The Indian team will be locking horns with England in the highly anticipated test match on 4th August 2021. Trent Bridge will be hosting the first series of the coming ICC World Test Championship. In the inaugural ICC World Test Championship India was the runners-up as they could not win against their opponent, New Zealand, in the finals whereas England could not make it to the top of the WTC table. Assuringly both the teams will be giving their best performances to start the series with an absolute blast. The series starting from tomorrow 4th August 2021 and will continue till 14 September 2021 after 5 test matches.

Both the teams have balanced squad members and the caliber to show marvelous performances on the field. Meanwhile, let's take a look at the top five batsmen who have scored the most centuries in ENG vs IND Test series till now.

1. Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook tops the list with the most number of centuries in ENG vs IND Test series with 7 centuries in 30 test matches against India. In the longest format of cricket, it is always a bit difficult for the openers to play with the new ball especially in England. Openers need a lot of patience and endurance to remain on the pitch and score runs consistently in test cricket. Needless to say, the England opener is blessed with techniques needed to last on the pitch for a very long time. He is also the highest scorer of test centuries in England. He has also shown his proficiency and competence in the most renowned test series, 'Ashes' against Australia.

The start of his Test career was dreamy as he made a century in his debut match against India and continued his legacy in the next matches as well. The rise of his career was evident since his debut only and he continued his reign throughout his entire career. The former England cricketer was very resilient which helped him to succeed so well in his profession. In 54 test innings against India, he scored 7 centuries with an average of 47.66. His highest test score against India is 294.

Read also: Most runs in T20I cricket (men's)

2. Rahul Dravid

The first Indian cricketer on this elite list is Rahul Dravid. "The wall" of Indian Cricket has always been proven to be one of the most pivotal members of the squad. e it winning the matches by his memorable knocks or brilliant captaincy, he made sure to establish the Indian cricket team in the best way possible. His techniques and shots for the longest format of the match were always eye-pleasing and entertaining. He is definitely one of the most complete test batsmen in Indian cricket history. In 21 test matches against England, he has scored 7 centuries with the highest score of 217 and an average of 60.93.
Also, he has scored the fifth-most number of Test centuries (36) and is the only cricketer with 10,000 plus test runs at the no. 3 position.

3. Sachin Tendulkar

When the topic is international centuries, one name which will always appear in the list is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. The God of cricket has not only scored the third most centuries in ENG vs IND Test series but also scored the most number of Test centuries overall. He is one of those few Indian cricketers for whom the entire team and the nation will always be proud and indebted to his contribution. With his astonishing capabilities and flawless deliveries, he has secured the topmost position in his profession for decades now. In 32 test matches against England, he has scored 7 centuries with an average of 51.73.

Read also: 5 best cricketing friendship in cricket history

4. Mohammad Azharuddin

The fourth cricketer on this elite list is the former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin. He showed his class and potentiality during his time. His international debut in test cricket is a dream of every cricketer. He entered into the world of test cricket with a debut century against England in Eden Gardens. He continued three centuries in the next test matches as well and sport centuries in all his first 3 test matches. For his century scoring abilities, he was even considered a batting genius. These moments were the extreme highs of his career when he became the captain of the team replacing Srikkanth. He established himself as a very successful Captain and won many matches for the team as well.

Everything was going great in his professional career until he fell into the trap of match-fixing and ended his career with a lot of disgrace. He played a total of 15 test matches against England and scored 6 centuries with an average of 58.09.

Read also: ENG vs IND Test Series: Mayank Agarwal ruled out of the first test

5. Kevin Pietersen

The next cricketer on this list is the South African descent who played for England in all the formats of the match is Kevin Pieterson. Since the beginning of his career, he has always remained quite a talk of the town kind of cricketer. Both his style choices and cricket abilities always lead people to talk and discuss him. His rising in the England cricket team was evident due to his impressive performances on the field. For a very brief period of time, he took the responsibility of captaincy on his shoulders. He resigned after playing 3 test matches and 9 ODI matches. In only 16 matches against India, he has scored 6 centuries with an average of 58.55. and enlisted his name on this list. His highest score against India has been 202*.

Which cricketer are you looking for in the upcoming ENG vs IND Test series?

Some legendary Indian cricketers left their impact beyond the scorecards and records, which earned them an everlasting tribute. Their legacies live on the stadiums where they created their cricketing magic.

Curious to know the ones who had their contributions honored with their names on a stadium stand or pavilion? Scroll down to discover the 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, has 2 stands named after him. He was also honoured with a gate named after him at the Sydney Cricket Ground, unveiled on his 50th birthday.

