Shubman Gill becomes Indian captain with most runs in a Test series, surpasses Sunil Gavaskar in elite list

Shubman Gill surpasses Sunil Gavaskar in elite list. (BCCI Photo)

Shubman Gill continued his stellar run in the ongoing India-England Test series by etching his name into the record books on Day 1 of the fifth Test at The Oval. The young Indian skipper surpassed a long-standing record for the most runs scored in a single Test series by an Indian captain.

Needing just 11 runs to break the record previously held by Sunil Gavaskar, the 25-year-old right-hander from Punjab achieved the feat in style. He brought up the milestone with a boundary off Jamie Overton on the final delivery of the 21st over.

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Gavaskar’s record of 732 runs came during a six-match home series against the West Indies in the 1978–79 season, a benchmark that stood tall for decades—until Gill’s remarkable form redefined it.

738* - 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

Most runs in a Test series by captain (held by Don Bradman - 810 runs), most runs in a India-England Test series (held by Graham Gooch - 752 runs) and Most runs in a Test series for India (held by Sunil Gavaskar - 774 runs).

The new Indian Test team captain also made equaled an unwanted record of ace batter Virat Kohli of losing all five tosses in a Test series. Gill lost the toss to England stand-in skipper Ollie Pope in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the Kennington Oval in London.

Coming the first session of play, India recovered from early setbacks to reach 72 for 2 at lunch on the opening day of the fifth and final Test. On a grassy surface offering assistance to seamers, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell cheaply, but the visitors managed to consolidate thanks to a composed stand between Sai Sudharsan and skipper Shubman Gill.

Talking about the lineup, making four changes to their XI, India brought in Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Karun Nair, and Dhruv Jurel. Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, Shardul Thakur, and the injured Rishabh Pant made way.