Sportskeeda's Top 50 Indian Test cricketers of all-time (40-31)

#31 Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay's stoic demeanour and silken stroke-play make him an asset at the top of the order

While he was turning heads with his attacking approach with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Murali Vijay channelled his alter-ego to gain prominence as a patient opening batsman in the first-class circuit. When he was drafted into the Test squad during the 2008 Nagpur Test against Australia as a replacement for the injured Gautam Gambhir, the elegant right-hander immediately impressed the likes of Allan Border with his unflappable temperament.

The 2013 series against the same opponents sparked the turning point in his career. Demonstrating his ability to spend long hours at the crease, Vijay smashed two 150-plus scores to pave the way for a memorable 4-0 triumph. He amplified his reputation by standing tall on bowling-friendly surfaces during the challenging round of overseas trips and consequently managed to seal a spot at the top of the order in the current Indian team.

Extra Cover: Murali Vijay - A man for all seasons

As with any world-class opener, the Tamil Nadu cricketer's biggest asset is his impressive judgement around the corridor of uncertainty. Such tightness in technique allows him to leave the ball on length and force the opposition to bowl to his strengths.

Career Span: 2008-present

*Statistics: 3408 runs from 51 matches at an average of 39.62 with 9 centuries and 15 fifties

(*Note: All Statistics are accurate as of 7th October 2017)