• Sachin Tendulkar Pavilion: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Sachin Tendulkar Stand: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE 

2. Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli was honored for his outstanding achievements and contributions to Indian cricket with a pavilion named after him in his home city, Delhi.

• Virat Kohli Pavilion: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi 

Read Also: Top 5 Records of Virat Kohli that might never be broken

3. MS Dhoni

Honoring the hometown hero, MS Dhoni Pavilion was named as a tribute to his legendary captaincy and achievements.

• MS Dhoni Pavilion: JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi

4. Rohit Sharma 

Acknowledging Rohit Sharma's elegant batting and leadership for India, the stand named after him at the Wankhede is a recent addition, inaugurated in 2025.

• Rohit Sharma Stand: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

5. Sourav Ganguly 

Sourav Ganguly stand, unveiled in 2017, is a tribute to dada, not only for his influential captaincy, but also for his contributions as the former president of CAB and BCCI.

• Sourav Ganguly Stand: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

6. Sunil Gavaskar 

The pavilion named after Sunil Gavaskar stands as a lasting tribute for the cricketing legend.

• Sunil Gavaskar Pavilion: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

7. Yuvraj Singh 

The world cup hero and local boy of Punjab, Yuvraj Singh, was honored with a joint ceremony where two stands were named after him and his teammate, Harbhajan Singh.

• Yuvraj Singh Stand: PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium, Punjab

8. Harbhajan Singh 

The legendary spin master and Punjab's homeboy, Harbhajan Singh, received this everlasting tribute when a stand was named after him in 2022.

• Harbhajan Singh Stand: PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium, Punjab

Read Also: 'MS Dhoni cried that night,' Harbhajan Singh shared the CSK captain's rare emotional moment

9. VVS Laxman 

Known for his elegant batting style, VVS Laxman was given the tribute with a pavilion named after him at his hometown (Hyderabad).

• VVS Laxman Pavilion: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad 

10. Mohammad Azharuddin 

The former captain of Indian team, Mohammad Azharuddin, was honored with a stand at his beloved ground in his homecity, Hyderabad.

• Mohammad Azharuddin Stand: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad 

11. Jhulan Goswami

In 2023, Eden Gardens celebrated and honored the legendary pride of Bengal, Jhulan Goswami. Her name stands as the only woman on this list to achieve this milestone.

• Jhulan Goswami Stand: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Read Also: From Chakdah to Lords: Adios, Jhulan Goswami

12. Gautam Gambhir

From crucial role in World Cup victories for India, to his role as the head coach, Gautam Gambhir truly deserves the stand named after him in his home ground.

• Gautam Gambhir Stand: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

13. Dilip Vengsarkar 

Wankhede holds the name of many spectacular players and Dilip Vengsarkar is one of them. It celebrates he golden moments in cricket.

• Dilip Vengsarkar Stand: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

14. Vijay Merchant 

Yet another elegant player to have a stand named after them at the Wankhede. Vijay Merchant's quality contributions are highly appreciated.

• Vijay Merchant Stand: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

15. Ajit Wadekar

The former Indian captain and influential figure, Ajit Wadekar, holds a prestigious stand named after him, alongside Sharad Pawar.

• Ajit Wadekar Stand: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

16. Virender Sehwag

While we discuss stands or pavilions, it is worth noting that the gate no. 2 at Arun Jaitley Stadium was named after the legendary cricketer, Virender Sehwag, as a tribute.

• Virended Sehwag GATE: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi 

Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are two such names in Test cricket who have taken Indian cricket to new heights. While Sachin is called the 'God of Cricket', Virat has proved himself to be the greatest batsman of the modern era with his aggressive style and consistency.

Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket after playing the format for 14 odd years. Kohli, also the former Test captain of India, made his debut in the format in 2011, and since then he had been India's main man in the red ball format.

Also Read: Virat Kohli in Tests: In Numbers

So let's take a look at Sachin vs Kohli stats comparison in Test cricket.

Tendulkar's Test career

Sachin Tendulkar played his first test match in 1989 against Pakistan. He played 200 test matches for the Indian cricket team, in which he remained unbeaten 33 times in 329 innings and managed to score 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. He scored 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. Tendulkar's best score in Test cricket was 248* runs. Sachin played his last Test match in the year 2013.

Kohli's Test Career

Kohli played his first Test match in 2011 against West Indies. He was last seen playing against the Australia in January 2025. He scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings of 123 matches at an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries from his bat. Kohli's best score has been 254*. During this period, Kohli also remained unbeaten in 13 innings.

