Sportskeeda's Top 50 Indian Test cricketers of all-time (50-41)

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The likes of Irfan Pathan, Wriddhiman Saha and Manoj Prabhakar were all multi-dimensional players

From Amar Singh in 1932 to Hardik Pandya in 2017, 289 Indian cricketers have managed to live the ultimate dream - represent their country in Test cricket. It has been more than 85 years since India set foot in the highest arena in the game. With an illustrious history of 515 Test matches, the Asian giants have carved a niche for themselves in the sport's traditional format.

We, at Sportskeeda, have begun a weekly series encompassing the top 50 cricketers to represent India in Tests. Starting with ranks 50-41, we count down to the crème de la crème of Indian cricket every weekend until the greatest of them all are unveiled.

Here are the key factors which have been taken into consideration in order to enumerate the cricketers.

a) Overall career consistency.

b) Performances in matches won.

c) Performances in Tests outside India.

d) Game-changing efforts in big matches against quality opponents on Indian soil.

e) Stature in world cricket; opinions of peers and various experts.

f) Establishing new trends by breaking previously existing stereotypes.

g) Minimum cut-off of 1000 runs for batsmen/100 wickets for bowlers/50 dismissals for wicket-keepers in order to formulate a meaningful sample size.

h) Statistics have not been assumed to be the be-all and end-all of a player’s value. A general consensus has been arrived after factoring in every aspect of each cricketer’s career.

Those who nearly made the cut

Wasim Jaffer, Karsan Ghavri, Ajit Wadekar, Yuvraj Singh and Dattu Phadkar

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#50 Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha has established himself as the premier gloveman in the current Indian team

Having had to wait for his turn till the high-profile MS Dhoni bid adieu to whites, Wriddhiman Saha was primed for Test cricket right from the moment he walked into the team. Since he established himself in the domestic circles, there has not been a safer wicket-keeper than the man from West Bengal.

While his adeptness with the keeping gloves has managed to withstand the test of time, Saha's batting has grown in stature with each passing season. Apart from being a reliable gloveman, the 32-year old is also capable of making gritty contributions to the team's cause from the lower middle-order.

Career Span: 2010-present

*Statistics: 56 catches and 10 stumpings; 1112 runs from 28 matches at an average of 32.70 with 3 centuries and 5 fifties

(*Note: Statistics of all active players are accurate as of 30th September 2017)

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