Catching is probably the most important part for any fielder in any format of the game and especially test cricket where there are so few catching chances in an innings of almost 100 overs so it’s really important that the fielder Catches the ball and helps the team and the confidence of the bowler as a whole. And especially slip catching fielders are the most important in test cricket.
There have been many great fielders in the slip cordon and near the bat who have taken lots of catches throughout their careers and helped India win lots of matches of test cricket and as the saying goes Catches Win Matches. So, let’s look at the Top 5 Indian players with most catches in Tests.
1. Rahul Dravid (209 Catches):
Rahul Dravid Is without a question the best fielder for India in test cricket when it comes to the slips and near the bat. The amount of catches he has taken throughout his test career is so much higher than the second person on this list. This goes to show that not only was he dependable as a batsman but even as a close-in catcher. He used to catch almost everything that came his way and rarely did he drop any and that’s the reason that is the number 1 by a long way. The bowlers could be confident that if a ball goes his way , Rahul Dravid will 99% of the time take the catch and there have been only a handful of fielders to inspire such confidence.
2. VVS Laxman (135 catches):
VVS Laxman, just like Rahul Dravid was one of the most amazing slip catchers in the history of Indian cricket. He was a very attentive player while fielding and he knew that not many opportunities will come his way to catch a ball but when it does, he has to take the catch to put India in an advantageous position in the test match. He was a very calm head and this also contributes to his amazing catching abilities because If one is not nervous or anxious when the ball comes to them, they will catch it more often than not
3. Sachin Tendulkar (115 catches):
It is a bit of a surprise that he is not number 1 on this list considering the number of innings he fielded for and the fact that he was in the slips for most of his career. Still, Sachin Tendulkar was an amazing fielder and one of the more athletic fielders in the Indian team during his career. He often took difficult catches and he was very active in the slip cordon as he used to advise the bowler as to where to bowl to the batter in the middle. And when any catches came his way , he had the right technique like the others in this list had to take so many catches throughout his career.
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4. Sunil Gavaskar (108 Catches):
Sunil Gavaskar was one of the best fielders of the Indian team in the 1970s and 1980s as he was the most dependable one in the slips at that time. The bowlers knew that if any catches went to the little master then they are sure to get a wicket to their name and the Indian team will get ahead in the test match. Along With being the best batsman in the team,bhe was also the best fielder which says a lot. A truly legendary cricketer he was
5. Mohammad Azharuddin (105 catches):
Among the top 5 in this list, Mohammad Azharuddin has played the least amount of matches and still he is the 5th place by not a lot says as to what a phenomenal fielder he was during his time. He was known as a lightning quick fielder in the slips and even at the boundary ropes and all the fans knew that whenever a ball would travel his way, he would catch it with ease. However, he might be replaced in this list with Virat Kohli who is at a 100 catches and still has a lot of cricket to play in his career.
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