The 2010s are about to end and we look back at what has been a very successful decade for India in Test Cricket. In all, India played 107 Test matches this decade, winning 56 and losing 29 for a Win/Loss ratio of 1.931. In total 54 players represented India in Test Cricket this decade and out of them, here is the XI we picked.
Virender Sehwag
His best days were in the 2000s but still managed to score 2,338 runs in this decade. Sehwag had the highest average among Indian openers who scored more than 1,000 runs this decade.
Murali Vijay
Played more Test matches during this decade than any other opener for India and scored most runs among opening batsmen as well. Hit 12 hundred in his 59 Tests as well, but a poor 2018 and emergence of Mayank and Prithvi Shaw means he may have played his last Test match.
Cheteshwar Pujara
The second most prolific batsman for India in Tests this decade behind Virat Kohli. There were questions over his strike rate for some reason a while ago which saw him miss a few Tests but consistent performances during the previous Australian tour once again cemented his place in the side. Only Virat Kohli hit more 100s than Pujara’s 18 during this decade.
Virat Kohli (C)
The stand out batsman for India during this decade. Kohli dominated the bowling all over the world in all formats, and hardly surprising that he is the top run-scorer for India in the 2010s. 7,202 runs at an average of 54.97 with 27 hundred for Virat since his debut in 2011 put him in a league of his own. Being the best batsman in the side, he gets the preferred Number 4 slot and the next man has to move down one place.
Sachin Tendulkar
Just like Sehwag, the 2010s wasn’t really the best of Sachin Tendulkar as he chased that 100th international hundred for the most part. Still scored 2,951 runs this decade with 8 hundreds. Apart from Virat Kohli, the only Indian batsman to average 50+ in the 2010s (For batsmen with over 1,000 runs)
MS Dhoni
He surprised everyone when he retired from Tests back in 2014 but remains the best Wicket-keeper to have played for India this decade. Scored his career-best of 224 earlier in the decade against Australia that turned the Test in India’s favour.
Ravi Jadeja
Batting average in the Mid 30s and bowling average in Mid 20s will put Jadeja in the league of all-time great all-rounders. His batting has gone from strength to strength in recent times and he remains as accurate as ever with his left-arm spin. Add the fact that he is the best fielder India ever had and he becomes an automatic pick in the squad.
R Ashwin
7th most prolific batsman for India in the 2010s with 4 Test centuries to his name and a small matter of 362 wickets since his debut in 2011. One of the most successful bowlers ever for India (4th place for now) and almost unplayable while bowling in home conditions.
Ishant
Struggled around for a long time with bowling average in the high 30s before hitting his groove in the latter half of the decade and becoming a big reason for the successes India has enjoyed in the past few years. That bowling average is coming down all the time and he seems to be getting fitter and fitter as well.
Shami
Another member of the current pace battery that is powering India to the top of the World Test Championship. 175 wickets at an average of 27 so far for him with a well-deserved tag of “Second innings Shami”, his bowling average during 2nd innings- 21.86, first-innings- 32.39
Bumrah
Bumrah has only taken 62 wickets so far, having played just 12 tests so far but he absolutely smashes the door down to enter the Test team of the decade. He is quick, he is exciting, he moves the bowl all over the place, he destroys the stumps with amazing frequency and picks up his wickets at a fantastic average of 19.
