India's Top 5 Test Batsmen of All Time

India has produced many great batsmen over the years in all forms of cricket.

From the days of Poli Umrigar and Vijay Merchant to the era of Gavaskar & Vensarkar, India always had a strong batting lineup. Then came the golden era of the "Fab Four" viz. Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman.

In between, India had the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin, who was a treat to watch. Then came the likes of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Kohli, to carry forward the legacy.

Of all those great batsmen, to choose the top five Test players is a very difficult job. Here is my list of India's Top five Test batsmen of all time:

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#5 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag

Statistics: Matches: 104, Runs: 8586, Average: 49.34, Strike rate: 82.23, Hundreds: 23

Virender Sehwag redefined the role of a test opener. He showed the world that an opener can come out with the intent of smashing the opposition bowlers from the very first ball, and be successful even in Test cricket.

With 23 hundreds and more than 8500 runs at an average of almost 50, he is arguably one of the greatest Test match openers of all time.

His style of play and match-winning ability was unparalleled. He was truly a once-in-a-generation cricketer, and the history of Test cricket cannot be written without his mention.

#4 Virat Kohli

Statistics: Matches: 67, Runs: 5754, Average: 54.28, Hundreds: 22

Arguably one the greatest batsman of all time, and the best of his generation, Virat Kohli has come a long way as a Test Cricketer over the last few years.

In his initial years as a Test cricketer, Kohli failed to replicate his limited overs consistency and match-winning ability. He also had a few ordinary matches outside India. But after becoming the captain of the team, his career as a test batsman changed completely.

He started scoring hundreds and double hundreds at will. In difficult conditions of England, Australia and South Africa he scored hundreds consistently.

Kohlihas established himself as the current No. 1 Test batsman of the world with his consistent performances.

With a long career ahead of him, he will surely move up the ladder from his current no. 4 position, by the time he ends his career.

#3 Rahul Dravid

Statistics: Matches: 164, Runs: 13288, Average: 52.31, Hundreds: 36

Rahul Dravid was "The Wall", of Indian batting. He was the best ever No 3 batsman for India in the test matches. With his sound technique and supreme temperament and patience, he was a nightmare for the opposition bowlers.

At times, it seemed as if no one can get Rahul Dravid out. He was the go-to man for India at difficult stages of the match. More often than not, he delivered.

His 36 Test hundreds and more than 13 thousand Test runs shows his humongous contribution as a batsman.

Dravid is truly a legend in Test Cricket.

#2 Sunil Gavaskar

Statistics: Matches: 125, Runs 10122, Average: 51.12, Hundreds: 34

One of the greatest Test batsmen of all time, Sunil Gavaskar, was an icon of his generation. He is an opening batsman any test team would dream to have.

His sound technique and immense patience, combined with his ability to produce match-winning innings against the best ever bowling lineups, made him a true legend.

Gavaskar instilled the belief that whatever be the conditions or the opposition, one can score runs consistently, if one has a good technique and a sharp cricketing brain.

He was the inspiration for the golden generation of Indian batsmen that followed him.

For a long time, he held the record for highest number of Test match centuries, before Sachin Tendulkar overtook him.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Statistics: Matches: 200, Runs: 15921, Average: 53.78, Hundreds: 51

Sachin Tendulkar is still the best Test batsman India has ever produced.

With more than 15,000 runs and 51 hundreds, Sachin has almost all possible Test match batting records to his name. He has won India many important matches.

The longevity of his career and his consistency throughout the 20 odd years he played is just remarkable.

He has been one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He is a global sports icon and the brightest jewel of Indian cricket.