Sachin Tendulkar vs Kapil Dev In Final: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his choice for the greatest-ever Indian men’s cricketer, and the final decision came down to two legendary names — Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was recently asked to pick his greatest-ever Indian men’s cricketer in a fascinating knockout-style selection. The former international cricketer had to choose between some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, including Sunil Gavaskar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Kapil Dev.
After several difficult rounds, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev reached the final. Ashwin eventually chose Tendulkar over India’s legendary World Cup-winning captain, giving the former India batter the ultimate honour in his personal list.
The decision is unlikely to surprise many cricket fans, considering Tendulkar’s extraordinary career and the enormous influence he had on Indian cricket for more than two decades.
R Ashwin Reveals His Greatest-Ever Indian Cricketer
The discussion began with a Round of 16 format, where Ashwin had to select one player from a series of head-to-head matchups. The former India spinner featured in a video uploaded by ESPNcricinfo, where he explained his choices during the selection process.
One of the earliest decisions saw Ashwin choose Sachin Tendulkar over Vijay Hazare. Tendulkar’s extraordinary batting record, longevity and contribution to Indian cricket made him Ashwin’s choice in that contest.
Ashwin also had to make a decision involving two modern Indian batting greats when Virat Kohli was placed against Rohit Sharma. On that occasion, Ashwin went with Kohli.
The choices became even more interesting when Ashwin was asked to select between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite Jadeja’s immense contribution with both bat and ball, Ashwin opted for the former India captain and one of the most successful leaders in international cricket.
As the rounds progressed, the competition became increasingly difficult. Eventually, the bracket produced a final between Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.
Ashwin ultimately picked Tendulkar as his greatest-ever Indian men’s cricketer.
Sachin Tendulkar vs Kapil Dev: Why The Final Was Special
The final presented a fascinating comparison between two players who changed Indian cricket in completely different ways.
Kapil Dev remains one of the most influential figures in India’s cricket history. He led India to their first men’s ODI World Cup title in 1983, a victory that transformed the popularity and belief surrounding Indian cricket.
Tendulkar, meanwhile, became the face of Indian batting for a generation. His career stretched across more than two decades, during which he broke several major batting records and became one of the most recognisable cricketers in the world.
For Ashwin, the final choice eventually went in favour of Tendulkar.
The decision also highlights the difficulty of comparing players from different eras. Kapil’s importance to Indian cricket went far beyond his statistics, while Tendulkar’s numbers and longevity created a benchmark that remains difficult to match.
Ashwin’s Interesting Choices Along The Way
The selection process became particularly interesting because of the names involved.
Apart from Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Kohli, Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, Ashwin’s bracket also featured several other legendary Indian players.
Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s greatest opening batters and the first player to reach 10,000 Test runs, was among the names considered.
Virender Sehwag, known for his aggressive opening batting, also featured in the selection. His attacking approach changed the way many fans viewed Test match opening batting.
Rahul Dravid, widely respected for his technique and temperament, was another major name in the competition.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who played a major role in building a competitive Indian side in the early 2000s, was also included.
Interestingly, Ashwin himself appeared among the players in the selection process. However, the spinner did not ultimately choose himself for the top spot.
The final decision eventually came down to Tendulkar and Kapil, before Ashwin selected the Master Blaster.
R Ashwin’s Incredible Test Career
Ashwin’s opinion carries considerable weight because he himself finished his international career as one of India’s most successful cricketers.
The off-spinner announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024. By the time he stepped away, Ashwin had established himself as one of the greatest spinners in Test history.
He played 106 Tests for India and took 537 wickets, making him India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker at the time of his retirement. Only legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, with 619 Test wickets, remained ahead of him.
Ashwin’s Test career was about much more than just his wicket tally. He was also a valuable lower-order batter and regularly contributed important runs for India.
His ability to combine intelligent spin bowling with useful batting made him one of the most complete cricketers of his generation.
