5 best Indian fielders based on catches/innings ratio

While Indian cricket is known to have produced a number of great batsmen and a few fine bowlers, it has also given the sport some brilliant fielders. Although not all of them were the most athletic of the lot, it is their catching ability that set them apart from many others.

These men are known to have an uncanny knack of pulling off spectacular catches out of nothing. With them around, the bowlers felt more confident of picking wickets as they would even convert half chances into dismissals.

It is difficult to find a measure for judging who the best Indian fielders of all time have been. However, one of the factors which can help in arriving at a decision is taking a look at the ratio of catches per innings for Indian fielders who have over 50 international catches.

Here are the top 5 Indian fielders based on catches/innings ratio:

5. Mohammad Azharuddin

Catches/innings ratio - 0.512

Despite the events that transpired towards the end of his cricketing career, Mohammad Azharuddin will always be remembered as a fine batsman and one of India's best captains ever. Apart from all this, though, the Hyderabadi cricketer is also among the better Indian fielders of all time.

Including both Tests and ODIs, Azhar took to the field in 509 innings throughout his career and managed to pick up 261 international catches. This gives him a catches/innings ratio of 0.512, which is the fifth-best for an Indian fielder. The most catches that Mohammad Azharuddin grabbed in a single innings was 5 against Pakistan in a Test match.

4. VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman had a very safe pair of hands

Catches/innings ratio - 0.522

VVS Laxman is known to be one of the most reliable batsmen to have played cricket for India, especially in Test matches. The stylish batsman was also a fantastic close-in fielder and took some outstanding catches at fielding positions like slip, forward short leg and silly point.

Laxman claimed a total of 174 catches in 333 innings during his international career which included Tests and one-day internationals. Therefore, he has a catch/innings ratio of 0.522, making him fourth on this list of Indian fielders.

The maximum catches that VVS Laxman managed to pick up in one particular innings is 4.

3. Rahul Dravid

Dravid has the most catches in Test cricket

Catches/innings ratio - 0.589

The legendary Rahul Dravid is not only among the best batsmen to have played for India but is also one of the greatest in the game's history. Other than his phenomenal batting records across Tests and ODIs, Dravid has also been a highly prolific fielder and holds the world record for the most catches in Test cricket.

The Karnataka great is also the most successful Indian fielder in terms of taking the most international catches. In a total of 565 innings during which Dravid fielded for the team, he snapped up 333 catches. His catch/innings ratio of 0.589 puts Rahul Dravid in the third position on the list.

2. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has picked up some incredible catches so far

Catches/innings ratio - 0.642

Ajinkya Rahane has been quick in establishing himself as an integral part of India's Test batting line-up. However, apart from being a fantastic batsman, Rahane is also quite a brilliant fielder and qualifies as one of the best in the present Indian team.

The 28-year old who hails from Mumbai already has 79 catches in just 123 innings. Based on this, Rahane's catch/innings ratio is quite high at 0.642 and it makes him the second-best fielder for India on this list. Ajinkya Rahane currently holds the record for the most catches in a Test match, 8 against Sri Lanka last year.

1. Eknath Solkar

Eknath Solkar was an outstanding fielder at forward short-leg

Catches/innings ratio - 0.964

Eknath Solkar was a former Indian cricketer who played 27 Tests and 7 ODIs between 1969 and 1977. More than anything else, Solkar is remembered as one of the finest close-in fielders to have ever played the game. He particularly owned the forward short leg position and took some incredible catches in his career.

Solkar took the field in 57 innings for India during which he claimed 55 catches, making it nearly a catch in every innings. His catches/innings ratio of 0.964 makes Eknath Solkar the most consistent among all Indian fielders and the top name on this list.