KL Rahul’s career-best Test series puts him in Virat Kohli-Sachin Tendulkar league




Team India opener KL Rahul etched his name in the record books during Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday, July 23. The right-handed batter joined the elite list, including Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, after scoring 1000 Test runs in one of the toughest conditions, England.

After England skipper Ben Stokes chose to bowl first, India began their innings with control. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal showed patience and discipline against the English pace attack. Rahul played defensive shots against challenging balls and capitalized on any loose balls to score boundaries.

KL Rahul Completes 1,000 Test Runs in England

Rahul completed 1,000 Test runs in England on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The right-handed batter became the fifth Indian to achieve this milestone in Test cricket. He needed just 28 runs at the start of play and reached the mark during the 15th over of India’s first innings.

This match is Rahul’s 13th appearance in England, where he averages over 40. He joins an elite list of Indian greats, including Sachin Tendulkar (1,575), Rahul Dravid (1,376), Sunil Gavaskar (1,152), and Virat Kohli (1,096). With more innings to come in this match, Rahul has a chance to climb further up the list.

Most Test Runs for India in England

Player Runs Innings
Sachin Tendulkar 1575 30
Rahul Dravid 1376 23
Sunil Gavaskar 1152 28
Virat Kohli 1096 33
KL Rahul 1004* 25

Rahul in Fine Form in Ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Series

Rahul has delivered key contributions at the top of the order for India in England. He had a mixed outing during his first tour in 2018, scoring 299 runs in five Tests at an average of 29.9, including a century. He showed improvement on the 2021 tour, amassing 315 runs in four matches at an average of 39.38.

Rahul has been in outstanding form in the ongoing 2025 series. With four Test centuries in England, he ranks second among Indian batters for the most hundreds in the country, behind only Rahul Dravid, who has six.

Outside of England, India is the only other country where Rahul has scored over 1,000 Test runs, accumulating 1,149 runs at an average of 39.62.

KL Rahul Scores Most Runs in a Bilateral Test Series

Rahul has enjoyed his best Test series during the ongoing tour of England. At the time of writing, he has scored 412 runs in just four matches at an average of 68.67. The 33-year-old has hit two centuries – one each at Lord’s and Headingley – and also contributed a crucial half-century at Edgbaston.

This is the first time Rahul has crossed the 400-run mark in a single Test series, showcasing consistency after previously not performing up to expectations. Notably, India secured their only win so far in the match at Edgbaston.

Most Runs for KL Rahul in a Bilateral Test Series:

Series Runs
India tour of England 2025 412*
Australia tour of India 2017 392
India tour of England 2021 315
India tour of England 2018 299
India tour of Australia 2024/25 276

Also read: Watch: Anshul Kamboj receives Test cap from Ex-India wicketkeeper at Old Trafford, Manchester




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