Top 5 opening batsmen with most runs in Tests

#2 Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar’s achievements came against high-quality bowlers on tougher pitches

Armed with a technique which could possibly be the most water-tight in the game’s history, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar blunted numerous accomplished pacers with his dogged approach. The Mumbaikar managed to win over the Caribbean region through his exploits which even resulted in a Calypso. His 221 at The Oval against the likes of Bob Willis, Sir Ian Botham and Mike Hendrick almost made a near impossible target appear reachable.

Richie Benaud, the man who could hold claim to being the ‘Voice of Cricket’, had selected Gavaskar as one of the openers in his all-time XI. There cannot possibly be a bigger tribute than that to the legend of ‘Sunny’.

Overall Career: 10,122 runs from 214 innings at an average of 51.12 with 34 centuries and 45 fifties

Runs as an opener: 9607 runs from 203 innings at an average of 50.29 with 33 centuries and 42 fifties