India's Top 5 Test Match Openers of All Time 

In Test cricket, India has produced some of the greatest batsmen in the world, viz Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Azharuddin etc.

But most of these batting legends have played in the middle order. Although the Indian Test teams usually had very strong batting lineups, the opener's slot, was a weak link, in most cases. Except for a brief period of 3-4 years, when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir batted together, India never had a world class Test match opening pair. As a result, the team often suffered, especially in Test matches outside the subcontinent.

However there has also been some glorious exceptions. In this article we talk about those exceptional Indian Test match openers, who performed brilliantly and made their country proud. We also try and pick the best 5 Indian Test match openers of all time.

#5 Murali Vijay: (2008-2018)

Matches: 59, Runs: 3933, Highest Score: 167, Average: 39.33, Centuries: 12

Murali Vijay has been India's number one opener in Test matches for the last 6-7 years. He started off his Test career against Australia on a very promising note. He has played many important knocks for India both in home as well as in away Test matches.

Because of his sound technique and his ability to leave deliveries he has been successful in Australian and English conditions. However he is not counted among the top openers in the world because of his inconsistency.

#4 Navjot Singh Sidhu: (1983-1999)

Matches: 51, Runs: 3202, Highest Score: 201, Average: 42.13, Centuries: 9

Navjot Sidhu was one of the most successful Indian Test match openers of all time. He had a long and illustrious career,which was full of ups and downs. He started off in 1983 as an opener, who was very defensive. However over the years, he transformed himself into one of the biggest six hitters, especially against spinners.

He hit spinners like Warne and Muralidharan out of the park with ease. Sidhu's six hitting in Test matches was something new for Indian cricket. It helped in breaking the confidence of the rival spinners and paved the way for the middle order to score big runs. Sidhu also had a double century against a strong West Indies pace attack in West Indies. However Sidhu's main problem was his inability to score big runs outside the subcontinent. As a result, he was always in and out of the team and hence could not do justice to his potential.

#3 Gautam Gambhir: (2004-2016)

Matches: 58, Runs: 4154, Highest Score: 206, Average: 41.95, Centuries: 9

Gautam Gambhir has been one of the best Indian Test openers of all time. He started off his Test career in 2004. After a shaky start, Gambhir was quick to show his class, and established himself as one of the mainstays of Indian batting. His opening partnership with Virender Sehwag is to date one of the best opening partnerships for India in Test cricket.

In the 2008-09 period Gambhir was in dream form. He scored centuries in 5 consecutive Test matches, a feat achieved by no other Indian cricketer. He also rose to the number one position in the ICC Test Batsman rankings. It seemed as if Gambhir would go on to become one of the best openers of all time. However he lost his form and achieved much less than what he should have. Despite that, his achievements are still good enough to make him one of the best Indian Test openers.

#2 Virender Sehwag : (2001-2013)

Matches: 104, Runs: 8586, Highest Score: 319, Average: 49.43, Centuries: 23

Virender Sehwag is one of the best openers, in the history of Test cricket. He began his career as a middle order batsman in 2001 against South Africa. However his captain, Sourav Ganguly, made him a Test opener.

After becoming an opener by chance, Virender Sehwag went on to redefine the role of a Test opener. He showed the world that an opener can hit the opposition bowlers from the very first ball and still be immensely successful. His style of play and match-winning ability was unparalleled. He was truly a once-in-a-generation cricketer.

#1 Sunil Gavaskar: (1971-1987)

Matches: 125, Runs: 10122, Highest Score: 236*, Average: 51.12, Centuries: 34

Sunil Gavaskar is undoubtedly the greatest Test match opener India has ever produced. He is considered as one of the best Test match batsman of all time. His incredible Test centuries against great bowling attacks of the world made him a role model for every young batsman. He had the record of highest number of Test match centuries in his name. He was also the first player to cross 10000 runs in Test matches.

Gavaskar's sound technique and immense patience, combined with his ability to score match-winning centuries, made him a true legend of the game.