Top 5 Indian cricketers who have become Test specialists

The rise of T20 cricket has added a new dimension to the game altogether. The shortest format has its own demands, and as such the skill set required for it is completely different.

While bowlers in Tests are required to bowl a controlled line and length consistently, T20 demands a lot of variations. The batsmen in Tests play with a lot of patience whereas in T20 cricket, they look to score from the first ball.

These varying demands mean that some players are more suited for one format than the other. Ever since Virat Kohli became India's captain in all formats, the emphasis has been on horses for courses.

In the process, some Indian players have become limited to Test cricket. Here we look at the list of players who represent India only in Tests now.

#5 Murali Vijay

A free-flowing batsman, Murali Vijay made his mark in the domestic circles in the late 2000s. His stylish batting caught the selectors' eye and he was, subsequently, handed his Test debut against Australia.

Vijay showed his class in the IPL in 2010 and 2011, scoring loads of runs at a brisk rate. However, he could never cement his place in the national side for the shorter formats.

As a result, Vijay started focusing on Test cricket. His career-defining series was against Australia in 2013 where he scored 430 runs with two 150-plus scores. Subsequently, he proved his mettle in foreign conditions against England, Australia and South Africa.

Vijay remains one of the vital cogs of India's Test batting line-up in all conditions, and yet is never considered for a spot in the shorter formats.

#4 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma has been overlooked for ODI and T20 cricket for some time now

Born in Delhi, the lanky fast bowler made quite a name for himself after bowling a great spell of fast bowling against Ricky Ponting Down Under. Ishant Sharma was just 18 at that time and was considered to be the future of India's fast bowling.

However, regular injuries and average form meant he could never reach that mark. Ishant was tried multiple times in the shorter formats but his performances remained mediocre. Lack of variations meant he was always going to struggle in limited overs cricket.

As a result, the selectors have started looking at Ishant as a Test bowler. He remains in India's Test squad and is among their front line bowlers, especially in foreign conditions where he is consistently able to extract bounce from the surfaces.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara has succeeded Dravid at No. 3 in Tests

T20 cricket has given many players to the India team, especially through the IPL. Players who have made their mark in IPL have gone on to represent the team in Tests as well. Pujara's case, however, is quite the opposite.

The Saurashtra batsman announced himself in India's cricketing circles with multiple big scores. He was given his first chance in Test cricket against Australia.

Seen as a successor to Rahul Dravid, Pujara's game is evidently suited to Test cricket. While he has played a handful of ODIs for India (five in total), he has not been able to find a place in the side since 2014.

Pujara remains the most dependable batsman of India's current Test batting line up. After an indifferent series in South Africa, he would be eyeing to set the record straight against England this summer.

#2 Ravindra Jadeja

Once a limited overs specialist, Ravidnra Jadeja's only appearances are in Tests now

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja were part of the same team that won the 2008 U-19 World Cup. While Kohli immediately made a mark in international cricket, Jadeja's journey has been more complex.

Jadeja's success can be attributed to MS Dhoni's support for him. Dhoni was convinced of Jadeja's limited overs skills, whose accurate bowling, athletic fielding and lower-order batting made him a valuable part of the ODI team. His best performance came in the 2013 Champions Trophy where he got the Golden Ball award.

Jadeja then got his chance in red ball cricket and made a mark there too. He and Ravichandran Ashwin formed a formidable spin bowling pair in all forms of cricket.

However, with the increasing demand for leg-spinners and the rise of youngsters like Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja's appearances have become limited to Test cricket of late.

#1 Ravichandran Ashwin

Apparently, the off-spinner is out of the reckoning for limited overs cricket

Hailing from Chennai, the off-spinner burst onto the international scene with plenty of tricks in his bag. His accurate bowling and variations made him the go-to bowler for Dhoni.

Dhoni and Ashwin combined brilliantly in the IPL for CSK, and the partnership subsequently followed in the international arena too. In Ashwin, Dhoni found a very intelligent bowler who could outfox the batsmen as well as contain them. He was part of the 2011 World Cup winning team.

Ashwin, however, has found it hard to sustain his place in the limited overs side. With Virat Kohli setting very high standards of fitness and fielding, Ashwin has been a weak link in these areas.

As such, his appearances, like Ravindra Jadeja, have become limited to red ball cricket. Ashwin has become a solid all-rounder for India in Tests providing some invaluable runs down the order, but his limited overs place remains suspect.