Top 5 Indian cricketers who have become Test specialists
The rise of T20 cricket has added a new dimension to the game altogether. The shortest format has its own demands, and as such the skill set required for it is completely different.
While bowlers in Tests are required to bowl a controlled line and length consistently, T20 demands a lot of variations. The batsmen in Tests play with a lot of patience whereas in T20 cricket, they look to score from the first ball.
These varying demands mean that some players are more suited for one format than the other. Ever since Virat Kohli became India's captain in all formats, the emphasis has been on horses for courses.
In the process, some Indian players have become limited to Test cricket. Here we look at the list of players who represent India only in Tests now.
#5 Murali Vijay
A free-flowing batsman, Murali Vijay made his mark in the domestic circles in the late 2000s. His stylish batting caught the selectors' eye and he was, subsequently, handed his Test debut against Australia.
Vijay showed his class in the IPL in 2010 and 2011, scoring loads of runs at a brisk rate. However, he could never cement his place in the national side for the shorter formats.
As a result, Vijay started focusing on Test cricket. His career-defining series was against Australia in 2013 where he scored 430 runs with two 150-plus scores. Subsequently, he proved his mettle in foreign conditions against England, Australia and South Africa.
Vijay remains one of the vital cogs of India's Test batting line-up in all conditions, and yet is never considered for a spot in the shorter formats.