Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently named Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli as his top three Indian Test batters of all time. Speaking to Cricinfo, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer left out former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 10,122 runs in Test cricket.
The discussion came during the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The Shubman Gill-led team finished Day 1 (Saturday, August 15) at 288/2 in 73 overs. Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century, and Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27.
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli Make Ashwin's Top Three
Ravichandran Ashwin named Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli as his top three Indian Test batters. Tendulkar remains the leading run-scorer in Test cricket with 15,921 runs at an average of nearly 54, including 51 centuries across his career.
Rahul Dravid is second among India's leading Test run-scorers, finishing with 13,265 runs and 36 centuries. Dravid served as head coach for the Indian team between 2021 and 2024.
Virat Kohli completed the top three after scoring 9,230 runs in 123 Tests between 2011 and 2025. He averaged 46.85 and recorded 30 centuries during his red-ball career. Kohli is fourth on India's all-time Test run-scoring list, behind Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar Misses Top Three Alongside Virender Sehwag
Ravichandran Ashwin didn't include Sunil Gavaskar in the top three. Gavaskar scored 10,122 runs in 125 Tests at an average of over 51, including 34 centuries, and became the first batter to reach 10,000 Test runs.
VVS Laxman took fifth place after scoring 8,781 Test runs at an average of nearly 46, including 17 centuries. Virender Sehwag also featured just outside Ashwin's top five, with 8,503 runs at a strike rate of 82.18. He also scored two Test triple centuries.
Ashwin also included former captain Sourav Ganguly, who scored 7,212 Test runs and 16 centuries, and Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohinder Amarnath, and Gundappa Viswanath in his potential top 10. Vengsarkar scored nearly 7,000 runs, while Amarnath finished with 4,378 and Viswanath scored more than 6,000.
Ravichandran Ashwin Cements His Own Historic Test Legacy
Ravichandran Ashwin built one of the finest Test careers in Indian cricket while playing a key role in many of the team's biggest victories. He finished with 537 wickets in 106 Tests at an average of 24.01. The bowler remains India's second-highest wicket-taker in the format behind legendary spinner Anil Kumble.
Ashwin also reached 250 and 300 Test wickets faster than any bowler in the history of the format. He finished with 37 five-wicket hauls and regularly played a major role for India on spin-friendly pitches, particularly at home. The spinner retired from international cricket during the BGT 2024-25.
His contribution with the bat further strengthened his status as an all-rounder. Ashwin scored 3,503 Test runs and six centuries, completing the rare double of more than 3,000 runs and 500 wickets. He is among India's most successful Test cricketers of the modern era.
