5 Indian batsmen with best 50 to 100 conversion ratios in Tests

The Test cricket has been all about acclimatization and determination. Being the most competitive form of the game, Test cricket demands an immense level of concentration at the crease.

From a batsman's point of view, the most arduous task for a batsman is to build upon the great starts and convert the fifties into hundreds which in turn will help the team to post a respectable score. The conversion of the 50s to the 100s happens to be one of the most difficult tasks for a batsman as it requires an enormous amount of cynosure and resilience.

Thus, in this slider, we will look at top five Indian Test batsmen with the best 50 to 100 conversion ratios*.

Note: Criterion is a minimum of 10 Test centuries

*Here, the conversion ratio for a particular batsman is calculated as - The number of Test centuries divided by the number of Test fifties

(All statistics as on 4 July 2018)

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#5 Cheteshwar Pujara (Conversion Ratio: 0.8235)

Cheteshwar Pujara, as Harsha Bhogle says, is a classical musician in the era of Yo-Yo Honey Singh. Harsha is right. Pujara with nimble feet is one of the most focussed batsmen when it comes to Test cricket. With atavistic batting technique and robust mindset, Pujara happens to be a perfect recipe for Test cricket.

His equable temperament and ability to acclimatization to any situation have helped him reap beautiful results in this format of the game. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Pujara has found a place in this list.

Having played 58 Test matches, Pujara has amassed 4531 runs at an astounding average of 50.34 with 14 centuries, three double centuries, and 17 half-centuries to his name.

Thus, with 14 centuries and 17 half-centuries in his pack, Pujara has one of the best 50 to 100 conversion ratio (0.8235) amongst all other Indian Test batsmen.

#4 Polly Umrigar (Conversion Ration: 0.85714)

Polly Umrigar, one of the all-time batting greats, was India's most prolific batsman in the late forties to the early sixties. The right-handed batting prodigy from Sholapur had one of the best batting techniques against fast bowling. He was equally effective against the spinners.

Umrigar was known for his determination at the crease and the records that he set during his tenure for the Indian team. When he retired, he held the records for most Tests, most runs, and most hundreds for India.

Umrigar starred in 59 Tests for India and scored a mammoth 3631 runs at a decent average of 42.22. Having played 59 Tests, Umrigar hit 12 centuries, a solitary double-century, and 14 half-centuries.

#3 Ravi Shastri (Conversion Ratio: 0.91667)

England and India Nets Sessions

Flamboyant, brash, aggressive, expressive, and talented. Probably some of the few words that describe Ravi Shastri, the current Head Coach of the Indian team.

How many times have you seen a player starting as a left-arm spinner becoming the opening batsman of a team? Rare, very rare. Right?. Ravi Shastri is one such prime example.

He started as a left-arm orthodox batting at No.10. However, promotions were bound to happen as Ravi Shastri ended up trying all positions in the batting order by the end of his career. Although having tried many batting positions, Shastri ended up scoring a deluge of runs in Test cricket.

Ravi Shastri made 80 Test appearances for the Indian team. In his 80 Test matches, Shastri amassed 3830 runs at an average of 35.79. His Test accolades also include 11 centuries, a double-century, and 12 half-centuries.

#2 Md. Azharuddin (Conversion Ratio: 1.0476)

Mohammad Azharuddin - India

A century on Test debut, three consecutive Test centuries, overwhelming captaincy records and one man, Md. Azharuddin. One of the batting geniuses, Azhar had an illustrious Test career both as a batsman and as a captain.

Customarily a middle-order batsman, Azhar was one of the most versatile batsmen of his time. Besides his extraordinary batting, he also possessed some remarkable slip catching skills. His batting had the stature to dethrone the opposition with some dazzling strokeplay.

Azhar played 99 Test for India and amassed 6215 runs at a respected average of 45.04. His tally of runs also includes 22 centuries and 21 half-centuries. Besides, he is one of the very few batsmen to score more hundreds than the fifties in Tests.

#1 Virat Kohli (Conversion Ratio: 1.3125)

CRICKET-IND-TEST

You speak of milestones/records, and his name will roll out onto the sheets. Such has been Virat's reputation. An absolute master-class and a run machine, Kohli is undoubtedly the best batsman in the world at the moment.

The skipper of the Indian team has been a threat for the opposition. His fluent drives and orthodox cricketing genres have been a treat to watch in this modern unorthodox cricketing world. With every shot in his armory, Kohli boasts to be one of the greatest stroke-maker in the history of cricket.

His Test records are phenomenal. Having represented India in 66 Tests thus far, Kohli has scored 5554 runs at an astonishing average of 53.4. Besides this many runs, Virat has hit 21 centuries, 6 double-centuries, and 16 half-centuries in Tests.

Thus, with 21 centuries and 16 half-centuries, boats a heavy 50 to 100 conversion ratio of 1.3125 which puts him right at the top of the list.