Sachin vs Kohli | Stats at number four

Tendulkar played 177 Test matches for India at number four. He was successful in scoring 13,492 runs in 275 innings at an average of 54.40. He scored 44 centuries and 58 half-centuries. His best score was 248*.

Kohli managed to score 7,564 runs at an average of 50.09 in 160 innings of 98 matches at number four. He scored 26 centuries and 21 half-centuries. His best score was 254* runs.

Sachin vs Kohli | Stats as a captain

Tendulkar captained India in 25 Test matches. The team won 4 matches and lost 9 matches. 12 matches were drawn. His winning percentage was 30.76.

Kohli captained the Indian team in 68 matches. The team won 40 matches and lost 17 matches. 11 matches were drawn. Kohli's winning percentage was 70.17.

Sachin vs Kohli | Most Test matches

This is one record that will be very hard to break for anybody. Let's just say that at this moment in time, it looks impossible to break Sachin Tendulkar's record for most Test matches.

Often regarded as the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar played 200 Test matches in his illustrious career, whereas Virat Kohli ends his career with 123 Test matches.

Also Read: Fav four in cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith overall stats

Sachin vs Kohli | Most centuries

This is one record that Kohli was expected to break, but unfortunately, he did fall short of going past Sachin Tendulkar. But this does not take away the fact that Kohli is an all-time great and is one of the geniuses that the game has ever seen.

Sachin Tendulkar has 51 Test hundreds to his name, whereas Kohli ends his career with 30 Test hundreds.

Sachin vs Kohli | Most Test Runs

Kohli and Sachin, they have scored runs around the globe and in all conditions. This makes them two greats to have ever played the game. Sachin ended his Test career with 15,921 runs, whereas Kohli called time on his career after scoring 9,230 runs.

The journey of successful Indian captains have been remarkable over the years. The nation has got exceptional leaders who shaped the landscape of Test cricket for India. 

It is now time to look back at those victories brought to us by the Indian team under such efficient captains. Here are the most successful Test captains from India.

1. Virat Kohli (40 wins)

Virat Kohli is considered to be the most successful Test captain India could ever get! He had a stellar career as a captain from 2014 to 2022. Under his captaincy, India became aggressively dominant in home and held a streak of never losing or drawing a single home series.

Kohli secured 40 wins out of 68 tests, which is the highest as an Indian captain. He also holds the record for most double centuries by an Indian in Test cricket, with a total of 7 double centuries.

India has had several quality test batters, but there is no other captain who could match King Kohli's legacy.

Virat Kohli's test stats as captain:

Read Also: Virat Kohli became the Test captain on this very day; a look at Kohli's legacy as Test captain

2. MS Dhoni (27 wins)

MS Dhoni served as a Test captain for six years for India, and had a stellar career. He holds the record for most number of sixes by an Indian captain, which is 51 in number.

Under Dhoni's captaincy, India won 27 tests out of 60, having a win percentage of 45%.

Dhoni's test stats as captain:

3. Sourav Ganguly (21 wins)

Sourav Ganguly, who is widely known for his contributions as a player and captain for the Indian team, is a prominent name in this list of most successful Test captains from India.

Dada was the Indian test captain from 2000-2005 and won 21 tests out of 49 played. He also holds the 2nd position for record most wins as a test captain overseas, winning 11 out of 28 matches.

Sourav Ganguly's test stats as captain:

Read Also: Most Runs for India in Pink Ball Test

4. Mohammad Azharuddin (14 wins)

Mohammad Azharuddin is another big name to be mentioned when it comes to Test cricket captaincy for India. He served as a captain for 9 years, winning 14 matches out of 47.

Azharuddin mostly enjoyed dominating in home soil and sealing crucial victories for the team. 

Mohammad Azharuddin's test stats as captain:

5. Rohit Sharma (12 wins)

Rohit Sharma is another name for one of the most successful Test captains from India who led to 10+ victories for the team. He is the 5th captain to do so. He was also one of the most impactful opener for India in tests.

Even though Rohit's captaincy tenure was short-lived, as he decided to retire from test format on 7th May, 2025, he still managed to be on top with 12 wins in 24 matches.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma stats in Tests: Is Rohit the greatest test opener since Virender Sehwag?

Rohit Sharma'r test stats as captain 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi just broke the record to become the youngest centurion in Indian Premier League history at the age of 14 years 32 days old. Not only that, with his 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans, the opening batter from Bihar scored the second-fastest overall and fastest century by any Indian in IPL history. 

