As India get set to tour England in 2025, we revisit the top five batters who made their names in one of cricket’s most celebrated Test rivalries
India’s Test tour of England kicks off on June 20, and all eyes are on the 37th man to lead the side in whites—Shubman Gill. It’s not just a new captain at the helm but also a very different-looking Indian squad.
With stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin bidding farewell to the format and Jasprit Bumrah set to miss some matches, the road ahead looks steep.
Before the battle resumes, let us turn back the pages and relive the glory days of some batting giants who transformed this contest into a personal playground, scoring the most runs in the history of the India vs England Test rivalry.
Credit: Financial Express
There’s no stopping Joe Root when it comes to India. From the moment he debuted against them in 2012, Root has steadily progressed, session after session, inching closer to records with quiet assurance.
With 2,846 runs in 55 innings, Root sits comfortably at the top. His average of 58.08 is a masterclass in control and determination. His highest? A towering 218, but it’s not just the big scores—10 centuries and 11 fifties—that catch the eye. It’s the calmness under pressure and the way he’s batted against time like few others in this generation.
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Before Root came knocking, Tendulkar remained the undisputed king of this duel. Spanning over two decades, from his 1990 tour as a teenager to his final visit to England in 2011, Sachin amassed 2,535 runs in 53 innings at an impressive average of 51.73.
He surpassed the hundred mark 7 times, with a highest score of 193. Watching him play in England was like poetry in motion—those cover drives, those straight punches, those gentle flicks. England knew him too well, yet never well enough to silence him.
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When Sunil Gavaskar walked out to bat in England, he brought with him an unwavering focus and old-school grit. His numbers—2,483 runs in 67 innings—were achieved during a time when batting wasn’t cushioned by flat pitches or protective gear.
With 4 centuries and a marathon 221 as his highest score, Sunny G stood tall against the moving ball and hostile conditions. His average of 38.20 may seem modest today, but it was the stuff of legend back then.
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Another opener who subtly wore down Indian attacks—Alastair Cook. With 2,431 runs in 54 innings and a monumental 294 as his top score, the former English captain’s game focused less on flair and more on endurance.
He anchored one end and allowed the runs to accumulate. His average? A tidy 47.66, with 7 centuries, often came at critical moments. Cook never brandished his bat recklessly—he chose his moments wisely, and more often than not, he made the right call.
Credit: The Independent
Few players have lived every ball as Virat Kohli has. His passion, presence, and ability to bounce back—all came alive whenever he played against England. In 50 innings, Kohli has amassed 1,991 runs at an average of 42.36, including that memorable 235.
His tally of 5 centuries and 9 fifties may seem modest compared to others on this list, but what stands out is how he battled his demons, especially following the lean 2014 tour, and roared back like a champion in 2018.
