The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 205 between England and India witnessed some of the finest batting performances in recent Test cricket history. The five-match
series was largely a run-fest, with batters from both sides dominating the bowlers across various conditions. Several iconic knocks lit up the series, making it a true test of skill to come on top of the moving red ball in English overcast conditions.
As a classic Test match series has come to an end after 45 days of nail-biting cricketing action, it is a good time to check who were the top three batters with most runs.
3. KL Rahul
The stylish batter KL Rahul finished as the third-highest run-scorer of the series with 532 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53.20, including two centuries and two fifties. The dynamic Indian opener began his campaign with a brilliant 137 in the second innings at Leeds, showing grit on a challenging Day 4 pitch, even though the innings came in a losing cause.
In the victorious match at Edgbaston, he added a vital 55 in the second innings, helping India to gain momentum. At Lord’s, known for its slope, Rahul produced a determined century (100) under pressure. The Karnataka-born followed it up with a crucial 90 at Old Trafford, playing a key role in securing a draw and keeping India alive in the series.
2. Joe Root
Joe Root was the second-highest run-scorer of the series with 537 runs in nine innings at a remarkable average of 67.12, including three centuries and a half-century. Root started strong with an unbeaten 53* in the second innings at Headingley, steering England to a 1-0 lead. At Lord’s, he followed up with a sublime 104 in the first innings, helping his side take a 2-1 advantage.
One of his standout performances came in Manchester, where he hammered 150, leading England to a massive total, although the match ended in a draw. In the final Test, Root scored another century (105), combining with Harry Brook to lay the foundation for a strong finish. During this series, the ace English batter also reached a major milestone by surpassing Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history.
1. Shubman Gill
India’s captain Shubman Gill emerged as the top run-getter of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, amassing 754 runs at a staggering average of 75.40, including four centuries. In his debut Test series as skipper, Gill showed exceptional maturity and started off in style, scoring 147 in his first innings as captain, batting at No. 4.
In the second Test at Edgbaston, he produced a stunning double-century, making 269 in the first innings and following it up with a dominant 161 in the second, guiding India to a vital win. Although he missed out in the Lord’s Test, the 25-year-old bounced back at Old Trafford, scoring 103 in the second innings and sharing a crucial partnership that helped India draw the match. Gill’s commanding performances not only earned him the top spot in the run charts but also saw him break multiple records.
