For a team to be successful in Test cricket or for that matter any form of cricket it is has to be balanced and have equally capable batsmen and bowlers. Over the years, India has produced some fine batsmen who have been recognised the world over for their exploits. They have held world records and have enthralled fans all over the world with their stroke play. Here is a brief description of the career highlights of 5 of India’s best ever batsmen who have wielded the willow.

Sunil Gavaskar

He burst onto the world stage in 1971 on India’s tour to the Caribbean as a 21 year old. He scored 774 runs in the series with 4 centuries and 3 fifties and to this date that remains the maximum number of runs scored by a debutant in a Test series. He was a great player of fast bowling and played bravely against the West Indies pace attack without wearing a helmet and playing with just a skull cap. West Indies was the premier team of his era and he had an outstanding record against them scoring 2749 runs in 27 Test matches at an outstanding batting average of 65.45 with 13 centuries. He was the first batsman to score 10000 Test runs. He finished his career with 10122 runs from 125 Tests at an average of 51.12 and scored 34 centuries which was a world record at one point of time.

Sachin Tendulkar

He arrived on the scene as a precocious 16 year old who stood up to the Pakistani pace attack in 1989. Over the years he scored runs against all teams in all conditions and against all kinds of bowling attacks. During his initial years in the Indian team he carried the burden of the entire country on his broad shoulders, single-handedly guiding the team to victory on many occasions. Tendulkar has a great record in both Tests and ODIs. He holds the record for the maximum runs scored in Tests (15921), the maximum Tests played (200), the maximum Test centuries scored (51) and the maximum Test centuries scored away from home (29). He has a batting average of 53.78 in Tests. Tendulkar is at the very top in the pantheon of all-time great batsmen in the history of Test cricket.

Rahul Dravid

He is known by the title ‘The Wall’ and has saved India from many precarious situations in the past. He was known for his dogged defence and his ability to wear out any attack. He has played important knocks in many of India’s famous overseas wins. The most notable being the 148 at Leeds in 202 2002, the 233 and 72 not out at Adelaide in 2003 and the 270 at Rawalpindi in 2004. He was the ideal foil for all the stroke players in the Indian team and his contribution was invaluable in improving India’s record away from home. He played 163 Tests for India and scored 13265 runs at a batting average of 52.63, with 36 centuries. He also played 1 Test for the ICC World XI.

Virender Sehwag

He is known as the ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ and was famous for murdering opposition attacks. He has the highest batting strike rate (82.23) among all Test cricketers who have scored a minimum of 2000 Test runs (82.23). He had a very simple philosophy of just seeing the ball and hitting it without thinking too much about technique, and worrying about playing according to the merit of the ball. He was India’s finest stroke player and got the team away to a blazing start in Tests on many occasions. He became the first Indian to score a triple century in Tests when he scored 309 against Pakistan at Multan. He also holds the record for the 3 highest scores by an Indian in Tests (319 against South Africa at Chennai, 309 against Pakistan at Multan and 293 against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai). He remains one of only 4 players to score 2 triple centuries in Tests. He finished his career with 8503 runs in 103 Tests at a batting average of 49.43 with 23 centuries. He also played 1 Test for ICC World XI.

VVS Laxman

He was one of the stylists of the game and made the art of batting look very easy. He had a special gift of timing and used to make the ball race of his bat without using brute force. Because of these qualities he earned the title ‘Very Very Special Laxman’. He played both pace and spin with equal aplomb and his innings of 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 ranks as the finest innings played by an Indian. Another special quality of Laxman was his ability to shepherd the tail and score runs even when he was running out of partners. He played 134 Tests and scored 8781 runs with 17 centuries at a batting average of 45.97.