The Current Indian Batting Line-up Is Nowhere Close To 'Fab 5' Of 2000s: Shane Warne

Shane Warne is impressed by Virat Kohli's batting but feels that the overall Indian batting is nowhere close to what it used to be when Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly, Laxman, and Dravid played.

''The Fab 5' of Indian cricket. From left to right - Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag (Image: Twitter/ @Anupama712)

India won great Test matches at the Oval and also at the Lord's Stadium in England. It is worth noting that India also won an away Test series in England in 2018, thus the team surely deserves some accolades. Shane Warne, arguably the greatest spinner of all time has opened up on his thoughts about the Indian batting lineup. 

He feels that the current Indian batting lineup is nowhere as strong as the batting lineup in the 2000s. He feels that the Indian team's success has largely come due to the improved fast-bowling over the years. 

Legends don't retire, they leave a legacy.The fab 5 of Indian cricket.The most formidable batting line-up ever 👏🏼 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/D7qRxihtqA

— Anupama (@Anupama712) October 20, 2015

"Their batting (Indian team's) is nowhere near as strong as Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar, Sehwag. Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen on the planet, if not the best across all forms, but when you see that top five of Sehwag, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, that isn't bad," Warne said on Sky Sports.

"I don't think you can say that it's the best batting Indian side," he added.

Congratulations .@imVkohli & the entire Indian team on another terrific win. What you guys have all achieved together over the last 12 months is absolutely magnificent ! Clearly the best test team in the world & that title is thoroughly deserved too ! Long live test cricket ❤️❤️

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 6, 2021

Warne also mentioned the importance of fast-bowlers in this Indian side. The Aussie great isn't wrong as even during the series, especially in the two matches that India won, the Indian score could reach respectable totals due to the contribution of lower-order batsmen. Bumrah and Shami in one match while Shardul Thakur in another. 

"Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are two standout players, and I think Rishabh Pant will be a superstar down the track. But I think it is their fast bowlers that have elevated India to be able to win in all conditions and not just in India," Warne added.

Warne's comments brings back the nostalgia associated with Indian batting of the early 2000s, when the bowlers around the world were a notch higher than what we have today, thus, scoring against England, Australia, South Africa used to be difficult.