Cricket is a gentleman’s game, and the fans have ired and ed those who have played it with respect for their opponents. With each match, the younger generation of cricketers becomes less humble. Every other day, we read about a nasty confrontation between athletes in the news.
People recognised the sincerity of luminaries like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Kumar Sangakkara when they played international cricket. However, times have changed, and you will rarely see humble cricketers in the international arena.
Here are the ten cricketers who played with humility:
1. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is currently in charge of coaching the Indian cricket team. He formerly captained India and was the chairman of the NCA.
Rahul Dravid’s optimism and humility are an inspiration to many young cricketers. All of his rivals ired him while he was a player in international cricket for his cool-headed and team-oriented approach to the game.
2. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, the cricket god, has left a legacy that no other batsman will ever be able to duplicate. His role in making cricket a sensation in India is unparalleled.
Sachin was a great player who was well-liked by his opponents. Tendulkar used to leave even before the umpire’s verdict was announced, just in case he had been caught out. His humble demeanour has made him a role model for others.
3. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith is a player who is underappreciated despite his outstanding performances for South Africa in international cricket. Throughout his career, he captained the Proteas and led them to multiple tournament finals and significant triumphs.
Smith is regarded as one of the most successful leaders in international cricket due to his ability to get players to comprehend and respect him through his pleasant demeanour. He is one of the top cricketers and has a humble demeanour.
4. Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batter who was well-liked by the public for his poise on the field. There was never a time during a game when Sanga lost his calm.
He always approached the game objectively and never used cheap techniques to help his team win. Those who witnessed the 2011 World Cup final will recall Sanga’s humble smile as Dhoni hit the six that helped India win the title.
5. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers, the man who popularised 360-degree batting in international cricket, was well-liked by the public and was known as ABD around the world. His amazing hitting and ability to remain calm and collective under pressure make him one of the most modest cricketers to have ever played the game.
Surprisingly, ABD is more popular in India than in South Africa, owing to his terrific personality and uncanny batting in the IPL.
6. Jonty Rhodes
Jonty Rhodes is widely regarded as the greatest fielder in cricket history. He is currently a coach for various league teams all over the world.
Rhodes is noted for his humble and calm demeanour on the field. He avoided using bad language and other tactics to rile up the opposing players. Rhodes was a gentleman throughout the game.
7. Adam Gilchrist
We all the Australian squad that didn’t care about their image and went hard at the opposition with the ball, bat, and, of course, the words. There were plenty of enthusiastic players on Ricky Ponting’s Australian team who would do anything to win.
Despite this, the brilliant wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, calmly played his game and avoided the customary Kangaroo tactics. He is known as one of the softest-spoken Australians of all time.
Also Read: The Ten Best Wicketkeeper-Captains of All Time
8. Brendon McCullum
The former New Zealand captain, who is now the England Cricket Team’s Test coach, was a player that bowlers feared when he came out to open the batting for the Black Caps. McCullum enjoyed taking apart his opponents’ bowling but never utilised deception to obtain what he desired.
