One of the main challenges playing against 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 on 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) | 35 | 64 | 3383 | 218 | 59.35 | 7 | 13 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 29 | 51 | 2555 | 257 | 54.36 | 4 | 8 |
| Alastair Cook (ENG) | 30 | 54 | 2431 | 294 | 47.66 | 3 | 7 |
| Steve Smith (AUS) | 24 | 46 | 2356 | 192 | 58.90 | 6 | 11 |
| 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 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 28 | 41 | 1927 | 192* | 50.71 | 3 | 8 |
| Garry Sobers (WI) | 18 | 30 | 1920 | 198 | 83.47 | 7 | 8 |
More (vs INDIA records) in Cricket
Most Runs vs India across Formats
Most Centuries vs India across Formats
Most Runs vs India in ODI Cricket
Most Centuries vs India in ODI
Highest Individual Scores vs India in ODI
Most Centuries vs India in Tests
Most Wickets vs India in Tests
Best Bowling Figures vs India in Tests
Most Centuries vs India in T20I
Key Insights
Joe Root has aggregated the most Test runs against India. He is the only batter to score more than 3000 runs against them.
Root has also smashed the most centuries against the Indian team in Tests. He is one of the two batters to bring up 10 or more tons.
Root and Ricky Ponting are the two batters to rack up 20 or more fifty-plus scores against India in Tests.
Everton Weekes has the highest Test average against India. The former West Indies batter averaged 106.78 while scoring 1495 runs in 15 innings.
Sanath Jayasuriya has racked up the highest individual score against India in Tests. The former Sri Lankan scored 340 runs in the second innings of the 1997 Colombo Test. Jayasuriya’s knock propelled the Lankan team to the highest Test total of 952 for 6 (declared).
Graham Gooch (333), Michael Clarke (329*), and Brendon McCullum (302) are the other Test triple centurions against India.
1822 of Clive Lloyd’s 2344 runs came as the West Indies captain, the most by a skipper against India in Tests.
Andy Flower is the only wicketkeeper to aggregate more than 1000 Test runs against India. The Zimbabwean scored 1035 runs in 14 innings. Overall, Flower scored 1138 runs in 18 outings.
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