Top 5 Indian batsmen with most test runs in a calendar year

Overall, Mohammad Yousuf holds the record for the most test runs in a calendar year.

India have produced some of the greatest batsmen – including arguably the greatest of all time Sachin Tendulkar – in test cricket.

From Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to Virat Kohli, multiple Indian batters have been dominating eras and generations from the 1970s.

One of the records that is talked about when speaking of these elite batters is their best performances in a calendar year.

In this article, we will look at the five best years an Indian batsman has had in test cricket.

Top 5 Indian batsmen with most test runs in a calendar year

5. Sachin Tendulkar – 1392 runs (2002)

Sachin Tendulkar had several glorious years during his 24-year international career. One of his finest years was 2002 when he was the second-highest test scorer in the world in that year.

In 2002, Sachin played 16 tests and scored 1392 runs in 26 innings at an average of 55.68 and a best of 193. He scored four centuries and five half-centuries. Only England’s Michael Vaughan (1481) was ahead of him that year.

4. Sunil Gavaskar – 1407 runs (1979)

The original “Little Master,” Sunil Gavaskar was the first batter to reach the magical figure of 10,000 test runs.

His best year in test cricket was 1979 when he was the top scorer in that calendar year in the world. Gavaskar played 17 tests and batted in 26 innings, scoring 1407 runs at an average of 54.11, with four centuries and eight half-centuries.

3. Virender Sehwag – 1422 runs (2010) 

Virender Sehwag was a rare breed of batters who played aggressive cricket in tests and liked to take the attacking option when cornered. His career strike rate of 82 in test cricket testifies to his modus operandi.

Sehwag had a golden period between 2008 and 2011. In 2010, he finished as the second-highest scorer in test cricket. Sehwag scored 1422 runs in 25 innings at an average of 61.82 and a strike rate of 90.80, while slamming five centuries and eight half-centuries.

2. Virender Sehwag – 1462 runs (2008)

In 2008, Sehwag became the first Indian batter to score a second triple-century in test cricket. After scoring 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004, he scored 319 against South Africa in 2008 in Chennai.

He produced brilliant performances throughout that year. In 2008, Sehwag played 14 tests and scored 1462 runs at an average of 56.23. He notched up three centuries and six half-centuries that year.

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 1562 runs (2010)

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most test runs in a calendar year by an Indian batsman. He is the only Indian to score 1500+ test runs in a calendar year.

In 2010, Tendulkar cracked seven test centuries (second-most in a calendar year), including two double hundreds, and five fifties. He finished with 1562 runs in 23 innings at an average of 78.10, with a best of 214.

(All stats updated till 19th October, 2024)

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