Gavaskar, Sachin, Dravid or Kohli: Who's India's best? Sherlock Holmes investigates
The sun rose over 221B Baker Street, embracing the morning air with warmth. Inside, the faint aroma of burnt toast and strong coffee battled with the smell of tobacco from Sherlock Holmes' pipe.Dr John Watson, bleary-eyed from a late night in a Soho disc, stumbled into the sitting room. He found Sherlock Holmes buried deep in the day's edition of the Times.
Design Credit: ITGD Editorial Design
advertisement'Morning,' Watson muttered, stretching his torso to shake off the stiffness of a night spent chasing whisky and women.
Holmes didn't look up. Watson, curiosity roused, sidled up behind him, peering over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of what held the detective's attention.
'The great Sherlock Holmes,' Watson chuckled, 'reading about the Indian cricket team? Now who would've thought the old chap had a drop of cricket in him?'Holmes set the paper aside and leaned back in his leather lounge chair. Reaching for his violin, he plucked a single, resonant note. It was F-minor, a subtle message.'Come on, mate,' Watson pressed, grinning. You can't duck my questions like a Bumrah bouncer. "What's with the sudden interest in Indian cricket?'advertisementSherlock set the violin beside a polished human skull on the desk. 'Elementary, my dear Watson. I am unravelling the case of the fabulous four.'Watson raised an eyebrow. 'The fab four? What's that, old chap?'Holmes' lips twitched into a smirk. 'The question gripping journalists from Mumbai to Manchester: who is the greatest Indian Test batsman amongst the big four: Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, or Kohli? I intend to solve this puzzle.'
Watson's eyes lit up. 'Who do you reckon it is?'Holmes reached for his pipe. 'It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. You risk twisting facts to suit theories, rather than theories to suit facts. Make a cappuccino, Watson, and we'll examine the evidence.'Watson smiled, heading for the kitchen. 'Tricky business. Fans will cry bias, whatever you conclude.' He paused, scribbling a note for his blog.Holmes' voice was stern. 'There is no 'truth' in cricket, Watson. Only facts. Those who let emotions cloud judgment are fans. Those who weigh facts dispassionately are pundits. No pundit fears a fan's ire.'advertisementWatson's smile froze. Holmes' icy gaze reminded him: when the detective's mind whirred, best not to stir.Placing a cappuccino beside Holmes, Watson settled for a mystery to rival their greatest cases.
SHERLOCK HOLMES INVESTIGATES 'Who do you rank as the best?' Holmes sipped the cappuccino.'Never saw Gavaskar bat. I'm fond of Virat Kohli.''Recency bias,' Holmes smirked. 'A common error of the short-sighted. Look at the data.'Watson chuckled heartily. 'Data is like a bird—it'll sing the tune you fancy''We shall see.' Holmes rose and activated a digital projector. A chart flashed on the sitting room's screen, comparing the fab four's Test batting averages.
'Observe, Watson. Kohli's 46.85 trails Tendulkar's 53.79, Dravid's 52.31, and Gavaskar's 51.12.'Watson's brow creased. "Kohli played the least number of Tests, and was the earliest to retire, despite fitness and modern equipment. He has the lowest average among the fab four.'advertisement'Indeed. Now consider SENA–South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia—where pitches favor pace and swing, testing a batsman's mettle.'Another slide appeared, showing SENA averages.
Watson frowned. 'Kohli's lowest outside Asia. News to me.''I omitted the West Indies, Watson. In Kohli's era, their Test side was less formidable than in Gavaskar's day.''Hold on. I'm curious about the Caribbean. Let's see those figures.'The projector shifted, revealing Kohli's average in 11 West Indies Tests. Watson's jaw dropped. 'Kohli's at the bottom again.'
'I am impressed, Watson,' Sherlock clapped slowly. 'There is one more piece of evidence–their batting in the five years before retirement. Guess what?'Watson sighed. 'Bottom again.'
advertisement'Precisely. What does this suggest?' Holmes tapped tobacco into his pipe.'Fading reflexes? Declining motivation, waning drive to succeed?' Watson muttered.'Yes, and a slump. Post-Covid–damn that virus–Kohli faltered, nicked off-stump deliveries, and fell to spinners like Nathan Lyon.''You have a point, Holmes.''The power of facts. Deduction's law,' Holmes smiled. 'Kohli's Test record—low average, lesser longevity, final years' dip—places him fourth. I'd consider Vengsarkar or Sehwag, but let's keep our suspects to four.''So, Kohli isn't the greatest?''Figures don't lie. Eliminate the impossible, and what remains, however improbable, is truth,' Holmes replied, his voice low. 'He is a modern titan, with a hunger for big scores. But not the greatest.''Another cappuccino?' Watson asked, stirring his coffee.'No, a double espresso. This calls for a shot of nostalgia,' Holmes said, lifting his violin.
Watson sipped in silence. The chase for truth had begun. The game was afoot. Holmes was playing his favourite game: deduction by elimination.advertisementThe data placed Kohli below the triumvirate—the saviour (Gavaskar), the destroyer (Tendulkar), and the protector (Dravid).But Watson wasn't done. 'Holmes, let's test the public. I'll post a poll on my blog about Kohli's legacy, then we'll tackle the other three.'Holmes raised an eyebrow. 'A public vote? Sentiment may cloud judgment, but proceed.'Watson posted at once:In a few hours, India's Test cricket will see a generational change.While all eyes are on the future team, Virat Kohli's retirement has ignited a #FabFourDebate.Where would you place Kohli in the list of Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid and himself?Vote here:— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) June 19, 2025Share your vote! #FabFourDebate and stay tuned for Part 2 of this feature.Sandipan Sharma, our guest author, likes to write on cricket, cinema, music and politics. He believes they are interconnected.Tune InMust Watch
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