Ashwin’s ODI and T20I Numbers
Ashwin also made a significant contribution to India’s white-ball teams.
Across his ODI and T20I career, he made 181 appearances and claimed 228 wickets.
In 116 ODIs, Ashwin picked up 156 wickets at an average of 33.20. His best bowling figures in the format were 4/25.
He was also capable of making useful contributions with the bat. Ashwin scored 707 ODI runs at an average of 16.44, including one half-century. His highest ODI score was 65, which came in 63 innings.
In T20 internationals, Ashwin represented India in 65 matches and took 72 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best figures were an impressive 4/8.
With the bat, he scored 184 runs in 19 T20I innings at an average of 26.28, with a best score of 31.
Ashwin Finished As India’s Second-Highest Wicket-Taker
When all three international formats are combined, Ashwin’s numbers become even more impressive.
He finished his international career with 765 wickets in 287 matches, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats.
Once again, only Anil Kumble stood ahead of him. Kumble finished with 953 international wickets for India.
Ashwin’s international career also included two major ICC trophies.
He was part of India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup-winning team and also played a role in India’s triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
These achievements added another important dimension to his already remarkable career.
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Ashwin’s IPL Career Also Ended In 2025
After retiring from international cricket, Ashwin’s association with competitive cricket continued for some time.
In 2025, Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, bringing an end to another important chapter of his career.
His IPL retirement came as a surprise to many people in the cricketing world because of his long association with the tournament.
Ashwin made his IPL debut in 2009 and went on to become one of the most experienced spin bowlers in the competition.
Across 221 IPL matches, he picked up 187 wickets at an average of 30.22. His economy rate was an impressive 7.20, while his strike rate stood at 25.2.
His best bowling figures in the tournament were 4/34, and he recorded one four-wicket haul.
Ashwin’s ability to adapt to different conditions and bowling roles helped him remain relevant in the IPL for many years.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Place In Indian Cricket History
Ashwin’s decision to select Sachin Tendulkar over Kapil Dev also reflects the enormous impact Tendulkar had on Indian cricket.
Tendulkar made his India debut as a teenager and went on to play at the highest level for more than 20 years.
He became synonymous with Indian batting and carried enormous expectations throughout his career.
From his early years to the final stages of his international journey, Tendulkar remained one of the central figures of Indian cricket.
His career included numerous records, memorable innings and landmark achievements. For millions of Indian fans, Tendulkar was more than just a cricketer — he became a symbol of Indian cricket itself.
Kapil Dev’s Legacy Remains Unmatched
Although Ashwin ultimately selected Tendulkar, Kapil Dev’s place in Indian cricket history remains extraordinary.
Kapil was India’s captain when the team lifted its first ODI World Cup in 1983. That victory is widely regarded as one of the most important moments in the history of Indian cricket.
He was also an exceptional all-rounder who could contribute with both bat and ball.
His leadership, fast bowling and aggressive approach helped establish the belief that India could compete with and defeat the world’s strongest cricket teams.
That is why a final between Tendulkar and Kapil Dev was such a fitting way to finish Ashwin’s greatest-cricketer selection.
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R Ashwin’s Greatest-Ever Indian Cricketer Pick Explained
Ultimately, R Ashwin’s greatest-ever Indian cricketer is Sachin Tendulkar, with Kapil Dev finishing as the runner-up in his personal selection.
The journey to the final was filled with difficult choices. Ashwin selected Tendulkar over Vijay Hazare, chose Virat Kohli over Rohit Sharma and picked MS Dhoni ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.
The final decision between Tendulkar and Kapil Dev was arguably the toughest of them all.
Both legends transformed Indian cricket in their own ways. Kapil gave India its first men’s ODI World Cup title, while Tendulkar became one of the greatest batters the sport has ever produced.
For Ashwin, however, the answer was clear: Sachin Tendulkar stands at the top of his list of India’s greatest-ever men’s cricketers.
