Top five highest scores by an Indian Test captain in England

England has historically been a hostile place for batters of varying capabilities to operate. With gloomy, dark skies and grass-coated pitches, seamers often leave a trail of destruction behind, which the batters are unable to come to terms with. But despite the obvious adversaries, there are a select few who relish the challenge and go on to etch their names in the record books.

Over the years, the cricketing world has witnessed some stellar batting performances from the Indian Test captains. Although Shubman Gill made headlines by slamming his career-best 269 at Edgbaston, there are a few other Test captains who have also managed to make it to this elite list. In this article, we will find out the top five knocks played by an Indian Test captain in England. 

See also: [WATCH] Throwback to young Shubman Gill's old video where he talks about his cricketing ambitions

Shubman Gill's 269 (2025)

Shubman Gill leads the list with a staggering 269 at Edgbaston in July 2025, setting a new record for Indian captains in England, surpassing all previous marks. His 387-ball innings featured 30 fours and 3 sixes, marking his highest first-class score and the highest ever by an Indian in England. Besides, he went on to shatter some more long-standing records, becoming the first Asian captain to score a Test double-century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions. Spanning over two days, Gill’s knock anchored India’s 587 first-innings total. Gill laid the foundation by sharing a massive 203-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, followed by a 144-run stand with Washington Sundar.

Mohammad Azharuddin's 179 (1990)

Mohammad Azharuddin’s classic innings of 179 against England in the Second Test at Old Trafford in 1990 was the previous-best score attained by an Indian test skipper in England. The record stood for 35 years before Gill's stellar show at Edgbaston eclipsed it. Azharuddin, captaining India, came to the crease at a precarious 57/3 and crafted a vital innings of 179 off 281 balls, including 21 fours and 1 six, steering India to 432 all out, thus preventing the follow-on. He formed a healthy 189-run stand with Sanjay Manjrekar (93) to stabilize the innings, followed by a 112-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar (68), further consolidating the position.

Virat Kohli's 149 (2018)

Virat Kohli's fighting knock of 149 in Birmingham in the 2018 Test series comes third in the list.  Kohli rescued India from 54/2 by scoring 149 off 225 balls with 22 fours and a six. It was a lone, fighting stand as the rest of the top order faltered, navigating swinging conditions against Anderson, Broad, Stokes, and Curran. The innings spanned three sessions; his century came off 172 balls, and his dismissal just short of 150 left India trailing England by 13 runs after the first innings. But it is to be noted that the Indian King was put down on a couple of occasions previously, on 21 and again around 52. The now-retired Indian Test legend cashed in and went on to single-handedly punish the English bowlers. 

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's 148 (1967)

As the record book would have it, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also dubbed "Tiger," was the first Indian Test skipper to smash a century on English soil. He unlocked this marvelous feat during the 1967 Test series in Headingley. After India was asked to follow on—trailing by a massive 386 runs—Pataudi joined Hanumant Singh at 228/4 in the second innings. They put together a 134-run partnership for the 5th wicket, helping India avoid an innings defeat. Pataudi scored 148 off 348 balls, including 15 fours and a six, in a marathon display under immense pressure. India had suffered from injuries and relied on only three bowlers. Once England had amassed 550/4 declared, Pataudi's knock kept India alive in a seemingly lost cause

Shubman Gill's 147 (2025)

India's newly appointed Test captain seems to be on a roll in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. His knock of 147 against England at Headingly proved to be a stepping stone for a stunning milestone which was to follow in the subsequent Test match. On his first Test as skipper, Gill scored 147 off 227 balls, including 19 fours and one six, to help India reach 471 all out in their first innings. He came together with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, forging a 205‑run third-wicket stand and remaining unbeaten till significant milestones. His century solidified India’s dominant standing on day one—359/3 at stumps—and helped India get to a substantial total. Subsequently, in the process, Gill became the fifth Indian captain to score a century on Test captaincy debut, joining an elite list with Hazare, Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, and Kohli. Unfortunately, his century came in a losing cause as India ended up on the losing side and lost the Test by five wickets.