3 Indian batsmen to bat on all 5 days of a Test match
There is no doubt that Test cricket is one of the toughest formats of the game. It requires a lot of grit and determination to perform in the longest format, which requires a player to remain active and on their toes throughout the five days.
Batters and the bowlers have to be on the top of their games to have a chance in the longest format of the game. There are a few batters who have shown what level of determination is required to excel in Test cricket and went on to bat on all five days of a match. Only ten cricketers have managed to achieve this feat, of which three are Indians:
1. ML Jaisimha
ML Jaisimha was the first player to bat on all five days of Test cricket. He achieved this feat during the fifth Test in Kolkata against Australia in 1960. He came out to bat on day one at the eighth position and remained not-out on zero. He batted on day two of the Test match and remained not-out on 20 runs. On day four after the rest day, he walked out to bat as the nightwatchman after India lost two wickets and went on to score 59 runs. On day five, Jaisimha added 15 more runs to his tally and the match ended in a draw.
2. Ravi Shastri
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri became the second Indian player to bat on all five days of Test cricket. He managed to achieve this feat during the England tour of India in 1984-85 in Kolkata. The Indian team batted for four days in this game due to regular interruptions. Shastri added 26 runs on day one and completed his century on day three after he was not able to bat on day two. He got out on day four and opened the innings for India in the second innings. He made seven not-out in the second innings and the match ended in a draw.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
The ‘modern wall’ of Indian cricket Cheteshwar Pujara became only the third player in India’s Test cricket history to bat on all five days of Test cricket. Pujara completed this milestone during the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of India in 2017 which was coincidentally against played in Kolkata. Rain interrupted the game on several occasions and the Indian team batted for three days and Pujara made 52 runs. He came out to bat at the end of day four and remained not out. On day five, Suranga Lakmal dismissed him for 22 runs and the match ended in a draw.
