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Cricketers reimagined as Sholay characters: Who would get which role?. (Photo by Pramod Thakur/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Sholay is one of the most iconic and special films made in Indian cinema. It released in 1975 and brought a massive change in the landscape of Bollywood movies. It is a movie that is loved by people of all generations. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay is a story of friendship, loyalty, and the good reigning supreme over the bad in the small fictional village of Ramgarh.

Similarities between the iconic characters in the film and some of the legendary players of Indian cricket are intriguing. On this note, let's relate some of the characters of Sholay to Indian cricketers of past and present, and see which role suits a cricketer the best

Let's look at the Cricketers reimagined as Baahubali characters: Gabbar Singh - Gautam Gambhir Photo Source Grok AI

Gabbar Singh is considered one of the most powerful villains in the history of Indian cinema. While he was a fierce evil, his character became immensely popular among the masses. Some of his dialogues are still used among friends and families. Gautam Gambhir also holds a powerful spot in Indian cricket as he is the head coach of the national team. Their intimidating presence and no-nonsense demeanour are quite similar. Both of them wear their hearts of their sleeves and don't endorse mediocrity.

Sambha - Yuzvendra Chahal Photo Source Grok AI

Sambha might not have had too many dialogues in the film, but he surely made a lasting impression. He was one of the most reliable sidekicks of the dreaded dacoit, Gabbar Singh. Yuzvendra Chahal is also one of the most consistent and lethal bowlers for the teams he represents. Both of them might not look fearsome because of their lean appearance but they are deceptively dangerous.

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Veeru — Virat Kohli Photo Source Grok AI

Veeru is generally a fun-loving character, who can at times be a bit too dramatic. He lives in the very moment and doesn't bother too much about the future. However, when it's time for action, he takes no prisoners. The 36-year-old Virat Kohli also loves to compete against the best in the world. He is jovial off the field, and sometimes even treats his fans to some dance moves on the field. However, when the going gets tough, the Delhi batter gets going. Both of them love taking risks and thrive in pressure situations.

Jai — Rohit Sharma Photo Source Grok AI

Jai is more of an introvert, who thinks before he speaks and always has a plan. He also made the biggest sacrifice for his best friend, Veeru. Rohit, who is known for being laid-back, is also a brilliant captain who has guided India to wins in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy with his tactical decisions. He also keeps the interests of his team above himself. Rohit relinquished his opening spot during the 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he didn't want to disturb the in-form opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.

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Kaalia - Rishabh Pant Photo Source: Grok AI

Kaalia was used in the first line of attack by Gabbar to cause carnage in the village of Ramgarh, but his mission was foiled by Jai and Veeru. However, Kaalia boldy accepted his failure in front of Gabbar and also spoke about his loyalty to him. Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, is always ready to take on whatever responsibility his captain and coach bestow on him. He is also known for his aggressive cricket and his instinctive stroke play. Incidentally, both Kaalia and Pant are advocates of following one's gut feelings.

Thakur Baldev Singh — MS Dhoni Photo Source: Grok AI

Thakur Baldev Singh was calm, composed, and determined. MS Dhoni also oozed these three attributes. Thakur was also known for being a man of his words akin to the former India captain. Dhoni is also the one who gave confidence to the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli when they were young. Similarly, Thakur gave Jai and Veeru a chance to channel their formidable abilities into a good cause. Thakur as well as Dhoni's leadership can be fittingly described as being inspirational.

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Soorma Bhopali — Arshdeep Singh Photo Source: Grok AI

Soorma Bhopali considered himself as the best thing to have emerged from Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Arshdeep, on the other hand, was born in Guna in MP before moving to Chandigarh. Apart from hailing from the same place, Soorma Bhopali and Arshdeep are similar because of their hilarious characters and always up for a joke or two. Both have the ability to crack up their listeners. Their crafts maybe quite different from each other, but they perform them with a great deal of confidence.

Jailer — Shikhar Dhawan Photo Source: Grok AI

Jailer was known for being very strict. He was also very confident about his abilities. However, he inadvertently turned out to be funny. The Jailer was transferred from one police station to another because of his antics. He played an instrumental role in the film, facilitating Jai and Veeru's escape from the prison. Shikhar Dhawan is also known for being someone who lifts the mood of the dressing room with his anecdotes and pranks. However, he had the ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver in crucial moments. He had some stunning performances in ICC events for India.

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Disclaimer: This is a fun comparison of cricketers with Sholay characters, which is a work of fiction. Even where the original roles were negative, we’ve only drawn parallels with the strong or iconic traits of each. No disrespect intended. User discretion advised.

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