In a truly remarkable feat on Day 1 of the fifth and final Test against England at Kennington Oval, Indian captain Shubman Gill etched his name into the record books, surpassing legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar for the most runs scored by an Indian captain in a single Test series. This monumental achievement underscores Gill's sublime form and burgeoning leadership in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Gill, who has been in scintillating touch throughout this Test series, hammered blistering centuries at Headingley and Edgbaston, followed by a hard-fought ton in the second innings of the Manchester Test. Entering the Oval clash, the Punjab-born right-hander was on the cusp of eclipsing Gavaskar's long-standing record of 732 runs, which the 'Little Master' set against the West Indies in the 1978-79 home series.
The historic moment arrived when Gill brought up his eleventh run in India's first innings at the Oval, taking his series tally to a stunning 737 runs (and still unbeaten). This places him firmly at the top of an elite list, a testament to his consistency and ability to lead from the front. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli holds the next three positions among the top five, highlighting his own incredible batting prowess during his captaincy tenure.
Most Runs By An Indian Captain In A Test Series
733* - Shubman Gill vs ENG, 2025
732 - Sunil Gavaskar vs WI, 1978/79
655 - Virat Kohli vs ENG, 2016/17
610 - Virat Kohli vs SL, 2017/18
593 - Virat Kohli vs ENG, 2018
The day at the Oval saw India endure a shaky start, losing the crucial wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in quick succession. However, Gill, alongside the composed Sai Sudharsan, managed to guide the visitors through the early jitters.
Play was interrupted by rain, leading to an early lunch break on Day 1. At the time of the stoppage, India stood at 72 for two, with Shubman Gill batting on a determined 15 not out and B Sai Sudharsan on 25 not out. Earlier, Gill lost the fifth consecutive toss in the series and was asked to bat first at The Oval.
