10 change-makers: From Pataudi to Dhoni

Indian cricket has seen many momentous changes in the last couple of decades.

A look at some of the prominent change-makers:

1. MAK Pataudi

He led us to our first ever overseas victory

Mansoor Ali Khan ''Tiger'' Pataudi, who passed away recently, became the youngest cricket captain in the world in 1962. He was just 21 then. His crowning moment came in 1968 when we won an overseas Test, in New Zealand, for the first time ever.

We eventually won 3-1, in an Indian record that stands till 2011. We are yet to win three Tests in an overseas series after that.

The 1971 series wins on England and West Indies soil was a direct effect of India’s new-found confidence under Pataudi, even though he wasn’t the captain by then.

2. Eknath Solkar

It’s the silly point silly!

Indians have traditionally been bad fielders, but Solkar has been one of the rare exceptions. Today the Indians have mastered the art of close-in fielding. The pioneer for this was Solkar. He has an astonishing 53 catches in only 27 Tests, the best ratio for non-wicket-keepers.

Averaging one catch in a match is tough. Solkar averaged one per inning!

Rahul Dravid has carried forward this tradition with more than 200 Test catches.

Images: AFP/AP