The younger generation regards a number of famous cricketers as models. Many attempts to mirror their style of play while growing up. As a result, their gameplay begins to resemble that of their heroes in multiple ways.
The inspiration is frequently quite apparent, whether in the swagger, batting technique, stance, or, in the case of bowlers, the run-up and bowling action. Sometimes, the influence is more philosophical than technical. It goes beyond the technical.
In either case, it is undeniable that a cricketer’s ability to shape his game is often influenced by his or her role model.
In light of this, let’s take a look at five of the best master-apprentice duos in international cricket. A select few even have the luck to rise through the ranks and end up playing alongside their heroes on the big stage.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag
It is common knowledge that virtuoso Virender Sehwag drew inspiration for his batting from the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Sehwag made his big-stage debut in 1999, while the latter made his international debut in 1989. In 2001, he made his Test debut in South Africa. He and Tendulkar shared a famous 220-run stand in Bloemfontein, with both batters scoring hundreds.
Sehwag’s batting was like that of Tendulkar when he first started out. In any case, as he filled in height, he cut a specialty for himself as a unique cricketer and proceeded to become perhaps of the most dreaded hitter in world cricket.
Together, Tendulkar and Sehwag scored 5964 runs in 138 innings of international cricket. 17-century stands and 23 half-century partnerships included them.
#2 Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith
Marnus Labuschagne has been quite forthright about the fact that Steve Smith is his primary source of sporting inspiration. When they hit double hundreds in Australia’s 164-run victory over West Indies in the Perth Test, they made headlines.
Smith was unbeaten on 200 out of 311 pitches in the first inning, while Labuschagne hit 204 off 350 pitches. In a dominant performance, the pair added 251 runs for the third wicket.
They also played a significant stand in the second inning, with Labuschagne once more reaching triple digits. Smith and Labuschagne work very well together.
While Smith made his Test debut in 2010 and Labuschagne in 2018, when they are at the wrinkle, it simply appears they have been batting together for their entire lives!
#3 Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav
Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav may have fought a famous stare-off when they played for different teams in the IPL a few years ago. Suryakumar Yadav, on the other hand, has expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli quite openly.
The latter admits that he is a fan of Suryakumar’s entire batting career. Fans often get a treat when they play together for India at the crease.
Since Suryakumar only made his international debut in March 2021, the partnership has been brief. He has, however, taken the cricketing world by storm, particularly in T20 cricket.
They complement one another almost flawlessly as a pair. The majority of the time, Kohli is content to anchor the innings and observe Suryakumar’s fireworks from the opposing end.
Kohli and Suryakumar have combined to play in 15 T20I innings, totaling 623 runs at an average of 51.91, including two centuries and fifty partnerships. There will undoubtedly be additional ones.
#4 Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson
The current captain of Kane Williamson and the former captain of New Zealand, Ross Taylor, are among the most successful batting tandems in international cricket.
They combined to score more than 8000 runs in all three formats of the game in 159 innings, averaging 54.91 runs per innings, with 2400 partnerships and 37 half-century stands. No other pair of Kiwis has scored more runs for New Zealand.
The fact that Taylor and Williamson never attempted to surpass one another was what made them tick. For the team’s sake, both were willing to play second fiddle.
By the time Williamson, a young player, showed up, Taylor had already established himself as a batter for the team. However, when they were out in the middle, there was an instant bonding that led to one of the greatest partnerships in international cricket.
#5 Imran Khan and Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, a former Pakistani fast bowler, has praised Imran Khan on numerous occasions.
Imran, who has a keen eye for talent, took Akram under his wing when he was just a young child and recognized his potential.
The left-arm seamer thrived under Imran’s direction and unwavering support, which also helped Waqar Younis rise to prominence.
During the 1980s, Imran and Akram shaped a deadly left-arm right-arm combo. One was seasoned, while the other was brisk.
In addition, the two were masters of the reverse swing, making it doubly challenging for batters worldwide, particularly in Test cricket. Imran and Akram were two of the few bowlers in international cricket who caused such havoc.