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Vinod Kambli, a former Indian cricketer, holds the highest Test average among Indian left-handed batters with 54.2. Despite his early promise, he now faces serious illness.
Which Indian batter has the highest batting average in Test cricket?
August 13th is observed as International Left-Handers Day — a celebration of the 10% of the world who do things a little differently. From holding a pen to swinging a cricket bat, lefties navigate a right-handed world with flair.
Speaking of left-handed batters, India have produced some of the finest ever. You just started naming them, and the list would get long. Ajit Wadekar, Salim Durani, and Nari Contractor from the early era, followed by the likes of Vinod Kambli, Sourav Ganguly, and Yuvraj Singh, who came to the fore. Most of them have some great cricketing records to their name. But when it comes to batting average in Test cricket, Kambli tops the charts.
Kambli, who played 17 Tests and scored over a thousand runs, holds the highest Test average among the left-handed Indian batters. In fact, the former cricketer stands at the top of the list of highest averages for India in Tests. Surprisingly, he is much ahead of the legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Hazare, and, for that matter, Virat Kohli.
Highest averages for India in Tests
| Batter | Matches | Runs | Average |
| Vinod Kambli | 17 | 1084 | 54.2 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 15921 | 53.78 |
| Rahul Dravid | 163 | 13265 | 52.63 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 125 | 10122 | 51.12 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 24 | 2209 | 50.2 |
| Virender Sehwag | 103 | 8503 | 49.43 |
| Vijay Hazare | 30 | 2192 | 47.65 |
| Virat Kohli | 123 | 9230 | 46.85 |
| VVS Laxman | 134 | 8781 | 45.97 |
| Azharuddin | 99 | 6215 | 45.03 |
Categorising this data for Indian left-handed batters, who have at least played 10 Test matches for India, the youngsters of the recent era feature after Kambli.
Highest averages for India in Tests by left-handers (Minimum 10 matches)
| Batter | Matches | Runs | Average |
| Vinod Kambli | 17 | 1084 | 54.2 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 24 | 2209 | 50.2 |
| Rishabh Pant | 47 | 3427 | 44.5 |
| Washington Sundar | 13 | 752 | 44.23 |
Once hailed as one of India’s most flamboyant stroke-makers, Vinod Kambli burst onto the scene in the early ’90s, matching childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar in promise and flair. His fearless batting and effortless style won hearts, but life after cricket has been far from kind.
However, years of personal struggles have now been overshadowed by a serious illness, leaving the once-dashing left-hander fighting for survival. The man who once lit up stadiums with his wristy drives now battles quietly, relying on treatment and hope.
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had …Read More
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had … Read More
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