Ranking the top 10 Indian batsmen of the 21st century

#2 Virat Kohli

Without a doubt the best batsman of the decade, this phenomenon has taken his game to the next level. He is a notch above the rest and even a score of 40-50 is a failure for the man. His conversion rate is fantastic and the difference between the number of half-centuries and centuries for him is just 23.

He has been primed as the one to overtake Sachin's record of 100 centuries and is on the right track with 62. His cover-drives are the best in the world and one can watch them for hours together. The Indian skipper is the most prized wicket in a team and he has already scored 18632 runs in 389 innings at an astonishing average of 56.46.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

The greatest batsman in the history of cricket, Little Master was truly a master in scoring runs. He scored runs all around the globe and he had the technique to conquer any situation. He could play like VVS Laxman and be rock solid in his approach, or be play the role of a swashbuckler like Virender Sehwag.

His punches off the back-foot are mesmerizing and he holds innumerable records. Most runs, most centuries, most half-centuries, first double century in ODI cricket, most Man Of the Match Awards. Phew! It is an impossible task for a human being to be able to write down all his records.

Moving on, a few of his most glorious knocks came against rival teams, Pakistan and Australia. His century at WACA in Perth in 1992, as a teenager still lives in the heart's of every cricket fan. His 75 ball 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup is very fresh in our mind and it seems like it happened yesterday.

The reason for his inclusion ahead of Kohli shouldn't surprise a lot of people, and if there was a doubt, he is on top because of the quality of bowlers faced. He had to face bowlers like McGrath, Wasim Akram and Shane Warne whereas, there are very few bowlers who can be compared with them.

The God of Cricket has scored 34357 runs in 782 innings at an average of 48.52 and is greatness personified.

Honorable mentions: Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara