Fab 5: The legendary Test batting line-up of India in the 2000s

There has not been an Indian cricket team without a batting legend in the past 50 years. Batting has been the legacy of Indian cricket and batsmen have been carrying it for decades now.

Legends like Lala Amarnath, Gundappa Viswanath and Sunil Gavaskar have passed the baton from one generation to another. However, the golden period of Indian cricket is undoubtedly the era of fab 5.

The first decade of the millennium saw an Indian batting line-up which was star-studded right from the top. As a result, India played some dominating cricket in the early 2000s.

Let us have a look at the famed fab 5 of the Indian batting line-up (ranked in the batting order) in Test matches that won India numerous games.

#1 Virender Sehwag

The dashing opener is among the best entertainers to have played the game. Sehwag had an aura of his own and could tear apart any bowling line-up in no time.

Sehwag started as a lower-order batsman but it was Sourav Ganguly who promoted him to the top of the order. Sehwag has a stellar test record and he is the only Indian batsman to have scored triple-centuries in test cricket.

With legends to follow in the line-up, Sehwag always had the license to go for the kill and more often than not, he delivered.

Stats:-

Matches: 104; Runs: 8586; Average: 49.34; Centuries: 23.

#2 Rahul Dravid

Dravid stood between India and defeat on numerous occasions.

The Wall, as he was popularly called, is among the best test batsmen to have played the game. He could keep leaving the balls and frustrating the bowlers the whole day.

Rahul Dravid had a textbook-perfect technique and an unmatchable temperament to go with it. His appetite for scoring runs is evident from the fact that he hit 5 double-centuries in his career.

Rahul Dravid's most memorable inning came against Australia in 2003. He scored 233 in the first innings followed by a 72* in the second innings that led India to a historic win in Adelaide.

He remained the backbone of Indian batting for a good 15-year period.

Stats:-

Matches: 164; Runs: 13288; Average: 52.31; Centuries: 36.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar

The master blaster scored 51 centuries in test cricket.

The Little Master is called the God of cricket in India. He has achieved every possible thing in cricket and is among the greatest players of all time.

He served Indian cricket for an astonishing span of 24 years. His test record is phenomenal having hit 51 centuries in 200 games.

Batting at no. 4 for India in tests, he scored a plethora of runs. His most memorable test inning came against Australia in Sydney. Having endured a rather rough series, he scored his career best 241 not out. The match, however, ended in a draw.

Stats:-

Matches: 200; Runs: 15921; Average: 53.78; Centuries: 51.

#4 Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly was nick-named 'The prince of Calcutta' by Geoffrey Boycott. — Ganguly was nick-named 'The Prince of Calcutta' by Geoffrey Boycott.

Sourav Ganguly's name is etched in the Indian cricket history as one of the greatest captains to have played for India. He was the person responsible for getting Indian cricket back on track after the match-fixing saga in 2000.

The left-handed batsman was an eye-catching off-side player. His amazing strokes through the covers and the point were a treat to watch.

Ganguly remained an attacking batsman throughout his career and played some crucial match-winning innings.

His best inning in test cricket came against Pakistan in Bangalore when he scored 239.

Stats:-

Matches: 113; Runs: 7212; Average: 42.17; Centuries: 16.

#5 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman scored 281 against Australia in Eden Gardens in 2001.

The stylish batsman from Hyderabad was known to have the best wrists in the game after Mohammad Azharuddin.

VVS Laxman is one batsman Australia can never forget. He preserved his best for the Aussies. VVS became very very special for all the Indians after a marathon inning of 281 against Australia in Kolkata.

The knock, along with Dravid's 180, turned the match on its head. To everyone's surprise, India emerged victorious after following on.

Laxman is known for his batting with the tailenders and has played numerous match-winning innings in the lower-order.