One of the main challenges against playing India for the opponents over the years has been the spin bowlers. The opponent batsmen have generally struggled against spin as they practice a lot in the seamer-friendly pitches. Despite that, some opponent batsmen have taken up the challenge against India and proved their value to the team. These players have been considered legendary for a reason, especially for the way they dominated the Indian spin attack. With all those on a note, it is time to look at the top 10 batsmen with the most runs against India in Tests.
Most Test Runs vs India
PLAYER | MATCHES | INNINGS | RUNS | HIGH SCORE | AVERAGE | NOT OUTS | CENTURIES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Root (ENG) | 30 | 55 | 2846 | 218 | 58.08 | 6 | 10 |
Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 29 | 51 | 2555 | 257 | 54.36 | 4 | 8 |
Alastair Cook (ENG) | 30 | 54 | 2431 | 294 | 47.66 | 3 | 7 |
Clive Lloyd (WI) | 28 | 44 | 2344 | 242* | 58.6 | 4 | 7 |
Javed Miandad (PAK) | 28 | 39 | 2228 | 280* | 67.51 | 6 | 5 |
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) | 25 | 44 | 2171 | 140 | 63.85 | 10 | 7 |
Michael Clarke (AUS) | 22 | 40 | 2049 | 329* | 53.92 | 2 | 7 |
Steve Smith (AUS) | 19 | 37 | 2042 | 192 | 65.87 | 6 | 9 |
Viv Richards (WI) | 28 | 41 | 1927 | 192* | 50.71 | 3 | 8 |
Garry Sobers (WI) | 18 | 30 | 1920 | 198 | 83.47 | 7 | 8 |
Key Stats
Gary Sobers was one of the most nightmares for the Indian side as he kept on piling up runs. He was very difficult to dismiss for the Indian bowlers. Sobers, who played from 1958 to 1971 from the West Indian side, was one of the best all-rounders to have played the game. He scored 1920 runs in 18 Tests against India in Tests at an average of 83.47. He scored 8 centuries and 7 fifties against India with the highest score of 198. Sobers also contributed with his left-arm medium pace and did provide breakthroughs.
Vivian Richards is regarded to be one of the all-time greatest batsmen to have played the game. This record he made is a proof that he was a monster against top class opponents. The West Indian was very aggressive in his approach and relied on hard-hitting. Richards scored 1927 runs in 28 Tests against India at an average of 50.71. He hit 8 centuries and 7 half-centuries against India in his Test career with the highest score of unbeaten 192. In fact, Richards was threatening to take the game away from India in the 1983 World cup final until Madan Lal dismissed him.
Michael Clarke was a brutal batsman to bowl at as he was one of the brilliant feet users to vary the length. Clarke was phenomenal against the Indian bowling attack and liked to dominate the spinners especially. Clarke scored 2049 runs in 22 Tests against India at an average of 53.92. He hit 7 centuries and 6 half-centuries against India with the highest score of an unbeaten 329. His world record in making double centuries makes him stand apart from other legends in this list. Unfortunately, Clarke had to retire early because of the unfortunate loss of his close teammate Philip Hughes on the field after being hit by a bouncer.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul had one of the weirdest techniques in the game and had an unusual stance. But he was always one of those fighters in the batting lineup and survived for a long time in the crease. Chanderpaul scored 2171 runs in 21 Tests against India at an average of 63.85. He played in the middle order and remained not out on ten occasions against India. He scored 7 centuries and 10 half-centuries against India with the highest score of 140.
Joe Root and Steve Smith are the only active batsmen in the list with the later is the new entrant to the list. Joe Root, also the No.2 run-scorer for England in Tests, is expected to go to the top of the list in the next few years as he is still relatively young.
Javed Miandad and India had a lot of fond memories to share, including the World cup incidents. He always likes the challenge against the Indian bowlers and wanted to show who is the boss. Miandad scored 2228 runs in 28 Tests against India at an average of 67.51. He hit a total of 5 centuries and 14 half-centuries against India with the highest score of an unbeaten 280. Miandad was very consistent for Pakistan in the longer formats especially.
Clive Lloyd is termed to be one of the all-time greatest captains in Tests, and he loved the challenges against the Indian side. He led from the front and played a lot of captain’s knocks for his side West Indies. Lloyd scored 2344 runs against India in 28 Tests at an average of 58.60. He scored seven centuries against India alongside 12 half-centuries, with the highest score being an unbeaten 249. Most of these runs came in the India which makes him one of the best non asian batsmen in asian conditions. Lloyd was the skipper of the famous West Indian era that dominated the whole world in the 1980s.
Alastair Cook was one of the greats of modern-day cricket, and he had an extraordinary career for England as a top-order batsman. You can find here his complete Test records. The left-hander was unstoppable in the 2014 home series against India and scored tons of runs. Cook scored 2431 runs in 30 Tests against India at an average of 47.66. His highest score was 294 against India while scoring seven centuries and nine half-centuries. He is the all-time leading run-scorer for England in Tests, and he retired from the Test career in 2018.
Ricky Ponting had a tremendous impact in world cricket in both the Test and the ODI formats for Australia. He is considered among the greats of the game alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Ponting had some fierce rivalries against India, and he leads the chart for the most runs against India in Tests. He scored 2555 runs in 29 Tests at an average of 54.36 against India in the longer format. He smashed eight centuries and 12 half-centuries against India. Ponting’s 257 against India in 2003 at the Melbourne is his overall best score in his international career.