3 most prolific opening combinations for India in Test cricket

#2 Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar (3,010 runs)

Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan pictured in the infamous walk-off incident, the only blip on their splendid record

Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar played 59 innings as an opening combination in Test cricket for India, and scored 3,010 runs at an average of 52.81 runs per partnership. The two right-handers were extremely different as batsmen, although they did share a steely resolve and an airtight defence.

While Chauhan didn't experience anywhere near the same success as Gavaskar for India, he was an able foil to the original Little Master. Chauhan never registered a Test century, but he and Gavaskar put on as many as 10 century partnerships, with many of them coming in challenging overseas conditions in Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, and England.

In 1979, they tallied their first and only 200+ run stand, a determined 213 against England at the Kennington Oval.

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#1 Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (4,412 runs)

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were part of an incredibly productive partnership both on and off the field

Two of the greatest Indian batsmen ever, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were as dangerous together as they were otherwise. With Sehwag's aggressive batting and laid-back nature perfectly complementing Gambhir's, they scored 4,412 Test runs together at a partnership average of 51.79.

The right-left duo played in 87 innings together, and scored enough runs to rank at #5 on the list of the most successful opening combinations in Test history. Their greatness was recognised as early as 3 games into the prolific partnership, with a 218-run stand against South Africa at Green Park in Kanpur - a venue that would see them record another 200+ run stand against Sri Lanka.

Sehwag and Gambhir put on 11 century partnerships in Tests, more than any other Indian pair in history. They are known for being thick friends off the field as well.

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