KL Rahul has become the highest run-getter as an Indian opener in 46 years. With 532 runs in five Tests during India’s tour of England, Rahul is the most productive Indian opener in the longest format of the game in the 21st century.
He went past Murali Vijay (402 runs in 2014) and Rohit Sharma (368 runs in 2021-22). However, he narrowly missed out on the record held by Sunil Gavaskar. The legendary batter remains India’s most successful opener, having scored 542 runs during India’s 1979 England tour – a record that still stands firm and unbroken. Rahul missed the milestone by just 10 runs after he was dismissed by Josh Tongue in the second innings for seven when his stay was cut short by a cracking delivery from Tongue that took an edge and landed in Joe Root’s hands in the slips.
Despite his modest performance in The Oval Test, Rahul has had a great series in his new role as an opener. After scoring a century in the practice game against the England Lions, KL Rahul registered fifty-plus scores in all the matches except the fifth Test.
The 33-year-old scored 42 and 137 at Headingley, 2 and 55 at Edgbaston, 100 and 39 at Lord’s, 46 and 90 at Old Trafford, and finally 14 and 7 at The Oval. His 532 runs have come at an average of 53.20 with 1,066 balls faced – only behind Shubman Gill (1,141).
Rahul now has four Test hundreds in England, placing him second only to Rahul Dravid, who scored six centuries there. He ended the series as the second-highest run-getter after Shubman Gill, who amassed 743 runs.
However, the record for the most runs scored by an Indian opener in a Test series still belongs to Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 732 runs in six Tests during the 1978-79 West Indies tour.
Most Runs by an Indian Opener in a Test Series in England:
542 – Sunil Gavaskar (1979)
532 – KL Rahul (2025)
402 – Murali Vijay (2014)
368 – Rohit Sharma (2021-22)