Shubman Gill & KL Rahul 'Test' time again, script a 500-run record

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul became the first Indian pair in over five decades to each score 500 or more runs in a single away Test series. The rare milestone was last achieved in 1970-71 by Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Sardesai during India’s tour of the West Indies.

The record was set during the ongoing fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford. Responding to England’s mammoth first-innings total of 669 — led by Ben Stokes' aggressive 141 — India faced early trouble. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed for ducks in the very first over, leaving the visitors at 0/2.

Gill and Rahul steadied the innings with an unbeaten 174-run partnership, guiding India to 174/2 at stumps on Day 4. Gill remained not out on 78, while Rahul was unbeaten on 87. India still trailed England by 137 runs with one day left in the Test.


Gill’s total in the series now stands at 697 runs. Rahul crossed the 500-run mark to become only the second Indian opener after Gavaskar to score 500 or more in an away Test series.

This is only the second time in India’s Test history that two batters have scored over 500 runs each in the same overseas series. The first was Gavaskar (774) and Sardesai (642) in 1970-71 against the West Indies.

The list now reads:

• Sunil Gavaskar (774) & Dilip Sardesai (642) vs West Indies, 1970-71
  
  
• Shubman Gill (697) & KL Rahul (508*) vs England, 2025
  
  

Rahul also became the second Asian opener after Gavaskar (542 in 1979) to notch up 500-plus runs in a Test series in England. He is also the first visiting opener to reach this mark in England in the 21st century since South Africa’s Graeme Smith, who scored 714 in 2003.