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Cricketers with legendary standards of success and high-class records. Both are common and easy to spot. But what about cricketers who are immensely gifted in matters that exist beyond the realm of the right and wrong.
Cricketers who did great even in the realm outside cricket, the field called academics and studies?
There are, as a matter of fact, quite a few highly intelligent and qualified Indian cricketers that you may not have known about but fret not, for we got it covered for you here.
Find out some of the most well-read and exceedingly qualified Indian cricketers that you may not have necessarily known about.
Ravichandran Ashwin (Highest qualification: B.Tech in Information Technology)
A sense of charisma coupled with a sense of elan and daredevilry, someone utterly unafraid to exhaust himself in the pursuit of sheer excellence and that too, never for self glory; but always to fetch glory for his Team India. There are myriad ways to describe R. Ashwin, but there's one more that concerns with his off pitch antics and achievements.
Did you know that actually R. Ashwin holds a degree when it comes to B.Tech in Information Technology and that too, from SSN College of Engineering, Chennai?.
He is actually one of the soundest minds in Indian cricket and arguably speaking, one of the most intellectually gifted and sharp brian from our country who ever played cricket.
Anil Kumble (Highest qualification: Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
With 956 international wickets that included 619 in Test cricket alone, Kumble was, and will always be, a bit of a legend. The only man thus far in the world of leg-spin bowling in the 20th century to take 10 wickets in the space of a single innings and thus far, the only Indian Test cricketer to ever do so, his success was of giant proportions.
But before turning to cricket full time and Team India are glad he did, he was a qualified mechanical engineer. As a matter of fact, the ace leg spinner had earned his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree from the revered Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering (RVCE) in Bangalore. Moreover, he graduated in the academic year 1991-92.
VVS Laxman (Highest qualification: MBBS Degree)
A classical stylist of the game, someone with daddy hundreds against ace of Test cricket- Australia and a batter who made runs for fun and in a sheer easy-going manner. VVS Laxman was this and more.
The man behind the inspiring turnaround in Kolkata, circa 2001, that led to that sensational 281 is also one of the most qualified Indian cricketers ever to represent the country.
The graceful former Indian cricketer actually completed his schooling at Little Flower High School, Hyderabad. And for those of us who might not be aware, Laxman, the elegant right hander pursued medical studies, including a MBBS degree, alongside his cricket career. What a player, what a gifted and qualified individual!
Avishkar Salvi (Highest qualification: Ph. D. (doctorate) degree in Astrophysics)
There are always some promising but ultimately sad careers that don't often go that long for they are never destined to. Some, however, burst on the international scene with panache that eventually phases out into being powerless. Consider the well-built medium pacer from Mumbai, Avishkar Salvi, who was picked two decades ago to tour Bangladesh but from that point on, couldn't turn things around well enough to become a recurring feature in the Indian team.
The committed and promising fast bowler, who modelled his action somewhere on Australia's great Glenn McGrath took part in his maiden game against Bangladesh, wherein he performed exceptionally well. Upon his one day debut for Team India, he took figures of - 7-1-15-2.
But that was that for the man who claimed four ODI wickets in his India career from as many games, ending a journey that should have gone longer - but didn't- at an ODI economy of 4.1
Now, here's the interesting thing, Salvi is known for his academic achievements and cricketing prowess as well.
Prior to making an appearance, if only a tiny one, in the annals of Indian cricket, the promising speedster acquired a Ph. D. (doctorate) degree in Astrophysics.
