Sportskeeda's Top 50 Indian Test cricketers of all-time (20-11)

#13 Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin's nonchalant elegance made batting look like poetry in motion

November 27, 2000 - For those who were mesmerised by Mohammad Azharuddin's elegant batting and languid catching, the day served a cold reminder that the stench of corruption had the reach to consume even adored sportsmen. Before he traded his immortal legacy for the enticing lures of money, Azharuddin was the original crowd-puller. The serenity of his drive through the mid-wicket region had the power to make even a layman fall in love with cricket.

Aside from his debonair strokes which had the touch of an amorous artist, Azharuddin also had the propensity to pull off staggering catches with minimal fuss.

The right-hander's suave charisma originated from the turned up collar which was an extension of fellow Hyderabadi ML Jaisimha. While his relaxed captaincy often proved to be counter-productive away from the subcontinent, the same element of tranquility made him an unconquerable skipper on spin-friendly subcontinental pitches.

Under his sangfroid leadership, no team could defeat India in a Test series on Indian soil. However, with just one away victory from 27 attempts, Azharuddin's team were abysmal outside India.

Career Span: 1985-2000

Statistics: 6215 runs from 99 matches at an average of 45.03 with 22 centuries and 21 fifties