Top 10 Indian batters with most runs in a test series

Only two Indian batters have hit 700+ runs in a test series.

Cricket, often regarded as a religion in India, has witnessed the rise of numerous iconic batters who have left an indelible mark on the international stage. Test cricket, the purest and longest format of the game, has seen intense battles between bat and ball, with Indian batters showcasing their resilience and skill.

In this pursuit of excellence, some individuals have etched their names in the Indian cricket history books by amassing the most runs in a single test series. These batting maestros have not only stood tall against formidable opponents but have also become the flag-bearers of Indian cricketing glory on the international stage in test cricket.

Currently, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer for India and in test cricket and also in international cricket. The former Indian captain played 200 test matches and amassed 15,921 runs in 329 innings he batted. However, one of the strangest things about Tendulkar’s career was that he never scored 500 or more runs in a test series. The great batter amassed 493 runs against Australia in the 2007-08 tour, which is his highest in a test series.

So far, only two Indian batters have hit 700+ runs in a test series. And among those two, one batter achieved it twice in his career. On that note, let’s have a look at Indian batsmen to score most runs in a test series.

Here are the top 10 Indian batters with most runs in a test series

10. Mohinder Amarnath – 598 runs vs West Indies, 1983

Former Indian cricketer Mohinder Amarnath dominated the legendary West Indies bowling lineup, which consisted of Andy Roberts, Malcom Marshall, and Michael Holding, in their own backyard. In India’s tour of the West Indies in 1982–83, in the five-test match series, Amarnath smashed the most runs in that series.

In nine innings, the right-handed batter amassed 598 runs at an average of 66.44, while West Indies’ legendary batter Clive Llyod finished as the second highest run-scorer with 407 runs in six innings during that five-match test series.

9. Rahul Dravid – 602 runs vs England, 2002

Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid had a dream four-match test series against England in 2002. Dravid batted for nearly 32 hours and faced 230 overs, where he smashed 85 fours in that series England on English soil.

The right-handed batter scored 602 runs in just six innings at an impressive average of 100.33. During that famous test series, Dravid played a match-saving innings of 115 at Nottingham, a match-winning innings of 148 at Headingly, and once again frustrated England with a 217 at the Oval.

8. Virat Kohli – 610 runs vs Sri Lanka, 2017

Modern-era star Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest batters in Indian test cricket history. Kohli once again proved his worth during Sri Lanka’s tour of India in 2017.

In a three-match test series against Sri Lanka in India, Kohli aggregated over 600 runs. With having scores of 0, 104*, 213, 243, and 50, the right-handed batter Kohli finished the series with 610 runs in just five innings.

7. Rahul Dravid – 619 runs vs Australia, 2003/04

Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid was one of the most dependable batters for India in test cricket in overseas conditions. Dravid used to play the ball very late, and his footwork was also excellent, which helped him score tons of runs in the longest format on foreign soil. 

The former Indian batter Rahul Dravid had a phenomenal tour of Australia in 2003–04. In the series, Dravid smashed a double hundred in the Adelaide test match and helped India win the match. During that famous test series, Dravid scored 619 runs in 8 innings at an outstanding average of 123.80 with one century (233) and three fifties which helped the visitors draw the series 1-1.

6. Dilip Sardesai – 642 runs vs West Indies, 1972

Former Indian cricketer Dilip Sardesai had an outstanding run during the India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971. During the historic five-match test series, where India went on to win by 1-0, Sardesai hammered 642 runs with three centuries and one half-century in eight innings. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who made his debut in that series, ended up as leading run-scorer of that series.

5. Virat Kohli – 655 runs vs England, 2016

During England’s tour of India in 2016/17, Indian batter Virat Kohli once again showed his class against the English side. During the five-match series against the Three Lions, former Indian skipper Virat Kohli hammered 655 runs including two centuries and two half-centuries with highest score of 235.

Kohli’s outstanding performance helped India win the five-match series 4-0. During that famous series, Kohli averaged 109.16 in eight innings.

4. Virat Kohli – 692 runs vs Australia 2014/15

Indian star batter Virat Kohli has loved playing against Australia, especially in test cricket. Virat Kohli has smashed more than 1500 test runs against the mighty Aussies. 

However, his best performance against the Australian side came in their backyard in the four-match test series in 2014-15. The right-handed batter Kohli ended the series with 692 runs in four matches at an average of 86.50 including four tons and one fifty, with the best score of 169. However, even after his heroic performance, India lost the series 2-0.

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 712* runs vs England, 2024

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 712* runs in the five-match test series against England in 2024. He hit two double hundreds and three fifties in the test series.

2. Sunil Gavaskar – 732 runs vs West Indies, 1978/79

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is the only Indian batter to have scored over 700 runs in a test series. He achieved it twice in his test cricketing career. During a six-match test series against West Indies at home in 1978-79, Gavaskar slammed a total of 732 runs across nine innings. The former Indian batter averaged almost 91.50 in that series.

Gavaskar hammered four hundreds and one fifty in that series with a best of 205. India won that six-match series 1-0.

1. Sunil Gavaskar – 774 runs vs West Indies, 1971

In the India’s tour of West Indies in 1970-71, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who made his debut, became the first Indian batter to smash 700 or more runs in a test series.

In the five-match test series against West Indies, Gavaskar stamped his authority by smashing 774 runs with the main highlight of the series being his 124 and a brilliant 220 in the final test. During that historic series Gavaskar’s effort included four centuries and three half-centuries across eight innings. India won the five-match test series by 1-0.

(All stats updated till 7th March, 2024)

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