The batting contributions of the lower-order can never be undermined. Those vital knocks at the end prove to be decisive in the final outcome of the game. The tailend contributions often lift the morale of the batting team. They decisively swing the momentum from the bowling side. The ongoing India-England series is a fine example of this fact. Indian lower-order batsmen have made crucial contributions in both the Tests. Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah played game-changing knocks in the 2nd Test. This motivated the entire Indian team. They later went on to register a stunning win over hosts England. India have made considerable progress in their lower-order batting. Here is Indian Tail enders who Scored Most Test Runs
Indian Tail enders who Scored Most Test Runs
#6 Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is one of the grittiest Indian tailenders. He has played over 100 Test matches as a tail-ender in his career. In total 123 innings at number 9, 10 or 11, Sharma has registered 641 runs. His highest score is 57. Sharma has remained unbeaten 45 times in Test cricket. He has also recorded 20 ducks.
#5 Kiran More
Kiran More was known more for his keeping than his batting abilities. Back in the 80s and 90s, it was imperative to be a good keeper first irrespective of your batting ability. More made the cut owing to this very logic. He played 34 Test innings in the final three batting positions of the Indian lineup. More scored 693 runs that included five half-centuries.
#4 Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble was one of India’s biggest match-winners in Test cricket. He never gave up neither with the ball nor with the bat. Kumble is the only player among the legendary spin troika of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to score a Test match century. His century came while he was batting at the number 8 position. Kumble has played a total of 72 knocks as a tail-ender. He scored 848 runs, with 88 being his top score at this position. Kumble even recorded three fifties batting in these three positions. He was dismissed on zero nine times.
#3 Javagal Srinath
Javagal Srinath played 60 Test matches in his career as a tail-ender. In those 60 games, he batted in the final three positions 79 times. Srinath scored 932 runs at an average of 15.53. His highest score was 76. Srinath had 13 ducks to his name. He was an entertainer with the bat!
#2 Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh is one of the only two players on this list to have scored over 1,000 runs batting at numbers 9,10, and 11. The turbanator smashed 1,037 runs. Singh was a handy batsman lower down the order. He smashed centuries coming in at number 8 against New Zealand. This feisty cricketer was no mug with the bat.
#1 Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan tops the list of Indian tailenders scoring most Test runs. He scored 1,196 runs as a tail-ender. Khan played 122 innings at these 3 positions scoring 3 fifties in the interim. He has 27 ducks to his name. But his longevity at these positions ensured that he is number 1 on this list.
Also read: Top Ten Most Well Behaved Cricketers Ever
