India's 5 highest run scorers of all time in Test Cricket

It might not have the allure of the One Day format or the glamour of T-20 cricket, but no other format can match the sheer class and charm of Test Cricket. To this day it remains as the greatest format of the game. A stage upon which the true abilities of a cricketer is judged.

India has a long history of playing Test cricket. They debuted in this format back in 1932 led by CK Nayudu and have not looked back since then.

Over the years, India have produced some of the greatest batsmen to ever play the game of cricket. Let's take a look at the five highest run scorers for India in Tests.

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#5. Virender Sehwag

Sehwag was one of a kind.

Matches: 104, Innings: 180, Runs: 8586.

The 'Nawab of Najafgarh' didn't know the meaning of the word 'fear' and that's what made him so special. Viru was a player who was years ahead of his time. He glimpse of what the future of cricket would look like. He was a T-20 specialist before the twenty over format had even been created.

While his swashbuckling style does not look suited to the Test format, it actually translated pretty well into the longest format of the game. Playing in 104 Tests, he amassed 8586 runs and even scored two triple centuries. To this day he remains the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries.

#4. V.V.S. Laxman

V.V.S. Laxman was indeed 'very very special'.

Matches: 134, Innings: 225, Runs: 8781.

A true gentleman of the game, it is hard to find somebody who anything bad to say about Laxman. But do not let his good nature fool you, he was ruthless whenever he had a bat in hand. His hunger for runs and ability to stay calm even under tremendous pressure was a huge asset to the Indian team.

In a career spanning over 16 years, Laxman scored 8781 at an average of 45.97 in the 134 Tests that he played. For years he was the glue that held the Indian batting order together.

And who can ever forget his incredible 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for India. True to his nickname, V.V.S. Laxman was indeed 'very very special'.

#3. Sunil Gavaskar

India's original cricketing

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Matches: 125, Innings: 214, Runs: 10122.

People of this generation know Sunil Gavaskar as the lovable commentator. Unluckily, most of them have never seen the man playing and are not aware of his greatness with a bat in hand.

Gavaskar even held the record for most centuries scored in Test cricket until 2005 despite having retired in 1987. The little man from Mumbai was truly a run machine. In an era ruled by gigantic pacers, the 5' 5" Gavaskar managed to stand the tallest.

The stories of him masterfully handling the fiery West Indian pacers are part of folklore now. 'Sunny' was so great that the West Indians even wrote a Caribbean song about him as a show of respect.

Gavaskar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and ended up with a grand total of 10,122 runs in 125 Tests when he retired.

#2. Rahul Dravid

The Wall stood tall for 16 years.

Matches: 163, Innings: 284, Runs: 13265.

The good guy of Indian cricket. Rahul Dravid was India's Mr Dependable for 16 long years. Even when others fell around, 'The Wall' stood tall.

Dravid was the last of his kind. A Test cricketer through and through. To him, the pitch did not matter, neither did the opposition. Every time he came to bat, the bowlers knew they were in for a long, gruelling war of concentration and patience.

The fact that India is still searching for his replacement is a testament to his abilities. Dravid was a great batsman in his own right, but his biggest strength was making others around him better.

In 163 Tests, Dravid amassed 13,265 runs with an extraordinary average of 52.63. Loved by his teammates and admired by the opposition, Indian cricket still misses 'The Wall' to this day.

#1. Sachin Tendulkar

The Master Blaster.

Matches: 200, Innings: 329, Runs: 15,921.

24 Years. That's how long Sachin Tendulkar carried the burden of the dreams and aspirations of a billion Indian fans on his shoulders. Even the greatest of men would have crumbled under that pressure, but Sachin Tendulkar thrived.

Every time he came to the crease, you knew who the best batsman in the world was. He was a genius in every sense of the word. In India, they worship him as a 'God' and rightfully so.

India is lucky to have a batsman in the form of Virat Kohli who has managed to fill some of the void left by 'The Master Blaster'. But let's be honest, Sachin Tendulkar will never be replaced.

He scored a mind-blowing 15,921 runs in a career that spanned over 24 years! He is easily the greatest batsman of his generation and perhaps of all time.