Shubman Gill on Thursday surpassed the legendary Sunil Gavaskar for the most runs scored by an Indian captain in a single Test series during the ongoing fifth Test against England at The Oval.
At the conclusion of the first session, Gill remained unbeaten on 15 runs from 23 balls, striking three elegant fours. His composed presence at the crease has been pivotal to India’s efforts in this series.
Gill’s prolific run-scoring spree has been nothing short of extraordinary. Across nine innings in the series, he has amassed a staggering 737 runs at an impressive average of 92.12. This tally includes four centuries, highlighted by a towering best score of 269. His consistency and resilience have positioned him as the leading run-scorer in the series, dominating the charts and setting new benchmarks for Indian Test captains.
In comparison, Gavaskar’s previous record dates back to the 1978-79 home series against the formidable West Indies. During that series, Gavaskar scored 732 runs over six Tests and nine innings, averaging 91.50. His tally included four centuries and a fifty, with a highest score of 205. Gill’s current exploits have now eclipsed this long-standing record, underlining the rising star’s burgeoning stature in Indian cricket.
Furthermore, Gill is closing in on another historic milestone, he is just 38 runs shy of breaking the record for the most runs scored by an Indian in a bilateral Test series. This record is also held by Gavaskar, who scored 774 runs in four Tests against the West Indies during their 1971 away series. Gavaskar’s phenomenal performance in that series featured an average of 154.80, four centuries, three fifties, and a highest score of 220.
At the end of the opening session of the fifth Test, India stood at 72 for 2, with Gill unbeaten on 15 and Sai Sudharsan on 25*. The visitors had lost their openers early, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for 2 and KL Rahul for 14, leaving India precariously placed at 38 for 2.
England, having won the toss, elected to field first in this crucial series decider. Currently, England leads the series 2-1, intensifying the pressure on the Indian side to perform and capitalise on Gill’s exceptional form.
