In Test cricket, it is not at all an easy task for any player to score runs continuously while maintaining their form continuously for a whole year, because they have to adapt themselves according to different conditions. However, despite this, there are some players who perform well throughout the year on the basis of their batting.
Yashasvi Jaiswal entered the elite list of most Test runs for India in a year during his sublime knock of 84 in the second innings of the 4th Test Match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne, Australia. Jaiswal is now on the second position in this list.
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The elite list also includes some of the finest batsmen to have graced the cricket field for India. So, let's take a look at the players with most Test runs for India in a calendar year.
Most Test runs for India in a year
1# Sachin Tendulkar | 1562 Runs (2010)
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of scoring most Test runs in a single calendar year. The 'Master Blaster' scored 1562 runs in 14 Test matches with an excellent average of 78.10 in 2010. He is also the sixth-highest run-getter in history, in Test matches in a single calendar year.
The Master Blaster was at his best in Test cricket during the year 2010. He played many memorable knocks throughout the year and scored 5 half-centuries and 7 centuries. His highest score of the year came against Australia as he played an incredible knock of 214 runs and scored his sixth double-century in the longest format of the game.
2# Yashasvi Jaiswal | 1478 Runs (2024)
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored the second most runs in Tests in 2024 after the fourth match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. Jaiswal has scored 1,478 runs at an average of 54.74, including three centuries and nine fifties in 15 matches this year. His highest score this year was 214 not out against England.
Jaiswal also surpassed Virender Sehwag’s record of 1,462 runs in 2008 to achieve the second position. He is now fourth in the overall list of openers, led by Graeme Smith’s 1,656 in 2008.
3# Virender Sehwag | 1462 Runs (2008)
Team India's explosive opener Virender Sehwag had always shown fear to the opposition bowlers. Sehwag played a total of 14 matches in Test cricket in the year 2008, out of which he batted in 27 innings and scored a total of 1462 runs with an excellent average of 56.23. This included 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries innings.
The opener was amazing throughout the year 2008 especially in the Test format. During the year, he also played an outstanding knock of 319 runs against South Africa to become only the third batter in Test cricket history after Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara to score 2 triple-centuries in Test cricket. He also became the batter to score the fastest triple-century, doing so in 278 balls.
4# Virender Sehwag | 1422 Runs (2010)
The explosive opener dominated Test cricket and destroyed opposing bowling attacks again in the year 2010, in which he scored a total of 1422 runs at an average of 61.82 while batting in 25 innings of 14 matches.
Sehwag ended the year with 8 half-centuries and 5 centuries in the format. His highest score during the year came against New Zealand in Ahmedabad where he played an amazing knock of 173 runs in the first innings of the Test match.
5# Sunil Gavaskar | 1407 Runs (1979)
India's former opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar has an excellent record in Tests. The Little Master was an outstanding Test player, but he shined the brightest in the format during the year 1979. In that year, Gavaskar scored a total of 1407 runs while batting in 26 innings of 17 Test matches.
Gavaskar had also scored 8 half-centuries and 4 centuries throughout the year, which included the amazing knock of 221 runs against England at the Kennington Oval which massively helped India to draw the match.
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6# Sachin Tendulkar | 1392 Runs (2002)
Sachin Tendulkar was incredible for India in Test cricket throughout the year 2002, in which he scored a total of 1392 runs in 26 innings of 16 matches at an average of 55.68.
The ‘God of Cricket’ ended the year scoring 5 half-centuries and 4 centuries. His highest score in the format during the year came against England at Headingley where he played a spectacular knock of 193 runs. India went on to decimate England in the match and ended up winning it by an innings and 46 runs.