Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik is a left-arm spinner renowned for his classical style and high-arm action, embodying textbook spin bowling techniques. Murali's finest hour came in the 2004-05 series against Australia in Mumbai. On a spinning dust bowl, he ran through the Australian batting lineup, taking seven wickets in the match and leading India to a famous victory.

Murali's journey to the Indian team began in the 1999-2000 season after he delivered a string of impressive performances in domestic cricket. His consistency and skill made him a strong contender for national selection, but he struggled to gain the full confidence of then-captain Sourav Ganguly. 

Murali made his mark as a one-day bowler during the 2002-03 series against the West Indies, where he consistently kept the opposition's batsmen in check on flat Indian pitches.

Murali found significant success in English domestic cricket. His stint with Middlesex in 2007 was particularly noteworthy, as he took 12 wickets at an average of 20.75 in the Pro40 competition. This form helped him break into the Indian one-day side during the seven-match series against Australia in October 2007. Kartik was also a key member of Middlesex's Twenty20-winning squad in 2008. Uniquely, he became the only player in the world to participate in both the IPL and the Stanford 20/20 during their inaugural seasons.

Murali continued his career in English county cricket with a successful spell at Somerset before signing with Surrey ahead of the 2011 season. His experience and expertise made him a valuable asset in the domestic circuits, where he continued to excel and contribute significantly to his teams. 

Murali is currently a significant part of the commentary world. Not one to ever be short on confidence, he has brought the same style to the commentary box.