What's your investor personality? Dravid, Tendulkar or Kohli? Check how you should invest money as per the 'type'

Investing is like batting in cricket. Your next shot depends on more than the available delivery. Your skills, the match situation and the overs remaining all matter.

With money, consider your ability to absorb losses, your comfort with market falls, and your goal deadlines. A fearless attitude alone cannot protect your savings when markets turn difficult.

These five batting comparisons describe investing styles, rather than the cricketers’ personal investment choices.

But make sure you pick your style honestly. Sameet Chaudhary QPFP®️, co-founder of SamSang Financial, says, “There's no 'best' investor type, only the type that's right for you.”

Choose investments that match both your temperament and your ability to bear losses. Your goal is to complete your financial innings, rather than hit every ball for a six.

Rahul Dravid: Protect your wicket first

You value protecting your money more than chasing spectacular returns. Market falls make you uncomfortable, and you want savings available when needed. Your approach resembles building a defence before thinking about the scoreboard.

Chaudhary suggests mainly debt and fixed-income options for this personality. His suggestions include bank deposits, RBI Floating Rate Bonds and selected debt mutual funds. A small gold allocation can provide balance.

Think of these choices as different defensive shots, each serving a particular situation. Money needed soon requires accessibility, alongside attention to safety.

Your money rule: protect the wicket and understand each product before taking guard.

Shubman Gill: Settle in, then find the gaps

You want growth, but losing sleep over your investments feels like paying too much. You are willing to take small risks once you have established a solid defence.

Sameet Chaudhary suggests keeping 40-60% in safer, accessible options for immediate needs. These could include fixed deposits and short-duration debt funds.

The balance can include Equity Savings, Balanced Advantage or Multi-Asset Funds, alongside gold. These fund categories offer different investment mixes, so understand their contents before choosing.

Your money rule: secure your position, then look for comfortable scoring opportunities.

Sachin Tendulkar: Build the innings with different shots

You accept that growing wealth requires some exposure to shares. Temporary market falls worry you less when your financial goal remains several years away.

Your batting approach combines defensive shots, steady singles and selected boundaries.

Chaudhary suggests combining debt investments, hybrid funds, gold and diversified equity funds. Diversified funds spread investments across companies instead of depending on one winning stock.

His suggested equity categories include Index, Flexi Cap and Multi Cap Funds. Investments can be built gradually through regular contributions or planned transfers between funds. Choose allocations that total 100% while keeping emergency needs covered.

Your money rule: build the innings patiently instead of chasing every delivery.

Virat Kohli: Attack with a plan

You are comfortable taking bigger opportunities, provided you understand the risks involved. You want growth but recognise that even attacking batters need defensive options.

Rajeshwar Reddy Kasarla QPFP®️, director of Ventura Suceder, suggests diversified equity mutual funds for long-term growth. He also recommends maintaining stability through deposits, post office schemes or bonds. This means your attacking investments should have support when the pitch becomes difficult.

Your money rule: play your shots, but keep protection against an unexpected collapse.

Virender Sehwag: Back your shots, respect the risk

You can tolerate sharp market swings and want stronger growth opportunities. However, confidence must come with knowledge, financial strength and enough time.

Kasarla says this investor may consider researching direct shares or higher-risk equity categories. Such choices require the capacity to absorb losses without disturbing essential financial needs.

His experience across over 1,300 families reveals an important warning. Many investors feel aggressive until markets fall sharply. Even power-hitters need protection. Keep an emergency fund, adequate insurance and diversification.

Your money rule: attack only when your finances can withstand a difficult spell.