Former skipper Kapil Dev was chosen as the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century by an eminent jury of 35 cricketers, journalists and thinkers in a televised ceremony at Wembley Stadium.

Sachin Tendulkar won the People's Choice Award, which was selected on the basis of a popular poll.

Besides these awards the Best Batting Performance of the Century was awarded to VVS Laxman for his epic 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens last year. The Best Bowling Performance of the Century went to Bhagwat Chandrashekhar for his 6-38 against England at the Oval while the Team of the Century was given to Sunil Gavaskar's team, which won the 1985 Benson and Hedges World Series Cup. Gundappa Vishwanath won the MCC Spirit of Cricket award.

India at the World Championship of Cricket, 1985

Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri opened the innings of a side that went onto dominate world cricket in 1985. With a middle order that boasted of Mohammad Azharuddin, skipper Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohinder Amarnath and a bowling attack led by Kapil Dev this Indian squad cruised to an easy win in the World Series.

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar on his 6-38 against England at the Oval in 1971

"I never planned my bowling, ever, all I did was concentrate on getting a good line and length.

On my day I was always unplayable. I can't flight the ball. I was a fast bowler, really, everything I bowled was fast -- my top spinner, googly, flipper, everything. It was like asking Lillee to flight the ball, he couldn't do it, right? I had a different grip, like a seam bowler's with my fingers spread across, so I could get bounce off the deadest pitch. I didn't do too much thinking.

Bowlers like Bedi, Venkat, you find them constantly readjusting the field, but I never did that, I left that for my captain. All I wanted was the ball in my hand and the stumps in front of me. "

Laxman's 281 against Australia at Calcutta in 2001

This innings is very fresh in everyone's memory, Australia had blown out India a week earlier and was riding on the crest of a 16-match winning streak. India was dismissed for 171 against Australia's imposing 445. Following on, Laxman walked in at 52 for 1.

Little did one know that he would walk out at 605 for 5, having played one of the greatest Test match innings ever, possibly the greatest series turning innings in Test match history. He spared no one amongst the quality Australian attack.

This was not a defensive, back-to-the-wall innings. Rather it was a counter-attacking innings. He had great support from Rahul Dravid. On the way, he overtook Gavaskar's 18-year record of 236.

It would have been a travesty of justice if India had not won the match. Australia, mesmerized by Harbhajan, duly obliged. Laxman's innings attained more luster and value and was propelled into the all time top 10.