Top 5 run-getters in ENG vs IND Test cricket history

In just one week, Indian cricket team will take on England in the first of five-match series against England. The first game of the series will be held at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds starting on 20th June. This is the first series for both sides as they start their new cycle of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. So far both sides have played 136 games against each other and India have won 35 matches while England have won 51 with fifty games ending in draw. 

Over the years some of the big-name stars have played in the series now titled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Only 28 players have scored over 1000 runs in the historic rivalry between the two teams. Current England skipper Ben Stokes as the chance to join the list as he needs 28 runs to reach 1000 Test runs against India. 

Here are the top five run-getters in the England vs India Test cricket history 

5- Virat Kohli -1991 runs 

Former India cricket captain Virat Kohli shocked the world with his decision to retire from Test cricket last month. Kohli played his first ever Test against England at home in the 2012/13 series. Kohli, has played 28 Tests versus England and scored 1991 runs with an average of 42 and has also hit five centuries and nine fifties. The former India skipper’s best score of 235 came in the 2016 series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

4- Alastair Cook – 2431 runs

Considered one of the best batters in the longest format of the game, former English skipper Alastair Cook has scored runs at bulk against India. The left-handed batter played 30 games against India scoring 2431 runs with an average of 47 with seven centuries and nine fifties. Cook incidentally played his debut game as well as his final Test against India and scored a century in each of the games. Cook’s best score of 294 came against India came at the Edgbaston Test match. 

3- Sunil Gavaskar – 2483 runs 

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar was one of the best batters in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The right-handed batter was the first to reach the 10,000 run mark before calling time on his career. Gavaskar, played 38 matches against England scoring 2483 runs with an average of 38 and also scored four centuries and 16 fifties. The best score of Gavaskar against England was 221 which came in the 1979 Test match at Oval as India were chasing a huge score on the board. 

2- Sachin Tendulkar – 2535 runs 

The greatest batter the world has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar has created many records in his 24-year career for India. The right-handed batter played 32 games against England in the Test format scoring 2535 runs with an average of 51 with seven centuries and 13 fifties. Tendulkar’s best score against England was 193 which came in the 2002 Test match at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds. 

1- Joe Root – 2846 runs 

Former England skipper Joe Root is primed to become the top run-getter in Test cricket history and overtake Sachin Tendulkar. The 35-year-old has played 30 Tests against India scoring 2846 runs with an average of 58 along with 10 centuries and 11 fifties. Root’s best score of 218 came in the 2021 Test at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The veteran batter needs 154 runs to become the first English batter to score 3000 runs against India in Test cricket.