The passion for cricket runs deep in the veins of every Indian fan. It’s not just about the on-field heroics but the off-field drama that truly captivates us. We crave the behind-the-scenes insights, the locker room banter, and the controversies that make our favourite players human. The burning questions that keep us up at night – why did Rahul Dravid declare the innings in the Multan Test with Sachin Tendulkar just six runs shy of his double century? What really went down between Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell? And the decision to promote MS Dhoni in the 2011 World Cup Final – how did it all come about?
If you’re a true cricket enthusiast, there’s only one way to uncover the facts – by immersing yourself in the pages of biographies. These books offer a peek into the lives of some of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch. From the enigmatic Sachin Tendulkar to the gritty MS Dhoni, we at Top 10s Only have compiled a list of the Top 10 Best Cricket Biographies that are a must-read for any die-hard fan. So grab a copy, settle in, and get ready to embark on an emotional journey that will have you laughing, crying, and cheering in equal measure.
The List of Top 10 Best Biographies Of Indian Cricketers
Get ready to be inspired and gain an insider’s perspective on the lives of some of the greatest cricket players of all time. Biographies are a treasure trove of valuable information that will take you on an emotional journey with these legendary athletes. However, these biographies aren’t just dry collections of facts – they’re emotional rollercoasters that give you a firsthand look at the highs and lows of some of the greatest cricketers of all time. Sure, you could try to piece together their stories from scattered news articles and clickbait headlines, but let’s face it: those are just half-truths designed to grab your attention. If you want the real, unvarnished truth about the greatest cricketers of all time, here is a list of the Top 10 Best Cricket Biographies that a cricket lover should read and enjoy.
1. The Nice Guy Who Finished First: A Biography Of Rahul Dravid By Devendra Prabhudesai
Indian cricket has some flamboyant personalities like Mansoor Ali Khan Patuadi, Krishanamachari Srikanth, Kirmani, Saurav Ganguly, etc., who have won many matches and captivated hearts. Then there are a few like Rahul Dravid, who is one of those strong and silent types who carry the team selflessly. Often called names like “The Wolf” and “The Wall”, Dravid’s skill and leadership are known to all cricket fans. Time and again, he has proved why he is one of the greatest cricketers in India. If you are looking to read a biography of Indian cricketers, then this is the one for you.
The Nice Guy Who Finished First is one of the best biographical books written about cricketers that talks about his illustrious career and how he succeeded by keeping faith in 3Ds – dedication, determination and discipline. This well-written book is one of the top ten biographies of cricketers where Dravid’s moments of triumph, trials and tribulations are described succinctly. The author recounts Rahul Dravid’s story, assisted by all those who witnessed him from close quarters. More details about this intriguing book are as below:
Publisher(s)
Rupa Publications India
Year Of First Publication
January 1, 2005
Formats Available
Paperback and Kindle Edition
2. The Sardar Of Spin By Neha Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi is one of the most celebrated and acclaimed Indian spinners of all time. He was a thorn in the flesh for many batters in the 1970s. The one thing that he is even better at when not bowling is his honest feedback and comments. He is someone who never minces words, and his comments are as deadly as his bowling. The Sardar of Spin By Neha Bedi is a chronicle of the almost two-decade-long career of Bishan Bedi. This is one of the books on Indian cricketers’ biography that is a collection of essays by sports writers, journalists, authors, and former cricketers who share their experiences about Bedi’s life and provides insight into his cricketing journey. This book is one of the top 10 books about Indian cricketers and a great read and celebrates Bishan Bedi’s life and everything he stood for.
