Cricket Records: Top 10 Highest Test Scores by a Batsman (Overall & Indians) Discover the top 10 highest Test scores in cricket history, including Indian legends like Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, and Shubman Gill. See where Gill’s 269 ranks!
Table of Contents
Top 10 Highest Test Scores by a Batsman: A Legendary List of Batting Brilliance
Test cricket has always been the ultimate test of a batsman’s patience, skill, and endurance. From timeless classics to modern-day masterclasses, the format has seen awe-inspiring innings that defy the limits of concentration and talent. In this post, we bring you the top 10 highest Test scores ever recorded and the top 10 Test scores by Indian batsmen—a tribute to cricket’s elite run machines.
Shubman Gill Enters the Elite Club
In a stunning display of resilience and flair, Shubman Gill smashed 269 runs against England in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 in Birmingham. This historic knock is not only Gill’s personal best but also now the seventh-highest Test score by an Indian, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 254*.
More notably, it is the highest Test score by an Indian captain, overtaking Kohli’s previous captaincy record. Gill’s innings cements his status among India’s greats and showcases his evolution into a world-class Test batter.
Top 10 Highest Test Scores by Indian Batsmen
India has produced some of the world’s finest Test batsmen. Here’s a look at the best of the best:
| Rank | Player | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virender Sehwag | 319 | South Africa | Chennai | 2008 |
| 2 | Virender Sehwag | 309 | Pakistan | Multan | 2004 |
| 3 | Karun Nair | 303* | England | Chennai | 2016 |
| 4 | Virender Sehwag | 293 | Sri Lanka | Mumbai | 2009 |
| 5 | VVS Laxman | 281 | Australia | Kolkata | 2001 |
| 6 | Rahul Dravid | 270 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2004 |
| 7 | Shubman Gill | 269 | England | Birmingham | 2025 |
| 8 | Virat Kohli | 254* | South Africa | Pune | 2019 |
| 9 | Virender Sehwag | 254 | Pakistan | Lahore | 2006 |
| 10 | Sachin Tendulkar | 248* | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 2004 |
Quick Note: Sehwag dominates this list with three entries, including two triple centuries—a rare feat in Test cricket.
Top 10 Highest Test Scores Overall (All Countries)
Now, let’s go global. These are the most monumental individual scores in the history of Test cricket:
| Rank | Player | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Lara | 400* | England | St John’s | 2004 |
| 2 | Matthew Hayden | 380 | Zimbabwe | Perth | 2003 |
| 3 | Brian Lara | 375 | England | St John’s | 1994 |
| 4 | Mahela Jayawardene | 374 | South Africa | Colombo | 2006 |
| 5 | Garry Sobers | 365* | Pakistan | Kingston | 1958 |
| 6 | Leonard Hutton | 364 | Australia | The Oval | 1938 |
| 7 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 340 | India | Colombo | 1997 |
| 8 | Hanif Mohammad | 337 | West Indies | Bridgetown | 1958 |
| 9 | Wally Hammond | 336* | New Zealand | Auckland | 1933 |
| 10 | David Warner | 335* | Pakistan | Adelaide | 2019 |
Brian Lara remains the undisputed king, with the only 400-run Test score ever. He also holds two spots on this all-time list.
🇮🇳 Triple Centuries in Test Cricket by Indians
India has only three triple centuries in Test history:
- Virender Sehwag – 319 vs South Africa (2008)
- Virender Sehwag – 309 vs Pakistan (2004)
- Karun Nair – 303* vs England (2016)
With his 269, Shubman Gill nearly joined this elite club, and his form suggests it may be just a matter of time.
Conclusion: Where Does Gill Go From Here?
With India’s cricketing future in bright hands, Shubman Gill’s 269 is more than just a big score—it’s a signal that a new generation is ready to carry the torch. Whether he will achieve a triple century or break more records remains to be seen, but for now, he has joined an elite club of Indian Test legends.
Don’t forget to bookmark this page for regular updates on cricket records and achievements!