a decade, Zaheer was India's only hope with the new ball in overseas as well as in home conditions and he never disappointed his fans. He has a total tally of 311 wickets in his test career.

On Australian soil, 'Zak' has picked up 25 wickets in his career at an average of 35.08. It includes him demolishing the Aussie top order batting line-up when he picked up 5/95 at Brisbane. He has dismissed Matthew Hayden 10 times in his entire career, the most by any bowler. He maintained a standard that many believed was seen only next to Srinath and Kapil Dev.

#10 Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Agarkar was known as 'Bombay duck' for his 7 consecutive ducks 1999-00 series in Australia but before he arrived at the same soil 4 years later, he had scored a century at Lord's and a fastest 50 (21) in a one-day match. He had become the then fastest man to 50 ODI wickets.

Agarkar arrived in Australia for 2003-04 as an experienced bowler since he had newcomers like Zaheer, Pathan and Nehra who were there for the first time. He bowled in high 130s but was as effective as any other quick because of his accurate line and length.

Agarkar didn't disappoint his captain Ganguly as he picked up a total of 16 wickets in the series. His major contribution came in a series defining the spell in the 3rd innings at Adelaide. When he picked up a terrific 6/41 helping India win the Test match and retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

#11 Umesh Yadav

The fast and fit Vidharba lad burst onto international cricket after he was found to be bowling at real pace, clocking in excess of 150 in the domestic circuit.

Umesh was a promising young lad when he was picked up for the 2011-12 tour of Australia where India lost 0-4 to the Aussies. But Yadav was a positive to come out from the series when he picked up 14 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 39 but in a series where Australians bashed every Indian bowler, it was a good performance. It included a brilliant five-wicket haul at WACA, Perth.

Umesh Yadav has picked up 25 wickets on Aussies soil which when compared to Ishant Sharma who has played 3 tours in Australia and has only managed to pick up 20 wickets at a dismal average I'm excess of 62.

This time around Umesh Yadav has more support in Bumrah and Shami and it will be a record-breaking and a historic series win for India in Australia for the first time if they all pull up their socks, bend, hit the deck hard and pitch it in right areas.