NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill has etched his name into the record books, surpassing Virat Kohli to become the highest run-scorer in a debut Test series as India captain. The elegant right-hander reached the milestone during the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With 460 runs in just four innings, Gill has made a resounding statement in his first series as full-time Test skipper.Gill began the series with a superb 147 at Headingley and followed it up with a magnificent 269 in the first innings at Edgbaston, showcasing his class and composure in testing English conditions.
The previous record belonged to Virat Kohli, who scored 449 runs in four innings during India’s 2014/15 tour of Australia — a series that marked the start of his successful tenure as Test captain.
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Gill’s achievement stands out not just for the numbers but also for the context — leading a relatively young side in challenging overseas conditions and delivering with the bat when it mattered most.
Other notable players on the list include some of Indian cricket’s most iconic names: Vijay Hazare (347 runs vs England, 1951/52), Nari Contractor (319 vs Pakistan, 1960/61), Dilip Vengsarkar (305 vs West Indies, 1987/88), and Mohammad Azharuddin (303 vs New Zealand, 1989/90).Most runs in debut series as India Test captain459* – Shubman Gill vs ENG (Away, 2025, 4 innings)449 – Virat Kohli vs AUS (Away, 2014/15, 4 innings)347 – Vijay Hazare vs ENG (Home, 1951/52, 7 innings)319 – Nari Contractor vs PAK (Home, 1960/61, 6 innings)305 – Dilip Vengsarkar vs WI (Home, 1987/88, 5 innings)303 – Mohammad Azharuddin vs NZ (Away, 1989/90, 4 innings)Highest aggregates for India in a Test346* – Shubman Gill vs ENG, Edgbaston, 2025344 – Sunil Gavaskar vs WI, Port of Spain, 1971340 – VVS Laxman vs AUS, Kolkata, 2001330 – Sourav Ganguly vs PAK, Bengaluru, 2007319 – Virender Sehwag vs SA, Chennai, 2008309 – Virender Sehwag vs PAK, Multan, 2004Previous best by India captain: 293 by Virat Kohli against Sri Lanka in Delhi in 2017.Gill is the third Asian batter to aggregate 300-plus in a Test match in a SENA country after Rahul Dravid (305) and Sachin Tendulkar (301) did that in Adelaide and Sydney respectively in 2003/04.
