Shubman Gill has created history on the very first day of the India vs England Test series by scoring a sensational double hundred. This milestone is significant for two key reasons. It is Gill’s maiden double century in Test cricket, and he also becomes the first Asian captain to score over 200 runs in a Test match held in England.
Following his knock, Gill credited his success to coach Gautam Gambhir, praising his guidance and influence on his game.
In this article, we will delve into the importance of this achievement, compare it with other iconic double centuries in Test cricket, and examine how Gill’s performance stands among the finest innings played by Indian batters abroad.
The First Asian to Score a Double Century in England
The double century (269 runs) by Shubman Gill is undoubtedly a proud moment for Indians. With this knock at Edgbaston, Gill became the first Asian cricketer to score a double hundred in a Test match in England. Shubman Gill’s 269 is now the highest individual score by an Indian in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221.
He also broke Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of 179 to become the highest-scoring Indian captain in England. In overseas Tests, he went past Virat Kohli’s 254* to set a new record for the highest score by an Indian captain. At 25 years and 298 days, Gill became the second-youngest Indian captain to hit a Test double century.
Most Double Centuries in Test Cricket
The record for the most double centuries in Test cricket is held by Sir Don Bradman, who scored 12 in 52 matches. He is followed by Kumar Sangakkara (11), Brian Lara and Wally Hammond (9 each), and Mahela Jayawardene (7). Among Indians, Virat Kohli leads with 7 double centuries, showcasing his dominance in modern cricket.
Top 10 Most Double Century in Test Cricket
| Player | Tests | Double Centuries | Career Runs | Highest Score |
| Don Bradman (AUS) | 52 | 12 | 6,996 | 334 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 134 | 11 | 12,400 | 319 |
| Brian Lara (WI) | 131 | 9 | 11,953 | 400* |
| Wally Hammond (ENG) | 85 | 7 | 7,249 | 336* |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 123 | 7 | 9,230 | 254* |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 149 | 7 | 11,814 | 374 |
| Marvan Atapattu (SL) | 90 | 6 | 5,502 | 249 |
| Virender Sehwag (IND) | 104 | 6 | 8,586 | 319 |
| Javed Miandad (PAK) | 124 | 6 | 8,832 | 280* |
| Younis Khan (PAK) | 118 | 6 | 10,099 | 313 |
1. Don Bradman
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 52 |
| Runs | 6,996 |
| Double Centuries | 12 |
| Highest Score | 334 |
Don Bradman scored the highest 12 double centuries in just 52 Tests for Australia. He made 6,996 runs at an average of 99.94. His highest Test score was 334. Bradman remains the only player with more than 10 double centuries in test cricket despite playing fewer matches.
2. Kumar Sangakkara
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 134 |
| Runs | 12,400 |
| Double Centuries | 11 |
| Highest Score | 319 |
Kumar Sangakkara, one of the most successful batsmen of Sri Lanka, scored 11 double centuries in 134 Test matches for Sri Lanka. He scored 12,400 runs with an average of 57.40. His highest Test score was 319 against Bangladesh. He is the leading double centurion among left-handed batters.
3. Brian Lara
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 131 |
| Runs | 11,953 |
| Double Centuries | 9 |
| Highest Score | 400* |
Brian Lara scored 9 double century in test cricket in 131 matches for the West Indies in his career. He scored 11,953 runs with an average of 52.88. His highest score was 400 not out, which is also the highest individual score in Test history, and still unbreakable by champions.
4. Wally Hammond
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 85 |
| Runs | 7,249 |
| Double Centuries | 7 |
| Highest Score | 336* |
Wally Hammond scored 7 double centuries in 85 Tests for England, even though he had played fewer matches comparatively. He scored 7,249 runs with an average of 58.45. His highest Test score was 336 not out. He played between 1927 and 1947 and was one of England’s top batsmen.
5. Virat Kohli
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 123 |
| Runs | 9,200+ |
| Double Centuries | 7 |
| Highest Score | 254* |
Virat Kohli, the king of cricket, has scored 7 double centuries in test cricket of 123 matches for India. He has over 9,200 runs at an average above 49. His highest score is 254 not out. He holds the record for the most double centuries as an Indian captain.
Note: Shubman Gill recently broke Virat Kohli’s record for the highest score by an Indian captain in Test cricket overseas. Gill scored 269, surpassing Kohli’s 254 not out.
6. Mahela Jayawardene
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 149 |
| Runs | 11,814 |
| Double Centuries | 7 |
| Highest Score | 374 |
Mahela Jayawardene scored 7 double centuries in 149 Tests for Sri Lanka. He scored 11,814 runs at an average of 49.84. His highest score was 374, the highest by a Sri Lankan in Tests. He formed a famous partnership with Sangakkara.
7. Marvan Atapattu
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 90 |
| Runs | 5,502 |
| Double Centuries | 6 |
| Highest Score | 249 |
Marvan Atapattu scored 6 double centuries in 90 Tests for Sri Lanka. He scored 5,502 runs at an average of 39.02. His highest Test score was 249. He often converted centuries into double hundreds throughout his career.
8. Virender Sehwag
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 104 |
| Runs | 8,586 |
| Double Centuries | 6 |
| Highest Score | 319 |
Virender Sehwag scored 6 double centuries in 104 Tests for India. He scored 8,586 runs at an average of 49.34. His highest score was 319. He is known for his aggressive batting and two triple centuries.
9. Javed Miandad
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 124 |
| Runs | 8,832 |
| Double Centuries | 6 |
| Highest Score | 280* |
Javed Miandad scored 6 double centuries in 124 Tests for Pakistan. He scored 8,832 runs at an average of 52.57. His highest Test score was 280 not out. He was Pakistan’s leading batsman during the 1980s.
10. Younis Khan
| Stat | Value |
| Matches | 118 |
| Runs | 10,099 |
| Double Centuries | 6 |
| Highest Score | 313 |
Younis Khan scored 6 double centuries in 118 Tests for Pakistan. He scored 10,099 runs with an average of 52.05. His highest score in Tests was 313. He is the only Pakistani to score over 10,000 Test runs.
Most Double Centuries in Test Cricket By an Indian Batsman
With 7 hundreds, Virat Kohli holds the record for the most Test double centuries by an Indian batsman. He is followed by Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who both have 6 each. Other Indian legends like Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, and VVS Laxman also feature in this elite list.