A moment he will never forget! 🩷

Vaibhav Suryavanshi earns applause from all corners after his historic knock 🫡👏

Updates ▶ https://t.co/HvqSuGgTlN#TATAIPL | #RRvGT | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/tcDTCWSWTh

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2025

"He is different from others"

Ashok Kumar, who coached Vaibhav in the Bihar U19 and men's senior team, feels that if Vaibhav Suryavanshi can work on his fielding and fitness, he will play for India in T20s in the next two years. The Bihar head coach shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point after Vaibhav's historical ton. 

"Before the match, I had a conversation with Vaibhav. I just advised him to be patient and wait for the balls in his zone," said Ashok Kumar, who feels the only thing that was missing from Vaibhav's game was patience. 

"Look, he is totally a unique player. He is different from others. I know he can be a match-winner for any team in this format," Ashok Kumar shared. 

Vaibhav was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping 1.10 crore rupees, which made him the youngest player ever in the auction history. After that, Ashok Kumar knew that under Rahul Dravid, the youngster would learn lots of things in terms of cricket and life. 

Vaibhav not only learned but also impressed Rahul Dravid so much that he was handed the debut cap, and at just 14 years and a few days old, he became the youngest IPL player ever. Till then, everything has been like a dream for Vaibhav and his close ones. 

Read Also | Exclusive | "He has the intent to play at the highest level," Bihar head coach on Vaibhav Suryavanshi

An impactful debut

His six against Shardul Thakur in the first ball he faced in the IPL surprised everyone. Even the commentators were stunned to see the youngster stepping out against the pace of Shardul in a platform like the IPL. But Ashok Kumar knew from the beginning that he could do things like this. 

"I had told you earlier that he has the talent and intent to hit anyone. Everyone thinks that he is batting aggressively. But this is his actual style of batting. You make him play 90 90-over game, he will play like this. He is natural," he shared. 

"That is why I want to tell all the coaches he will meet in his life not to make him bat like others. He should not lose his intent," he added. 

Before the historical debut, Ashok Kumar had the chance to talk with Rahul Dravid, and he told the former India coach the same thing. 

"Even I told the same thing to (Rahul) Dravid sir. He also agreed that Vaibhav should not lose his intent. I told him to work on his bowling as well. He can be a match-winner for any team."

Read Also | IPL facts: Every player to make IPL debut before turning 18

"Vaibhav wants to finish matches"

Although Vaibhav had a great start to his IPL career in the first two games, he was not happy with himself for the way he got out in those matches. In fact, after the dismissal in the first match against LSG, everyone saw him shed a few drops of tears. That is why Ashok Kumar had advised him to have patience and only focus on the things which work well for him. 

"If you see his dismissal against RCB, he tried a shot that he had never played in the past. He has developed these kinds of shots in the camp. But I told him that you can try new things only after a few matches. I knew if he could wait for the bat balls, he was a good enough player to hit anyone," Ashok Kumar shared. 

"Vaibhav wants to finish games. I am sure he is disappointed not to be there till the win. And, for everyone out there, he is not a baccha (kid) in cricket. No one can call him that. Only I can call him that. It is only about time when the world realises that he is a man wrapped in a kid's body," he added. 

Vaibhav idolises Brian Lara since his childhood (although he is still a kid). He watches the former West Indian captain's old highlights to pick a few tricks to emulate. Tonight, after his ton, Brian Lara himself shared Vaibhav's video on Instagram, saying that he was entertained watching him bat. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brian Lara (@brianlaraofficial)

"If someone like Lara is watching Vaibhav bat and appreciating him, it is a great thing for Bihar and Indian cricket. The youngster in Bihar would be inspired by watching his growth. He will always have my support in his life and career," Ahsok Kumar expressed. 

During the Bengal vs Bihar match, Vaibhav Suryvanshi had told me that he idolises Brian Lara!

Brian Lara just posted an Instagram post showing Vaibhav’s batting!

This is success! This is what IPL can do!

Congratulations! #vaibhavsuryavanshi

— Koushik Biswas (@kbofficial25) April 28, 2025

Harry Brook was recently named England's white-ball captain, succeeding Jos Buttler, who stepped down in February 2025 following a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign. Brook now has become the 38th ODI captain for England and 15th to be named as T20I captain of the country as well. 

Ray Illingworth was the first-ever ODI and white-ball captain of England, who was also part of the first-ever men's One-day cricket match in 1971. Mike Denness and Tony Greig followed him on the list.

Michael Vaughan was the first T20I captain of England as he led the team in the shortest format of the game for the first time in 2005. Stuart Broad and Craig Kieswetter are a few of the players who captained the team only in T20Is. In the meantime, Michael Vaughan, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, and Jos Buttler led them in both ODIs and T20Is. 

Read Also | Highest Totals in ODI cricket history