Gavaskar to Gill: Most runs by an Indian captain in a single Test series

Gill is also just 77 runs away from Sunil Gavaskar's all-time highest runs scored by an Indian player in a Test series record

Leading his national side in Test cricket is one of the greatest honours a player can achieve in a career. While many get the chance to live this dream, only a few go on to hold the spot for a long duration, and even fewer manage to give their best with bat or ball despite having the extra burden of captaincy — and the newly appointed Indian Test skipper is one of those rare names. Gill, in his debut series as Test captain against England, has gone on to shatter multiple records, and the latest record in the list he can break is him surpassing the legend Sunil Gavaskar as the Indian captain with the most runs in a single Test series. Gill currently  has 697 runs to his name in the 2025 Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, which is only 35 less than Gavaskar's record of 732 runs against West Indies back in 1979. 

 

The third position is held by Virat Kohli, who scored 655 runs against England in 2017 — which was also the highest by any Indian against England until Gill surpassed him on Day 4 of the fourth Test of the series. But who are the other Indian captains who have managed to etch their names in the list of most runs for an Indian captain in a single Test series? Take a look.

Most runs by an Indian captain in a single Test series

Rank	Captain	Runs	Opponent	Series/Year	Matches	Average
1	Sunil Gavaskar	732	West Indies	1978/79	6	91.5
2	Shubman Gill	697*	England	2025*	4*	174.25
3	Virat Kohli	655	England	2016/17	5	109.16
4	Virat Kohli	610	Sri Lanka	2017	3	152.5
5	Virat Kohli	593	England	2018	5	59.3
6	Yashasvi Jaiswal	712	England	2024	5	89
7	Virat Kohli	692	Australia	2014/15	4	86.5
8	Dilip Sardesai	642	West Indies	1971	5	80.25
9	Rahul Dravid	619	Australia	2003/04	4	123.8
10	Rahul Dravid	602	England	2002	4	100.33

Gill en route to all-time record

Gill reaching the 697-run mark in the Test series against England not only put him at the number two spot in the list of Indian captains with the most runs in a single Test series, but also in the number four spot in the list of Indian players with the most runs in a single Test series. However, Gill only needs 75 more runs to put himself at the top of the list, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 774 runs against West Indies in 1971. Gavaskar also holds the number two spot with a 732-run series against West Indies, while Yashasvi Jaiswal is at number three with his 712-run series against England in 2024.

Most runs by an Indian player in a single Test series

Rank	Batter	Runs	Opponent	Series/Year	Matches	Highest Score
1	Sunil Gavaskar	774	West Indies	1971	4	220
2	Sunil Gavaskar	732	West Indies	1978-79	6	205
3	Yashasvi Jaiswal	712	England	2024	5	214*
4	Shubman Gill	697*	England	2025*	4*	269
5	Virat Kohli	692	Australia	2014-15	4	169
6	Virat Kohli	655	England	2016	5	235
7	Dilip Sardesai	642	West Indies	1971	5	212
8	Rahul Dravid	619	Australia	2003-04	4	233
9	Virat Kohli	610	Sri Lanka	2017	3	243
10	Rahul Dravid	602	England	2002	4	217