Publisher(s)
Roli Books
Year Of First Publication
September 2021
Formats Available
Kindle and Hardcover
3. The Definitive Biography By Vaibhav Purandare
Is there anyone in India who isn’t a fan of Sachin Tendulkar? Almost everyone who loves cricket adores him, if not outright loves him. There has been so much written and said about him, and even years after his retirement, his fans still can’t get enough of him. This book, written prior to his retirement, offers a unique perspective that isn’t widely known. It’s considered one of the best cricket biographies in India, revealing the qualities that earned Sachin Tendulkar the moniker of “God of Cricket.” The book delves into his preparation for achieving milestones as well as the personal and professional tragedies he faced. For a more in-depth understanding, pick up a copy of the book – it’s an excellent read.
Publisher(s)
Lotus Roli
Year Of First Publication
July 2002
Formats Available
Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover
4. Portrait Of A Flawed Genius By Simon Wilde
If you’re looking for one of the best biographies of cricket players, look no further than this awesome book in our top 10s list! Shane Warne is a captivating and illustrious cricketer of the modern era, known for his flair and showmanship. He is an enigmatic genius, as well as a fascinating performer. His encounter with Sachin Tendulkar, one of the world’s greatest batsmen, was a riveting contest in the world of cricket.
This biography offers a glimpse into Warne’s human weaknesses and his legendary professional accomplishments. It is a tale of one of the greatest cricket players of all time, shedding light on his personal struggles, such as his extramarital affairs, drug scandals, strained family relationships, and involvement with bookies. The book stands out among cricket biographies as it illustrates how personal life can impact professional success.
This is truly one of the best biographies of the greatest cricket players of all time!. Through interviews with Warne himself and his teammates, the biography paints a comprehensive picture of his life and career, offering valuable insights and inspiration.
Publisher(s)
John Murray
Year Of First Publication
January 2007
Formats Available
Paperback and Hardcover
5. Brian Lara: Cricket’s Troubled Genius By Brian Scovell
Cricket in the 90s was dominated by bowlers. Batsmen had to face the wrath of bowlers like Ambrose, Walsh, Wasim Akram, Murali and Warner. However, there were two batsmen the bowlers were very weary of and that were Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Lara was one of the greatest players of Test cricket and could get big hundreds and play long sessions. He was the captain of the West Indies cricket team three times and there was a struggle with that. This is one of the best biographical books written about cricketers and is not just a story of the world records he made with his runs but also about his turbulent career. There are details of his colourful personal life and is a complete account of this great cricketer.
Publisher(s)
Stadia
Year Of First Publication
May 15, 2007
Formats Available
Hardcover
6. KP – Portrait of a Rebel – The Biography of Kevin Pietersen By Marcus Stead
Kevin Pietersen is an English cricketer who is now a commentator. He was one of the most prolific run scorers and was the fastest to reach 1000 runs in ODI and has the second-highest run total in the first 25 tests behind Asutralia’s great Sir Don Bradman. He has won numerous awards and helped England win their first ICC trophy. While the achievements of this South African-born English cricketer are great, he was controversies’ favourite child. The biography Portrait of A Rebel chronicles the life and career of this great sportsman that started at the age of 17. This is one of the good books on the biography of famous cricketers if you want juicy details about his role in the Ashes 2005 victory, the controversial captaincy and more.
Publisher(s)
John Blake
Year Of First Publication
December, 2013
Formats Available
Kindle and Paperback
7. Jack Hobbs: England’s Greatest Cricketer By Leo Mckinstry
Jack Hobbs was an English cricketer who played Test matches between 1908 and 1930. He is counted as the greatest batsman in cricketing history. He was one of the heaviest run-scorers cricket has ever seen. Hobbs was a batsman who succeeded against all types of bowling and in all conditions. He is called ‘The Master’, and one wonders about his batting records if World War 1 had not happened. Hobbs has some astonishing feats, and it continues to be mentioned even after a century. But despite his contribution to the game, there was never a biography about him until Leo Mckinstry’s book. So this is one of the best biographies of this cricket player. It is a comprehensive work which details Hobbs as a cricketer and as a man. Every aspect of his story is intriguing, from his humble upbringing to his role in some explosive Test series. There are also tales of his controversies in colourful detail. It is a groundbreaking book and one of the best cricket biographies that make for great sports literature and is worth a read.
