7 Indians to Score Most Runs in a Calendar Year in Tests

Yashasvi Jaiswal has had an excellent year in 2024, particularly in Test cricket. The talented youngster recently hit 1300+ Test runs during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25. He joins a league of top-rated Indians who have scored over 1300 runs in Tests in one calendar year. Let’s check out the top seven (7) Indians who scored most runs in a calendar year in Tests.

1.  Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin ‘Master Blaster’ Tendulkar sits atop the rankings of Indian batsmen with the most Test runs in a calendar year. The veteran batter smashed home 1562 runs in 2010 to remain clear of other talented swingers from the Men in Blue.

Many notable knocks in Tendulkar’s dominant march to this record include 7 centuries and a double-ton vs Australia (214 runs). The 2010 run from Sachin cemented his status as India’s greatest batter of the modern era.

Tendulkar also ranks 6th in the all-time rankings for most Test runs scored. His 2002 performance saw India’s talismanic hitter bag 1392 runs across Tests.

2.  Virender Sehwag

Sehwag was in blazing form for several seasons before his retirement. The veteran batsman took full advantage of his run-scoring prowess to deliver remarkable performances in Tests for 2 out of 3 years.

Sehwag smashed home 1462 runs as a Test cricketer in 2008 to place second among all-time high-scorers for Indian in this format. He almost bettered his tally 2 seasons later after smashing home 1422 Test runs in 2010.

3.  Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar was the top Indian with most Test centuries for over three decades before Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag came along. The veteran batsman delivered back-to-back exhilarating performances in 1979 to register 1407 Test runs in that calendar year.

Gavaskar’s calm and measured strokes highlighted his immense gameplay alongside his abilities to deliver huge runs under pressure. His innings produced several remarkable hauls, including a 221-run score. Gavaskar still gains massive recognition for his anchoring ability and was instrumental to India’s successful ‘70s cricket run.  

4.  Yashasvi Jaiswal

India’s batting prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal is now among some of cricket’s top record-breakers. The youngster has now smashed 1394 Test runs in 2024 to join India’s best hitters per calendar year in this format. His remarkable Test run in one year has seen Jaiswal bag several hundreds and an unbeaten double-century.

Jaiswal being 22 years old while achieving such a mammoth feat is a great indication of India’s potential dominance in future cricket competitions.

5.  Gundappa Viswanath

Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t the only on-fire Test batter for India in 1979. His compatriot Gundappa Viswanath currently ranks high up the Test run rankings in one calendar year with 1388 runs. Gundappa achieved this feat with an impressive 57.8 average and 179 high score against opposing teams in that year.

6.  Rahul Dravid

2002 was the year Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid will leave his mark on Indian Test cricket for decades. The talismanic batter got to work throughout this remarkable year by smashing home 1357 runs with a 59.0 average in the format. His resilient batting ability and durable gameplay gave Dravid the edge over opposing teams throughout Test meetings in that year.

His ability to bat for longer than others reaped benefits with a double-century and other remarkable knocks as India achieved dominant performances that year.

7.  Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli had an outstanding Test run in 2018 and achieved a masterclass batting performance throughout the calendar year. Kohli smashed home 1322 runs in Tests by displaying remarkable reflexes against bowling attacks in different conditions.

Full List of 7 Indians to Score Most Runs in a Calendar Year in Tests (by Runs Scored)