In what has been a stunning series for Shubman Gill as India’s Test captain, the batter has etched his name into the record books by breaking a 47-year-old milestone.
Heading into the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, India trailed the series 2-1 and needed a win to draw level. But while the team’s position remains challenging, Gill’s individual form has stood out throughout. Leading from the front, he has now scored 737* runs in the series — the most ever by an Indian captain in a single Test series.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The previous record was held by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who had amassed 732 runs against the West Indies in the 1978/79 series. Gill’s record-breaking moment came during his ongoing knock in the first innings of the final Test, continuing a consistent run of performances that includes four centuries with the highest being a stunning 269.
Most runs by a captain in a Test series| Player | Runs | 100 | 50 | Start Date |
|---|
| Don Bradman (AUS) | 810 | 3 | 1 | 4 Dec 1936 |
| Graham Gooch (ENG) | 752 | 3 | 2 | 26 Jul 1990 |
| Shubman Gill (IND) | 737* | 4 | 0 | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Sunil Gavaskar (IND) | 732 | 4 | 1 | 1 Dec 1978 |
| David Gower (ENG) | 732 | 3 | 1 | 13 Jun 1985
|
| Garry Sobers (WI) | 722 | 3 | 2 | 2 Jun 1966 |
| Don Bradman (AUS) | 715 | 4 | 1 | 28 Nov 1947 |
| Graeme Smith (SA) | 714 | 2 | 1 | 24 Jul 2003 |
Shubman Gill's record (Image via BCCI/Screengrab)
His dominance with the bat has been a central highlight for India in a hard-fought series, as the young skipper continues to grow into the leadership role. While his efforts may not be enough to seal the series unless India win at The Oval, they have certainly marked a new chapter in Indian cricket.
Interestingly, while Gill now tops the chart for most Test runs in a series by an Indian captain, Virat Kohli still holds the record in both white-ball formats — 558 runs in an ODI series against South Africa in 2018, and 231 in a T20I series against England in 2021.
As captaincy transitions continue across formats, Gill’s red-ball credentials are now firmly established.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul gone, the captain will once again need to take matters into his own hands to help India to a formidable first innings total.
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