Picture Credit: Twitter
Cricket is one of the most followed sports around the world. Especially in this part of the world, where Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as the God, cricket is no less than a religion. People madly follow the sport and understandably then their reactions are extreme- be it joy or disappointment. Cricketers, especially those who have made their name wearing the national Blue, become celebrated figures.
And although they tend to have side effects of spending long hours under the sun with age and batting several injuries along with their careers, the lucrative money comes with it along with endorsements and other sources often tend to have an overall positive impact on their personality.
Here is an attempt at looking at how some of these celebrated figures have aged over the years. There has been a massive transformation in some of them with some even ageing like a wine. Although the photographs might not tell you the complete story, let’s repeat the oft-quoted phrase, a “picture can tell you a thousand words.”
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has gone on to become one of the greatest batters of the modern-day game. Not only is he a beast when it comes to run-making, but his consistency across formats and his ability to play various roles also make him one of the greatest ever. As a captain too, Kohli not only led the U-19 side to a World Cup win but is on the verge of leading India to a win in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. It's been an amazing transformation from a chubby teenager to a fitness freak athlete and a journey the cricket-loving nation of India has walked with him.
Steve Smith
Former Australia captain Steve Smith started off as a leg-spinner, with some even calling him a potential replacement of the legendary Shane Warne. However, it is his batting that has helped him become one of the better batsmen of the current day and age. Apart from Kohli, Smith is also among the modern-day greats. Although his limited-overs game is not quite up there with his Test match brilliance.
Sam Billings
Sam Billings has quietly made his name as someone who can not only keep wickets but also be equally efficient at the field and attack the opposition from the word go. However, consistency seems to be the area of concern for the English cricketer, especially, when he has the ability to score at a great strike rate.
Ravindra Jadeja
What a journey it has been for Ravindra Jadeja. The Jamnagar-born cricketer has now become one of the world's best all-rounders. While his ability with the ball and field was never a doubt, his batting did not quite live up to the promise it showed at the domestic level. However, over the last couple of years, Jadeja has worked on that aspect and graduated with flying colours. He is one of India's biggest match-winners currently.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey is an amazing talent to watch when in full flow. He is one of those elegant hitters of the ball, who can make you fall in love with the game. However, from someone who became the first Indian to score a hundred in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he hasn't been able to cement his place in the national team- the reason being his inconsistency. However, he has been picked for the Sri Lanka tour in July and would look to make a case for himself for a place in the T20 World Cup later this year.