Team India powers 5 into Wisden 40

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />After the resounding success in World Cup 2003, five Indian cricketing stars have managed a slot in the Wisden Top 40 list for 2003. There is no doubting the immense talent that is encapsulated in the famous five - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman and Anil Kumble.Here are some of their recent performances that have made them the toast of the nation. Team India went on from strength to strength after the World Cup and today it is arguably the second best team in the world in both forms of cricket. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Sachin Tendulkar</span><br /><br /><img src="/photo/658747.cms" alt="/photo/658747.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />Sachin scored a magnificent 196 not out against Pakistan recently to set India up for victory in the 1st Test. The Master Blaster always creates records whenever he bats and yet his thirst for more runs makes him invaluable to the team. As Anil Kumble aptly points out - "Today he knows his game very well and also knows exactly when to accelerate. In that sense he is more solid now."<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Virender Sehwag</span><br /><br /><img src="/photo/658748.cms" alt="/photo/658748.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />He is a swashbuckler who cannot be compared with anyone - even though he has been referred to as a Xerox copy of Tendulkar in style. But there is a method in this madness – whether it is a swipe over third man for a six or his disdain for new ball bowlers worldwide. His 309 helped India decimate Pakistan in the 1st Test.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Rahul Dravid</span><br /><br /><img src="/photo/658749.cms" alt="/photo/658749.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />Whether it was the Tour of Australia or Pakistan, Rahul Dravid undisputedly has been India’s most successful batsman in the past three years. Dravid has shed the tag of being just a “Wall� and is now a match-winner in both forms of the game. He was the architect of the Indian win in the deciding third Test against Pakistan scoring 270. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section4"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">VVS Laxman</span><br /><br /><img src="/photo/658750.cms" alt="/photo/658750.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />Laxman has always saved his best against the Aussies and this time too it was no different. He simply massacred the Australian bowling in the 2003-04 tour. He took some time to find his groove in Pakistan but once he got going the Pak bowlers were sent on a leather hunt. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section5"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Anil Kumble</span><br /><br /><img src="/photo/658751.cms" alt="/photo/658751.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />Kumble has been written off on numerous occasions and yet every time he bounces back. He has proved in Australia and Pakistan that he still deserves his place in the team by the virtue of his match-winning ability. He took eight wickets in the first Test against Pakistan and 5 wickets in the third and final Test competing gamely with India’s charged up pace attack in Irfan Pathan and L Balaji. This performance earned him the Golden Ball award for the series.</div> </div>