Fab Five: The Pandavas of India’s Batting

By Aditya Bhushan

Fab Five is the story of the power-packed batting lineup of the Indian team comprising of Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid; each of them legends in their own rights. 

The book goes back to Mahabharat and draws a parallel from the Pandavas who were legendary warriors. Based on their distinctive traits, each member of the Fab Five is equated to one of the Pandavas – Ganguly as Yudhishthir, Sehwag as Bheem, Tendulkar as Arjun, Laxman as Nakul and Dravid as Sahadev. 

Together, they scripted some of the most famous victories in the history of Indian cricket. While it was a collective team effort that led to the success and the contribution of other players were equally crucial, but it would not have been possible without this strong batting line-up. With the emergence of Fab Five, the days when India’s batting had a huge dependency on Tendulkar’s shoulders was a thing of the past. Each member of the Fab Five could win the match single-handedly on their day.

Ganguly’s lofted sixes, Sehwag’s aggression, Tendulkar’s impeccable straight drives, Laxman’s artistry and Dravid’s assuring defense were a treat to the eyes of the cricket fans. 

It is a humble tribute to these five legends and a celebration of their contribution to Indian cricket.