Krishnamachari Srikkanth Records, Stats, World Cup Achievements & Career Statistics
Krishnamachari Srikkanth Records, Stats, World Cup 1983 & Career Achievements
Krishnamachari Srikkanth – India’s Original Aggressive Opener
Krishnamachari Srikkanth, popularly known as Kris Srikkanth or Cheeka, was one of the most entertaining and fearless batsmen in Indian cricket history. Long before aggressive opening became common in world cricket, Srikkanth attacked fast bowlers from the very first ball and changed the way India approached ODI batting.
He played a crucial role in India’s historic victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup and remains one of the most influential opening batters of the 1980s.
Player Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Krishnamachari Srikkanth |
| Born | 21 December 1959 |
| Birth Place | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Batting Style | Right-Hand Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Medium Pace |
| Role | Opening Batter |
| Test Debut | vs England, 1981 |
| ODI Debut | vs England, 1981 |
| International Career | 1981–1992 |
International Career Statistics
Test Cricket
| Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries | Fifties | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 2,062 | 29.88 | 2 | 12 | 123 |
ODI Cricket
| Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries | Fifties | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 4,091 | 29.01 | 4 | 27 | 123 |
ODI Bowling
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 5/27 | 2 |
1983 World Cup Hero
Highest Scorer for India in the Final
The most famous innings of Srikkanth’s career came in the final of the 1983 Cricket World Cup against the mighty West Indies.
World Cup Final Performance
| Runs | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 38 | West Indies |
In a low-scoring final, his 38 was the highest score for India and laid the foundation for one of the greatest victories in cricket history.
India’s Most Aggressive Opener of the 1980s
At a time when ODI cricket was generally defensive, Srikkanth played attacking cricket against some of the world’s fastest bowlers.
Cricket fans from the era often remember him for fearlessly taking on bowlers such as Malcolm Marshall, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Richard Hadlee. Community discussions frequently describe him as one of the earliest aggressive ODI openers.
Major Career Records
One of India’s Leading ODI Run Scorers of His Era
| Achievement | Record |
|---|---|
| ODI Runs | 4,091 |
| ODI Centuries | 4 |
| ODI Fifties | 27 |
During his retirement period, these numbers ranked among the best achieved by Indian batters in One-Day Internationals.
Successful Opening Partnership with Sunil Gavaskar
Srikkanth formed a successful opening pair with:
- Sunil Gavaskar
Their 191-run partnership against Australia in Sydney remains one of India’s most memorable overseas opening stands.
Test Cricket Achievements
Test Centuries
Career Record
| Centuries | Highest Score |
|---|---|
| 2 | 123 |
His centuries came against strong Australian and Pakistani bowling attacks.
Test Career Highlights
- More than 2,000 Test runs.
- Twelve Test fifties.
- Forty catches in Test cricket.
- Regular opener for India for over a decade.
ODI Records
Multi-Dimensional Contributor
Apart from his batting, Srikkanth occasionally contributed with the ball.
ODI Bowling Record
| Matches | Wickets | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|
| 146 | 25 | 5/27 |
He remains one of the few Indian opening batters to record multiple five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.
Captaincy Career
India Captain
Srikkanth captained India in both Tests and ODIs during 1989.
Captaincy Record
| Format | Matches |
|---|---|
| Tests | 4 |
| ODIs | 13 |
Domestic Cricket Career
Tamil Nadu Legend
Srikkanth was one of Tamil Nadu’s greatest cricketers.
First-Class Record
| Matches | Runs | Centuries |
|---|---|---|
| 134 | 7,349 | 12 |
Post-Retirement Career
After retirement, Srikkanth remained deeply involved in cricket.
Major Roles
- National Selector
- Chairman of Selectors
- Television Commentator
- Cricket Analyst
He was chairman of selectors when India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Awards & Recognition
Major Achievements
- Member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team.
- Former India captain.
- Former Chairman of Selectors.
- Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year (1986).
Interesting Facts
- Nicknamed “Cheeka.”
- One of India’s first naturally aggressive ODI openers.
- Highest scorer for India in the 1983 World Cup Final.
- Played more than 145 ODIs for India.
- Later became a successful cricket commentator and selector.
Why Krishnamachari Srikkanth Is Special
Srikkanth’s impact on Indian cricket was built on:
- Fearless attacking batting.
- Match-winning World Cup performances.
- Innovative ODI opening approach.
- Leadership qualities.
- Lasting influence on future generations of Indian openers.
Many cricket historians consider him one of the players who helped modernize India’s approach to limited-overs cricket.
Career Highlights
| Achievement | Record |
|---|---|
| Test Matches | 43 |
| Test Runs | 2,062 |
| ODI Matches | 146 |
| ODI Runs | 4,091 |
| ODI Centuries | 4 |
| ODI Wickets | 25 |
| World Cup Winner | 1983 |
| India Captain | Yes |
FAQs
Why is Krishnamachari Srikkanth famous?
He is famous for being one of India’s first aggressive opening batters and for his important contribution to India’s 1983 World Cup victory.
How many runs did Srikkanth score in ODI cricket?
He scored 4,091 ODI runs in 146 matches.
What was Srikkanth’s highest ODI score?
His highest ODI score was 123.
Did Srikkanth captain India?
Yes, he captained India in both Test and ODI cricket during 1989.
What was Srikkanth’s role in the 1983 World Cup Final?
He top-scored for India with 38 runs against the West Indies in the final.
Related Players
- Sunil Gavaskar Records
- Kapil Dev Records
- Mohinder Amarnath Records
- Sachin Tendulkar Records
- Virender Sehwag Records
- Rohit Sharma Records