India vs Proteas, Batting Records: Top 5 Test Run Scorers for Team India in South Africa

South Africa is not an easy place to tour. Ask any cricketing side and they will agree to the fact that Proteas is probably the last side they would want to face. And playing them in their own backyard is a whole different ballgame. Virat Kohli led Indian Cricket Team are on a tough two-month trip for South Africa 2018 series. India has a poor record in the African nation, the fast pitches of host side often contributing to chronic batting collapse. The current Indian batting line up is one of the best if not the best in the world and their toughest test awaits them in South Africa. We now look at the blast from the past, Indian batsmen who have been there and stamped their authority in tough South African conditions.

Sachin Tendulkar: (Test: 15 Runs: 1161 Avg: 46.41 100s: 5 50s: 3)

Master Blaster played a staggering 15 tests in South Africa managing a total of 1161 runs, a record testament to the greatness of the man. Tendulkar was always the lone man standing for India in all the tours he has been a part of depicting the wide gulf in class between him and the rest. Sachin scored five test tons in South Africa, a feat that will take some doing to be matched let alone be beaten. In his last test tour of South Africa in 2010, he managed two centuries helping his team to draw the series.

Rahul Dravid: (Test 11 runs 624 Avg 29.71 100s: 1 50s: 2)

If there is any country where we can say the great Rahul Dravid was average, it has to be in South Africa. The Wall failed to register a fifty in the 2006 and 2010 tours, a feat difficult to associate with Dravid. A mixtape performance in the 2001 tour including a fighting 87 during the second test in Port Elizabeth when Indian team were set a target of 395. His only hundred came in Johannesburg in his maiden tour in 1996-97, a fighting 148. In total, Rahul Dravid managed six hundred odd runs to come second on our list.

VVS Laxman: (Test 10 Runs 566 Avg 40.42 100s: 0 50s: 4)

India’s middle order maestro made his first trip to South Africa in 1996 but hardly got a chance to showcase his skills. 2001 tour too was something VVS would like to erase from memory just like other team members. A fighting 89 was the only notable knock in Port Elizabeth. 2006 tour saw Laxman score freely and notch up back-to-back fifties at Johannesburg and Durban, but India ended with disappointment. VVS Laxman's final tour in 2010 had him helping his team to level series in Durban with a classy 96.

Saurav Ganguly: (Test 8 Runs 506 Avg 36.14 100s: 0 50s: 4)

Dada will have South Africa in his heart forever as it was here he made his much talked about the comeback in the Indian team. His fighting half-century in Johannesburg in 2006 tour is still fresh in the minds of fans helping his side to a win. The same ground witnessed Ganguly score two half-centuries in 1996 series when others were miserable around him. The 2001 series in South Africa saw Ganguly fail to record a half century. Overall, Dada still managed five hundred plus runs against his familiar foes in their backyard.

Virender Sehwag: (Test 8 Runs 356 Avg 25.46 100s: 1 50s: 1)

The Nawab of Najafgarh started his Test career with a bang, smacking a century in Bloemfontein. He survived with little or no footwork at times just sticking to his hand-eye coordination. This truly marked the arrival of a free-spirited batsman who went on to establish himself truly as the Test great. Although runs were few to come by in the subsequent tours, Viru does find a place on our list.

Unsurprisingly, the list features the original Pandavas of Indian cricket team. The onus will be on current Test batting side with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to prove if they are indeed the best-ever Indian Test team.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2018 05:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).