Top Indian players with most runs in Test series in England

The new captaincy era has started positively for the young Shubman Gill. Before leaving for the England tour, Gill's selection as India's Test captain attracted significant scrutiny. The 25-year-old had sub-standard numbers reflecting his batting records in SENA conditions. With his bat still to show up in overseas questions, the board's move to load the youngster with leading duties was severely questioned. However, as it has turned out, Gill has shone under pressure instead of crumbling as anticipated ahead of the India vs England series. Three matches into the red-ball tour, and Shubman Gill has already emerged as the Indian player with the most runs in Test series in England.

A look at the Indian players who have scored most runs in Test series in England

India has not won a Test series in England since 2007. However, almost two decades of agony doesn't mean that India has not produced absolute stars that have dominated the conditions over the years. Virat Kohli took the baton in the newer generation, matching and steadily surpassing the legendary tally set by Sunil Gavaskar. Now, as the dawn of another new generation is upon India, the team saw Shubman Gill going past Rahul Dravid and Virat to emerge as the highest run-scorer for India in a series in England.

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill opened the India vs England Test series and his captaincy era with a century at Headingley. The batter became the fifth Indian player after Vijay Hazare, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli to mark his Test captaincy debut with a century. Moving ahead in the series, the 25-year-old became the first-ever captain to lead India to a Test victory at Edgbaston. The victory in the second India vs England Test, meanwhile, came riding on the back of record-breaking batting by Gill himself.

The Indian captain smashed a double ton in the opening innings of the Edgbaston Test. With his double century, Gill became only the third Indian player after Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to score a Test double ton in England. The young leader followed his double ton with another century in the second innings of the game, scoring over 500 runs in just two matches of the India vs England series. At Edgbaston, Shubman Gill scored the most runs in a Test match by an Indian, also becoming the Indian captain with the highest score in a Test innings.

At Lord's, despite his bat disappointing in both the innings, Shubman Gill surpassed Rahul Dravid to claim another elusive record. With his 16-run knock in the first innings of the Lord's Test and another 6 in the final innings, he surpassed Dravid to score the most runs in Test series in England. Across six innings in the India vs England series, Gill has accumulated 603 runs with two centuries and a double century. With two upcoming matches still to be played, Gill eyes another record of scoring the most runs in a Test series against England (home or away), a record currently held by Yashasvi Jaiswal with 712 runs.

2. Rahul Dravid

The 'Wall' of Indian Test cricket, Rahul Dravid, with his impenetrable defence, smashed multiple Test batting records, scoring impactful runs against England in their backyard being one of the most prestigious ones. Before Kohli burst on the scene, Rahul held the record for scoring the most runs in Test series in England. The former Indian batsman achieved the glorious record during the 2002 England tour. Rahul Dravid scored three centuries across four Test matches, including a double ton, to accumulate 602 runs. The record set by Dravid took over two decades to be broken.

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli claimed the elusive feat during the 2018 India tour of England. The then India captain scored 593 runs across 10 innings in the five-match series. The former Indian star, who announced his Test retirement earlier this year, scored two centuries and three half-centuries in the series. While India failed to win the series in England, Virat Kohli emerged as the new highest run-scorer for India in England, overtaking Rahul Dravid, who had followed his 2002 run in England with another 461 runs in 2011.