Publisher(s)
Yellow Jersey
Year Of First Publication
May, 2011
Formats Available
Kindle and Paperback
Awards And Nominations
Shortlisted for the 2012 Cricket Book Of the Year award.
8. Don’s Century – Indra Vikram Singh
Don Bradman’s cricketing exploits are second to none. Be it his triple century in a day or his average of 99.94 as a batsman, he was the ‘God of Batting’. The book by Indra Vikram Singh is a tribute to the great man, written by an obvious cricket lover. The author has done immense research and analysis and is a study of Bradman’s batting. This is one of the top 10 biography books about cricketers. It is written in the Centenary Year of Don Bradman and is a celebration of the game of cricket, the art of batting, the life of Don and a complete survey of batting from the 1860s onwards. There are extensive details of Don’s rise from his first fifty to the other legendary feats he has achieved. The famous Bodyline bowing to vanquish Don and how he fought back is stirring and makes for an interesting read. This is one of the best Indian biography books to read written about cricketers and contains about the finest 35 batsmen cricket has seen, from WG Grace to Sachin Tendulkar to Matthew Hayden and showcases their achievements.
Publisher(s)
Sporting Links
Year Of First Publication
January, 2011
Formats Available
Paperback
9. Driven: The Virat Kohli Story By Vijay Lokapally
If you need a cricketing mascot who can show off a range of batting talent and skills in all formats of cricket, then there can be only one choice, Virat Kohli. He embraces the oldest and the most demanding format of cricket with panache and is equally at ease in the more frenetic T20 and everything between these two formats. Virat also has a unique century to his name, which is not in cricket but due to cricket. He is the first Asian celebrity to have 100M Instagram followers, and that speaks volumes about his popularity as a brand and as a cricketer.
So the biography by Vijay Lokapally raises a lot of expectations, and it surely does not fall short. It is definitely one of the best cricket biography books of Indian players. The author is a journalist who has great knowledge of the game, covering this sport for more than three decades and also knows the players, and it shows in the book. The book is simple and easy to read and has interviews with those who have seen him from his younger days. It speaks about the early influencers in Kohli’s career and how he handled his life being under the public eye from the 2008 Under -19 world cup. Driven is a must-read as it is a cricket biography book that is inspiring not just to Kohli fans but to everyone who wants to succeed in life through hard work and dedication.
Publisher(s)
Bloomsbury India
Year Of First Publication
October, 2016
Formats Available
Kindle and Paperback
10. The Dhoni Touch: Unravelling The Enigma That Is Mahendra Singh Dhoni By Bharat Sundaresan
MS Dhoni is a cricketer who can induce the opposite spectrum of emotions at once. His play can raise the adrenaline, and his mere presence at the crease can induce a sense of calm. He has such a dominating presence on and off-field that people want to have a piece of him. But the thing about MS Dhoni is that despite being in the public eye, he guards his personal life and is a mystery. There may be an official biopic on him, but lets in only what he desires. So when you hear about a book about MS Dhoni, everyone is naturally curious to know what the author has unearthed. The author has unearthed some interesting stories that keep you hooked, and is one of the best cricket biography books of Indian players. He has spoken to many people who are in his inner circle before gaining fame and has added those insights. It may not be an official biography, but this is one top 10 best biographies of cricket champions with more facts than anyone can cover, and has a Dhoni stamp on the book.
Publisher(s)
Penguin Ebury Press
Year Of First Publication
July, 2018
Formats Available
Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook, And Hardcover
Food and cricket are two things that every Indian, no matter which part of India they are from, unite together and also fight passionately for. Cricket is not just a sport but much more and is a collective pride of the nation. If you are an avid reader and equally a cricket lover, the above are some of the top ten of the best cricket players’ biography that every cricket lover/bibliophile should read to know their struggles, enjoy their history and get also get inspired. Let us know which one of the above cricket biography books you liked the most.