Fourth innings of a Test match is highly important for a batsman, as more often than not, they are either trying to chase a big target, or trying to save the Test match.

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Batting in fourth innings of a Test means one has to bat with with immense focus and concenttation, while dealing with the pressure of winning the match for your country, or in some cases, trying to play out for a draw. India has produced some of the greatest batsmen in Test history. But few of them mastered the art of fourth innings batting and scoring runs in it.

We bring to you the top 5 highest overall run scorers from India in the fourth innings of Tests.

Click next to view the top 5 batsmen

5. VIRENDER SEHWAG (2001-2013)
M: 38 |  I: 33 | Runs: 894 | Avg: 31.92 | HS: 83 | 50s: 8 | 100s:0

If you need someone to make quick runs for you in the all important fourth innings, look no further than Virender Sehwag. One of only four batsmen in Test history to score 2 triple tons, Sehwag also scored 894 runs in fourth innings in 38 Tests.

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His best fourth innings score of 83 came against England, when India had to chase 387 on the last day in the fourth innings in the Chennai Test of 2008. Sehwag smacked 83 runs in just 66 balls, setting up the stage for Sachin Tendulkar (103*) and Yuvraj Singh (85*) to take India to a famous victory, just few months after the Mumbai terrorist attacks happened.

4. VVS LAXMAN (1996-2012)
M: 51 |  I: 38 | Runs: 1095 | Avg: 40.55 | HS: 103 | 50s: 7 | 100s: 1

VVS Laxman cemented his place in history thanks to his epic 281 against Australia in the infamous Kolkata Test against Australia in 2001, when his innings along with Rahul Dravid’s 180 and their 376 run partnership, won India a match in which they were made to follow-on.

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However, he was also a master of taking India to the win by scoring big runs in the fourth innings and especially, batting with the tail. He scored a century (103*) in 4^th innings against Sri Lanka in Colombo, to take India to a big win.

However, the best knock he played in the 4^th innings came against Australia in the Mohali Test in 2010. He scored 73* with an injury which made running impossible for him, guiding the tail enders with him to an epic for India.

3. SUNIL GAVASKAR (1971-1987)
M: 34 |  I: 33 | Runs: 1398 | Avg: 58.25 | HS: 221 | 50s: 8 | 100s: 4

The original little master from India, Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test run mark in Tests. He broke the then record of Sir Don Bradman of 29 Test centuries and went on to make 34 Test hundreds, by the time he retired from the game in 1987.

Gavaskar scored 1398 runs in fourth innings in 34 Tests and scored a joint record of 4 centuries and had an average of 58.25. He also scored 8 fifties for India in 4^th innings of Test matches.

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His best innings however came in the 4^th Test at Kennington Oval, during India’s tour to England in 1979. India was chasing a target of 438 runs and decided to go for the win. Openers Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan (80) went after the target by adding 213 runs for the 1^st wicket.

Gavaskar carried on making a sublime 221, to take India within 9 runs of victory. It is considered to be one of the greatest innings in Test cricket and established Sunil Gavaskar as one of the greatest openers of all time in Test cricket.

2. RAHUL DRAVID (1996-2012)
M: 64 |  I: 56 | Runs: 1552 | Avg: 40.84 | HS: 103* | 50s: 9 | 100s: 1

Rahul Dravid is the perfect example of unsung hero of Indian cricket. He also played some brilliant innings in the 4^th innings of the Test matches.

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He scored 1552 runs in fourth innings of Tests in 64 Tests with an average of 40.84 and 9 fifties and 1 century. His highest score of 103* came against New Zealand during the 3^rd Test at Hamilton in 1999. Dravid is best remembered for his selfless service to the Indian cricket and for saving India from many embarrassing situations in both Tests and ODIs.

1. SACHIN TENDULKAR (1989-2013)
M: 74 |  I: 60 | Runs: 1625 | Avg: 36.93 | HS: 136 | 50s: 7 | 100s: 3

Sachin Tendulkar scored 1625 runs in fourth innings of Tests in 74 matches. He averaged 36.93 with 3 centuries and 7 fifties, with a highest score of 136.

Sachin Tendulkar was always criticized for not taking India to win and for not playing match winning innings in 4^th innings of Tests. His best and most heartbreaking innings of 136 came against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999, as he and Nayan Mongia took India towards an improbable win against the likes of Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and a tricky Saqlain Mushtaq on a crumbling pitch.

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And he did all that with a severe spasm in his back, which made bending almost impossible for him. But alas, he got out for 136 and Saqlain wiped off the tail, leaving India 12 runs short of the target of 270.

He did quell his quest of a heroic score in fourth innings of a Test. He scored 103* and took India to an amazing win over England in the Chennai Test of 2008. India was set 387 to win on the last day and Virender Sehwag took the chase by the scruff of its neck, scoring 83 runs off just 68 balls. Gambhir gave him company with 66, but Sachin (103*) and Yuvraj Singh (85*) added 163 unbeaten runs for the 5^th wicket to take India to a big win.

Sachin dedicated his century to the people who had lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that happened in Mumbai, earlier in 2008.