Most prolific batsmen for India across all three formats

Perhaps the first superstar to emerge from the Indian shores was Ranjitsinhji, a batsman wielding willow, expressing swagger and captivating the audience.

And then, this beginning carved a path for the future generations, and from Pankaj Roy to Sunil Gavaskar, to Gundappa Viswanath, this list has only been occupied by illustrious names.

Sachin Tendulkar came, and then came Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and now Virat Kohli, yes, India is a batting country, it always has been, it always will be.

Now, let us have a look at five of the most prolific batsmen from the country to have scored the most number of runs across all the three formats.

#5 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag wielded the willow with the audacity of a butcher

Dubbed as box office, the flamboyant opener not only redefined Test batting but also was an out-and-out match-winner for India across all the three formats.

He took to the opening bowlers and carved them to all parts of the ground, wielding that willow with the audacity of a butcher.

The Delhi dasher featured in 104 Test matches, 251 One Day Internationals, and 19 T20Is and was a vital cog in the batting line-up across all the three formats.

In the 363 matches Sehwag played for the country, he peeled off 16,892 runs at an average of 40.60 and with 70 half-centuries and 38 centuries.

#4 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli might well usurp all the batting records that are out there.

So much has been said and written about the current Indian captain, that, it has become difficult to pen down anything more, but such is his appetite for run making, such is his match-winning prowess that there is little doubt, that Virat Kohli is on the way to become an all-time great.

Judging by his relentless pursuit to achieve greatness, he might well usurp all the batting records that are out there.

For a person who has barely played nine years of International cricket to feature in this list is in itself a testament to the pedigree and Kohli is here to stay and to carve records while he is at it.

In 331 matches, Virat Kohli has scored 17,125 runs at an average of 55.60. He has notched up 80 fifties and 56 centuries.

#3 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly was an enigma, he was a legend!

The man who polarized opinions like none other, Sourav Ganguly is an institution in himself.

A batsman who could take your breath away, a captain who could mould a team, a leader who did not believe in being politically correct, the Bengal tiger was an enigma, he was a legend!

Yes, there were technical deficiencies in the way he batted, but then there was his mental strength, the ability to not blink which made him one of the most successful batsmen for India.

In 421 matches, the southpaw amassed 18,433 runs at an average of 41.42. Along the way, he notched up 106 fifties and 38 centuries.

One of the greatest captains, one of the biggest match-winners!

#2 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid's teammates sing laurels about his commitment to his team

'The wolf who lived for the pack'

This one quote summarises the life and career of Rahul Dravid.

He might not have been the most gifted but the cricketing world swears by his steel, his opponents marvel at his resolute spirit, his teammates sing laurels about his commitment to his team, to his game, to his art!

There were doubts over his one day game, he did not fire verbals to douse the detractors, he worked on his game, and came out as one the critical cogs of the Indian ODI outfit.

He has scored the most number of runs in India’s overseas wins, he has even smacked three consecutive sixes in his only T20I match, he has kept wickets too, well he could have walked on water, we never saw it, but he could have!

In the 504 matches he turned up for India, the Karnataka man piled up 24,064 runs at an average of 45.57.

Along the way, he scored 145 fifties and 48 centuries. He kept trying!

‘I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying’, the career summarized by the man in his own words.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has the most celebrated cricketing career ever

If Rahul Dravid was all about working hard, Sachin Tendulkar was all about not being complacent.

There was talent, there was the belief, there was pressure, there were detractors, there were distractions, but there was Sachin Tendulkar standing amidst them with his willow in his hand, swatting away not only the deliveries but smacking every ounce of negativity.

And yet, he never was complacent, he was at it for 25 years, perhaps the most celebrated cricketing career ever, perhaps the most complete batsman ever, perhaps why people call him God!

In 664 matches, the maestro plundered 34,357 runs at an average of 48.52 runs. 100 centuries and 164 fifties glittered along.

Yes, cricket loved him and yes, cricket misses him!