Manchester, July 27, 2025 – Shubman Gill has stormed into the cricket record books, becoming the first Asian batter to score more than 650 runs in a single Test series in England. The 25-year-old Indian captain reached this landmark during the ongoing Test leg at Old Trafford, surpassing the previous mark set by Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf, who tallied 631 runs in 2006. Gill now sits alone at the top among Asian run-getters on English soil, with his series tally approaching 700 before the final day of play.
How Gill Built the Record
The run spree started early in the four-match series against England:
- Gill’s standout moment came in Birmingham at Edgbaston, where he hammered 269 in the first innings to set a new record for the highest Test score by an Indian captain outside Asia. He followed that up with another hundred in the next Test, showing remarkable control and shot selection in tough batting conditions.
- Across four matches and seven completed innings so far, Gill’s consistency has been key. He’s notched up three centuries, including one double, and several crucial partnerships that helped rescue India from pressure situations.
- In tough moments—like being 0/2 at Old Trafford—Gill dug in and batted all day alongside KL Rahul, helping India avoid a probable defeat and pushing his own tally past the 650 mark.
Why This Record Matters
Gill’s achievement is getting noticed not just for the raw numbers, but for how he’s managed runs in difficult English conditions—hostile swing, overcast skies, and a high-quality England bowling attack. Until now, no Asian batter (including legends like Tendulkar, Dravid, Kohli, and Gavaskar) had ever reached the 650-run barrier in a single series here. His double-century, composed under pressure, is being compared with the great knocks of past visiting batters.
This breakthrough also comes in Gill’s debut series as Indian Test captain, adding extra importance to his feat. He’s now on pace to possibly break Sunil Gavaskar’s all-time record of 732 runs in a series, set against West Indies back in 1978-79 (though that was on home turf, not in England).
What’s Next
Gill will resume batting on Day 5, with a chance to further extend his record and help India push for a draw or upset win. The cricket world is watching to see where his streak ends, but his place in history is secure: no Asian has ever dominated a Test series in England like Shubman Gill has in 2025.
