Top 5 Indian cricketers who are not graduates

Over the past few years, the sporting scene in India has undergone a major transformation in terms of acceptance and awareness regarding the importance of sports in the country. India has taken a huge leap in the world of sports and brought laurels for the country in different sports. This transformation has given parents the confidence to let their children follow their dreams even if it means sacrificing their studies in that quest.

Over the years, India has become a global powerhouse of Cricket. The world of cricket has become much more commercialized than it was 10-15 years ago and IPL has played an integral role in it. Like in the past where many aspiring use to leave their dream of playing cricket in order to pursue their careers, now, mainly because of the IPL and the huge sums money that players are being paid in it parents are ready to allow their children to pursue cricket even if it means that they will not be complete their further education.

To further deep-dive into it, let’s us look at the list of top-five Indian cricketers who haven’t been able to complete their graduation in order to pursue their cricketing dreams:

 (1)   Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is arguably the best match-winner India has ever seen. He sets the bar sky-high, averaging over 50 in all formats – a rare feat in world cricket! He's dominated bowlers for years, being one of the best batsmen of the decade. When he retires, expect him to break most batting records.

Though he stopped studying after 12th grade, his cricket career shines bright. Though Virat Kohli was a decent student which was revealed in a recent viral post showing Virat's 10th class marksheet, he could not pursue his studies further as he got selected in the Indian Under-19 team and soon played for India. He's currently a top Indian player and one of the fittest players around, known for his incredible consistency.

(2) Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar's name echoes through cricket history as one of the greatest batsmen ever! This 47-year-old Indian batting champion holds a mountain of records: 15,921 runs in Tests, 18,426 in ODIs, and even 10 in T20s! He's the only player to score a whopping 100 international centuries, and the first to crack a double hundred in an ODI!

Sachin's journey began in school cricket. By 14, he was playing for Mumbai's Ranji team, and at 16, he stepped onto the world stage for India, never looking back. His dedication to the game was fierce. After failing his 10th-grade exams, Sachin chose cricket over studies, and the rest is history!

3)     Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan, a true gem for Indian cricket! His lightning pace and wicked swing helped him snatch a whopping 311 wickets in just 92 Tests, including 11 five-wicket hauls! He even spearheaded India's bowling attack during their glorious World Cup win in 2011. He was a master of reverse swing, making the ball bend like magic just when batsmen thought they had him figured out.

Although Zaheer aced his high school exams, he chose cricket over engineering but could not complete it as he burst onto the international scene in 2000 and carved a 14-year career, leaving his mark as the second-most successful bowler in Indian history after Kapil Dev. Not bad for a guy who followed his passion.

4)      Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan, the southpaw opener from Delhi, has been a rock for India in ODI cricket for years! Ever since his debut in 2010, he's piled on a whopping 5808 runs in 139 matches, making him one of the most successful openers in Indian history. He's known for his powerful hitting and has blasted 17 centuries and 30 half-centuries, averaging a healthy 45 runs per innings.

But cricket has always been Dhawan's calling. Though he studied till 12th grade, he chose the pitch over the classroom after shining in the 2004 U-19 World Cup, where he smashed a record-breaking 505 runs in just seven innings! The rest, as they say, is history.

5)      MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is considered one of the best captains ever, and what really set him apart was his skill in winning games. In 2010, he enrolled for B.Com at St. Xavier's College in Ranchi through the sports quota. However, he couldn't take his exams because he was busy with cricket and playing for India. When he finally attempted his first semester exams for Bachelor of Business Management and Secretarial Practice, he didn't pass. In 2013, the college denied him his graduation degree.