Top Five openers for India in Test cricket

Sep 21, 2016 at 10:51 PM

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Top Five openers for India in Test cricket

On the eve of 500th Test match of India, due on 22 September 2016 in Kanpur between India and Zealand, We bring series of articles on the best contributes in each area of Test cricketing specialties over the last 84 years. the first of the series is about the opening batsmen for India staring with most recent and going backwards.

Best 5 openers for India in Test cricket

  1.  Virender Sehwag – Best Opener in Test Cricket

Virender Sehwag was one of the explosive openers for India in test matches. He changed the style of batting in test matches. Making his test debut in 2001 against South Africa as middle order batsmen, Sehwag was soon promoted as an opener during the 2001 England tour. Since then he continued to hold the opening position for India in test matches till he retired. His ability to hit hard in contrary to the belief in hose days that an opener must play a defensive game, that put pressure on the opposition bowlers made him a nightmare for the opening bowlers of the best teams in the world.

In all he played 104 test matches and scored 8586 runs at an average of 49.34. In test matches he scored 2 triple centuries with a best score of 319 against South Africa. He scored  23 centuries and 30 50 plus runs in the entire career, which made one of the greatest openers for India. Sehwag played his last test match in 2013 against Australia and  retried from test matches in October 2015. He was also recognized as a scintillating opener in ODIs and T 20 for India.

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2. Navjot Singh Sidhu – Best Opener in Test Cricket

Navjot Singh Sidhu was another hard hitting aggressive opener for India in test matches. He made his test debut in 1983. After five years he was the top order batsmen for India from 1990’s. He played 51 test matches scoring 3202 runs with an average of 42.13. In his test carrier he scored 9 centuries and 15 half centuries. His ability to attack both the pacers and the spinners and put the opposition on the back foot made him a successful opener. His last test match was in 1999 against New Zealand.

 

3. Sunil Gavaskar – Best Opener in Test Cricket

Sunil Gavaskar was one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time for India with a solid technique.  He faced the most of the fastest and dangerous bowlers of 1970’s and 1980’s. His first test match was in 1971 against     under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar another dashing batsman.He was the first cricketer to score 10,000 runs in test matches in the cricket history for India , playing 125 test matches. he scored a total 10,122 runs with 34 hundreds, with an average of 51.12 runs. His highest score was 236 not out against  West Indies in the year 1983 at Madras.

He retired from test cricket in 1987. His ability to focus on long innings made him a special opener for India in test cricket. Sunil Gavaskar had an average of 50 as opener at home. and 52 in matches away. His ability to score centuries as an opener in away tests, was outstanding. He was severe especially against strong West Indies opening attack of 1970’s and 80’s scoring 7 centuries in 13 matches in West Indies . He also five centuries in 11 matches against Australia in Australia demonstrating that no team or pitches mattered to him which is rare in these days.

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4.  ML Jaishma – Best Opener in Test Cricket

ML Jaishma was one the stylish opening batsmen for India. He hailed from Hyderabad and was aggressive opener with good defensive. His first test match was in 1959 against England. During his test carrier he played 39 test matches scoring 2056 with the best score of 129. His average in test matches was 30.68. He played his last test match in 1971 against West Indies. He was a good fielder in slip position.

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5. Vinoo Mankad – Best Opener in Test Cricket

Vinoo Mankad one of the greatest opening batsmen for India in test matches. He made his test debut against England in 1946. He holds the record for the most runs for an opening partnership of scoring 413 runs with Pankaj Roy before being broken by South Africa pair of 415 runs. He played 44 test matches for India and scored 2109 runs with the highest score of 231. His last test match was in 1959 . He was slow left arm bowler too who was brilliant with his flight and guile.

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