Top 5 number 5s in Tests for India

India is often regarded as the land of batsmen and it is quite correct considering the plethora of superb batsmen that the country has produced throughout the course of its cricketing history. India has produced some of the world's greatest middle-order batsmen in Test cricket and many of them have batted at number 5.

Even the great Sachin Tendulkar batted at number 5 on a few occasions but others batted more and scored more, hence the great man doesn't make the cut here. His average of 59.69 at number 5 in 30 Tests deserves special mention though. So, who else makes the cut?

Here is a look at 5 of the best number 5s for India in Test cricket.

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#5 Sourav Ganguly

When he first burst on to the scene in Test cricket back in 1996 by scoring a century on debut at Lord's, Sourav Ganguly batted at number 3 but it was at number 5 that he batted for the most of his career. In a 12 year career from that ended in 2008, he played 113 Tests and in 68 of those, he batted at number 5 for India.

There was no doubt that he was one of the most outstanding stroke-makers in the eleven and was best known for his mastery over off-side play. Ganguly was equally merciless on spin bowling but there was one glaring chink in his armoury and that was a weakness against genuinely quick bowling. The short ball troubled him throughout his career.

Even then, he remains the second highest scorer in the position for India with an aggregate of 3440 runs, at a rather modest average of 37.39. The left-hander made 6 centuries and 18 half-centuries while batting at number 5.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane

The 29-year-old right-hander made his debut for India back in 2013 and since then he has been a fixture in the Indian middle-order. The fact that Ajinkya Rahane could not find a place in the first two Tests in South Africa can only be put down to certain selection necessities. He has batted at number 5 in 35 out of the 42 Test matches that he has played in his career so far and has been one of India's best batsmen over the period.

Rahane is technically superb and is at home against almost any fast bowling attack in the world, which is why he has been one of India's most consistent batsman overseas. Although he has no glaring deficiency in his batting, he sometimes struggles against spin bowling and finds it difficult to execute his strokes on slower pitches.

In the 35 Test matches, Rahane has made 1905 runs at an average of 39.68 and has scored 6 centuries, in addition to 8 half-centuries. By the time he finishes his career, he might well be India's most prolific number 5 ever.

#3 Polly Umrigar

Umrigar Bats

The right-hander is one of the early greats of Indian batting and throughout the course of his long career, Polly Umrigar remained one of the few batsmen in the Indian team who could hold their own against seriously quick bowling. Umrigar played in 59 Tests for India from 1948 to 1962 and batted at number 5 in 32 of them. He was a powerful stroke-maker and was particularly good with the drive, the hook and the pull.

The short-pitched deliveries did not seem to faze him much and by the time he retired, he was the record holder of the most runs and centuries scored by an Indian batsman. As a number 5, Umrigar made 1959 runs in those 32 Test matches and averaged an excellent 46.64. In addition to that, he also notched up 8 centuries and 7 half-centuries.

#2 Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin

When he made his debut for India, Mohammad Azharuddin reeled off three centuries on the trot and there was no doubt that he would go on to become one of country's greatest ever middle-order batsmen. He played 99 Tests for India over the course of a career that spanned around16 years (1984-2000) and he batted at number 5 in 72 of those games.

Azharuddin's graceful stroke-making and his ability to turn anything to the leg side with the help of his wrists made him a one of a kind batsman. Needless to say, he was not too bad on the off-side either and it is not really a surprise that he ended up as India's highest run scorer at the number 5 position. In those 72 games, he made 4346 runs at an average of 48.83 and scored 16 centuries in addition to 13 half-centuries.

#1 VVS Laxman

V V S Laxman

One of India's greatest ever middle-order batsmen had a tough start to his career when the team management could not quite find a place for him in the batting order and VVS Laxman had to open the innings or risk being dropped. However, a batsman of such sublime gifts can't be kept out for long and eventually, he found his place in India's middle-order. He went on to play 134 Tests for India between 1996 and 2012 and batted at number 5 in 52 of them.

Laxman was one of those rare batsmen who believed in attacking batsmanship and was well known for taking on the best bowlers in the world. He was superb against pace, his backfoot play was outstanding and he was probably the best player of spin in the side along with Sachi Tendulkar.

Moreover, he had that rare quality of thriving on difficult wickets and often made a difference at number 5. In 52 Tests at number 5, the right-hander from Hyderabad made 2877 runs at an average of 47.16 and made 6 centuries, in addition to 17 half-centuries.