The credibility of an all-rounder can be hardly questioned if he has over 5000 runs and 400 wickets in first-class cricket at excellent averages of 46.68 and 23.72 respectively.

However, these numbers hardly matter if he fails to replicate his all-round success at the international level. That in turn changes his role in the team. From an all-rounder, he is often reduced to a batsman who can bowl or a bowler who can bat, depending upon the area he flourishes in the most.