The England Cricket Team their toughest test when will face India in the first test match to be played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 25th January. These two teams faced each other in their first-ever test match in 1932. Since then, both teams featured in 131 matches with England winning 50, and India 31, 50 resulting in a draw.
Harry Brook will not take part in the series due to personal reasons. England would look to win the series for the first time on Indian soil since 2012. It promises to be an exciting series between two top teams in the world.
Here we look at the 5 highest run-getters versus India in Test matches:
- Joe Root-2526
The experienced Joe Root has scored the most runs by an England batter in Test matches against India. He has shown the ability to play in England conditions and the ability to play the spinners in Indian conditions brilliantly.
He has played a total of 25 Test matches (45 innings) against India in Test matches including 9 centuries and 10 half-centuries to his name. Root registered his best score of 218 in the first Test match at Chennai during the 2020-21 Test tour of India. He would look to replicate his form during the upcoming five-match Test series starting from tomorrow onwards.
Joe Root finished as the leading run-getter on England’s tour of India in 2014. He scored 518 runs from 5 matches (7 innings) including 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries. Root proved his worth on his first full-fledged India tour in 2016. He was in his element, but England lost the series by 0-4.
- Alastair Cook- 2431
Alistar Cook was another solid opening batter for England. He proved to be a thorn in the Indian bowling lineup. He made his Test debut versus India in 2006 at Nagpur. Cook played a total of 30 Test matches (54 innings) and scored 2431 runs including 7 centuries and 9 half-centuries to his name.
His batting looked impressive in tough Indian conditions. Under his captaincy, England won their first-ever Test series win on Indian soil in 2012. He played some lovely knocks with the best knock of 294 in the 3rd Test match at Birmingham during India’s tour of England in 2011.
- Graham Gooch- 1725
The stylish right-handed batter Graham Gooch also had a great record against India in Test matches. He played his first Test match against India in 1979. His performances stood out scoring 1725 runs from 19 matches (33 innings) including 5 centuries and 8 half-centuries to his name.
Gooch showed his class against Indian bowlers with a record-breaking 333 during India’s tour of England in 1990. He smashed 333 runs in the first innings and scored 123 in the second innings to help England register a comfortable 247-run victory.
For his match-winning effort, Graham Gooch was named the man of the match award. Gooch showed his class on his first tour of India with 487 runs from 6 matches. His final tour of India ended in a bad way as he scored only 47 runs from innings during 1993.
- Kevin Petersen- 1581
The explosive right-handed batter Kevin Petersen also showed his class against India in Test matches. He played his first Test against India in 2006. Petersen put on an excellent display of batting with 1581 runs from 16 matches (28 innings) including 6 centuries and 6 half-centuries to his name.
He played a key role in helping England win their first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil in 2012. Petersen’s best score against India in Test matches of 202 not out during his first match at Lords in 2011.
Petersen made 338 runs from 4 matches (7 innings) with 338 runs including 1 century and 2 half-centuries to his name. His best score during that series was 186 in the 2nd Test match at Mumbai.
- Dawid Gower- 1391
The stylish left-handed batter Dawid Gower also showed his class with some brilliant knocks against India in Test matches. He played his first Test match against India in 1979. He played a total of 24 matches (37 innings) including 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries to his name.
He played his final Test match against India in 1990. Gower registered his best score of an unbeaten 200 in his first test encounter at Edgbaston, Birmingham. His performance on Indian soil was impressive with 375 runs but was not able to convert into a big score.
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