Discover the top 5 Indian captains who have scored the most runs in a single Test series. These leaders showcased exceptional batting skills while leading the team, making significant contributions to India’s success. Their remarkable performances not only boosted their personal records but also inspired their teams during crucial matches on the international stage.
Test Series: Virat Kohli – 593 runs (vs England, 2018)
Virat Kohli claimed the fifth spot on this list with a stellar performance during India’s 2018 tour of England. Across five Test matches, the Indian captain scored 593 runs at an average of 59.30. In 10 innings, he recorded two centuries and three half-centuries. Despite Kohli’s impressive batting display, India lost the series 4-1.
Virat Kohli – 610 runs (vs Sri Lanka, 2017)
Kohli also ranks fourth for his outstanding performance against Sri Lanka in 2017. In a three-Test series, he amassed 610 runs in just five innings, boasting a remarkable average of 152.50. He notched three centuries and one half-century, helping India secure a 1-0 series win. Kohli was named Player of the Series for his dominance.
Test Series: Virat Kohli – 655 runs (vs England, 2016)
In the 2016 home series against England, Kohli scored 655 runs over five Tests. He averaged an incredible 109.16, hitting two centuries and two half-centuries in eight innings, including a highest score of 235. Test Series, His prolific run-scoring helped India clinch the series 4-0.
Sunil Gavaskar – 732 runs (vs West Indies, 1978-79)
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar held the record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series for 46 years—from 1979 until Shubman Gill broke it in 2025. During the 1978-79 home series against the West Indies, Gavaskar scored 732 runs in nine innings at an average of 91.50, including four centuries and one fifty. His highest score was 205. India won the six-match series 1-0, with five matches ending in draws.
Test Series: Shubman Gill – 737 runs (vs England, 2025)*
Shubman Gill surpassed Gavaskar’s long-standing record in 2025 during India’s tour of England. Appointed as India’s Test captain, Gill scored an unbeaten 737 runs in nine innings, averaging over 90. He smashed four centuries—including a double century—and one half-century in the series.
