Following a 2-0 loss to West Indies in the away Test series, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said that his side needs to improve in every department to do well in the format. He feels Bangladesh has the responsibility to bring the culture of Test cricket back into the cricketing nation.
Speaking about the loss in the previous Test match against West Indies, Shakib stated that his side was not as tough as it needed to be in terms of showing character. He felt the team lost wickets just before the end of sessions, which made the difference.
"We tended to lose wickets just before a drinks break, a lunch break, or before the rain. If we didn't lose these wickets, things would have been quite different."
"This is a part of game awareness. We weren't as tough as we could have been, in terms of showing character in this Test match."
Shakib Al Hasan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo
'We have to improve in every department to do well in Tests': Shakib Al Hasan
"We have to improve in every department to do well in Tests. It is good that a big gap is coming up (before we play the next Test). Those who are interested in playing Tests can improve themselves during this time. We really don't have a new set of players who will do well immediately after coming to this level."
The 35-year-old also said that the team has to bring changes in many aspects including the thought process. He believes that if the team does not lose at home, they will be more competitive in overseas tours. In the recent series, the Asian team lost both the matches convincingly as West Indies won the first match by seven wickets in Antigua and the second by ten wickets in Saint Lucia.
Speaking about creating a Test culture in Bangladesh, he said, "We have a responsibility to bring Test culture back to the country. We have to plan ahead, otherwise, we can't get too far. I wouldn't say that we don't value Test cricket. But we don't have good results. These two go hand-in-hand."
Yashasvi Jasiwal, the 23-year-old young opener, has now equalled the record of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to become the joint fastest Indian to score 2000 test runs.
In the history of Indian Test Cricket, reaching the 2000-run milestone has always been a matter of pride. While many have achieved this feat, only a few have done so with remarkable speed.
Currently, the record for the fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs is jointly held by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, accomplishing it in 40 innings.
Let's look at the elite list of players who previously set the standard by being the fastest Indians to reach 2000 test runs.
π¨ Fastest to 2000 test runs by an Indian!
Yashasvi Jaiswal equals Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag's record to become the fastest Indian to reach 2000 test runs! π―
Young Yashasvi Jaiswal has been one of the brightest prospects of the Indian test cricket team since his debut. The 23-year-old just equalled the record for the fastest 2000 test run by an Indian during the second inning of the Edgbaston test against England.
With an outstanding batting average of 53.10, Yashasvi now has 2018 runs in just 21 test matches. In his young career, the southpaw opener has scored 5 test centuries, among which three came in away conditions.
Given the time left in his career and his determination to score big and quickly, Indian fans can surely hope that Yashasvi will keep on breaking many test records in future.
2. Rahul Dravid (40 innings)
Rahul Dravid representing India in tests. Image | Mint
Rahul Dravid, famously known as "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive technique and concentration in tests, reached 2000 test runs in just 40 innings. His ability to bat for longer periods and wear down the opposition was a key aspect of India's Test success.
Virender Sehwag representing India in tests. Image | Instagram
Virender Sehwag, the aggressive opening batsman, matched Dravid's record by also reaching 2000 test runs in 40 innings. He was known for his fearless approach while batting at the top of the order.
He is also the only Indian to score 2 triple centuries in his test career.
4. Vijay Hazare (43 innings)
Vijay Hazare representing India in tests. Image | ESPNcricinfo
An icon of Indian cricket's early era, Vijay Hazare reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was an incredible run-scorer in his time, known for his elegant batting and contributions.
His contributions mattered highly during a period when Indian cricket was finding its status on the internationalstage.
5. Gautam Gambhir (43 innings)
Gautam Gambhir representing India in tests. Image | BBC
The bold left-handed opener, Gautam Gambhir, also reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was a crucial part of India's top order in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Gambhir was known for his mental toughness and ability to play long innings when required, with high determination and focus.
Sunil Gavaskar representing India in tests. Image | Facebook
Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest openers in Test cricket history, scored 2000 test runs in 44 innings. He was known for batting fearlessly and facing West Indian fast bowlers without modern protective gear.
Gavaskar was the first player to reach the 10000-run mark in test cricket history, and also holds the 3rd place for most runs for India in tests.
Indian Captains to Score Double Tons in Test Cricket: Shubman Gill joins an elite list
Shubman Gill, with his double ton against England at Edgbaston, has now become the sixth Indian captain to score a double ton in test cricket. Here are the other Indian captains to achieve the feat.
In Test cricket, scoring a double ton is a tremendous accomplishment in and of itself, but to do it as a captain says a lot about his prowess as a Test batsman. Many Indian captains have been successful in scoring double Test tons.
In this article, we will take a look at the Indian captains who have scored double tons in Test cricket.
Indian Captains to Score Double Tons in Test Cricket
Here are the Indian captains with the most double tons in test cricket.
6. Shubman Gill | 1
Double tons: 1
Young gun Shubman Gill became the latest Indian captain to score a test double century, with his mammoth, record-breaking 269 against England at Edgbaston.
With his 269, he also broke the record for the highest score by an Indian test captain in a test inning.
Gill, only in his second test match as the test captain, achieved the feat. Moreover, he also became the only Indian captain to score a test double ton in England and the second Indian captain to reach the milestone in overseas conditions.
The great Sachin Tendulkar has registered six double hundreds in his entire test career, out of which one came during his captaincy period. In an Ahmedabad test between India and New Zealand in 1999, Tendulkar smashed 217 runs in 344 balls, including 29 fours in the first innings of the game.
4. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi | 1
Double tons- 1
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was well-renowned for his captaincy more than his batting. He had scored 2793 runs at an average of 34.9 in the 46 Tests he played, with 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries.
His highest score of 203* is the first double century by an Indian captain in Tests.
Batting at number 4, Pataudi scored a double ton against England in Delhi in 1964, which had 23 fours and 2 sixes. The match was drawn eventually.
Pataudi, also known as Nawab Pataudi Jr., is considered to be one of the most successful Captains that the Indian Cricket team has ever had in its history. He led the Indian team in 40 Test matches, out of which 12 had been won by the team.
3. Sunil Gavaskar | 1
Double tons - 1
Sunil Gavaskar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game, though not as big a name in captaincy.
He scored 205 in the first innings against the touring West Indies team as a captain in 1978.
At his home ground in Mumbai, Gavaskar toiled hard against the West Indies bowling up. The second-best from the Indian team in that inning was 52 from Chetan Chauhan.
Despite a double ton from Gavaskar, India drew the match.
MS Dhoniβs highest score is a knock of 224 runs off 265 balls against Australia, which came in a 2013 Test at Chennai. The legendary Indian captain, who is among the greatest skippers in cricket history, registered the highest Test score by an Indian wicketkeeper to help the team end with a first innings score of 572.
The Captain Cool raced up to 200 from 231 deliveries, with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon his guinea pig in the fixture. In all, his innings is said to have spanned just six hours.
Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has the record for the most double tons as a test captain. Kohli scored 7 test double tons as the captain of the Indian men's cricket team.
His first double ton came as the captain of India in 2016 against the West Indies, away from home. In that same year, he scored another two double tons, one against England and one against New Zealand, both coming in India.
In 2017, Kohli scored three double tons, one against Bangladesh and two against Sri Lanka. His career-best of 254 and final test double ton came in 2019 against South Africa in Pune.
Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar β Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record
As Joe Root needs only 2915 test runs to catch Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run getter in test cricket, we bring you a comprehensive Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar test career comparison.
One is called the God of Cricket, and the other is perhaps the greatest test batter of his generation. Both Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root have contributed to test cricket in their own way.
Since Root started his incredible run with the bat in 2021, everyone started the Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar comparison in test cricket. Some even suggested that the former English captain might even break Sachin Tendulkar's test record as well.
Before India take on England in another mouthwatering five-test match series, we will try to analyse whose test career is better. Is it Joe Root or Sachin Tendulkar? Who is better in test cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar in test cricket - in numbers
Image - BCCI
Even before we get into comparing the players, we need to get the numbers right.
Sachin, the highest run-getter in test and international cricket, scored 15921 test runs in a record 200 test matches. The Indian legend averaged 53.78 and also scored 51 test tons, which is also a record.
Debuted at the age of 16, soon, Sachin soon became the then second youngest ever test centurion at the age of 17 years 107 days old. Sachin created that record when he smashed an unbeaten 119 against England in Manchester in 1990.
Root till now has played only 153 test matches and has a batting average of 50.80. Since the start of 2022, Root has scored 13 test tons, scoring 3475 runs at an average of 53.46. He is also the highest run scorer in World Test Championship history.
Format
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
50s
Tests
153
279
23
13,006
262
50.80
36
65
Other records Root has in his test career:
3rd most test runs in a calendar year (1708, in 2021)
5th most test hundreds (36)
6th most test hundreds in a calendar year (6 in 2021)
Most fifties in consecutive test matches (12)
4th most test fifties (101)
Root vs Sachin in Test Cricket: Comparison
Sachin currently has a lead over Joe Root in every aspect of numbers in test cricket. The master blaster has better records than Root in test cricket.
But to compare them, we will have to compare them with the current number of matches Root has played so far.
Sachin after 153 test matches
Runs: 12152
Innings: 250
Average: 54.25
100s: 39
50s: 51
Highest: 248*
Sachin in wins after 153 tests:
Won: 48 tests
Runs: 4011
Average: 62.67
100s: 13
50s: 16
Root after 153 test matches
Runs: 13006
Innings: 279
Average: 50.80
100s: 36
50s: 65
Highest: 262
Root in wins after 153 test matches:
Wins: 70 tests
Runs: 6999
Average: 64.21
100s: 25
50s: 28
So, if we compare Sachin's record to Joe Root's after 153 test matches, we can see that Root is leading the chart with more runs and more fifties. But, Sachin has a better batting average, more hundreds.
However, in 153 test matches, Root won 70 test matches for England while Sachin had only won 48 test matches as a player. Although their batting averages in winning causes are nearly the same, Root has scored nearly 3000 more test runs on winning occasions for England.
Although Joe Root has scored the most test runs if we compare their stats after 153 test matches, Sachin played nearly five years after playing his 153rd test match in 2008.
Not only that, in those next 47 test matches he played for India, he scored 3769 runs at an average of 52.34 with 12 tons.
Root is currently 34, and can stretch his career for at least 4-5 years if he can stay fit. With the number of test matches England play every season, there is a certain possibility that Root can end up playing more than 200 test matches in his career.
Even if he plays 47 more test matches and bats at least 75 innings, he would need 2915 test runs at an average of 38.87.
With the current form Joe Root is in, this is quite possible for him to get. But, will he be able to keep the form like Sachin had done at the age of 35 and after? That's the question the World Cricket will be eyeing.
Playing test matches is one thing but to win test matches is a whole other ball game as only the best teams are able to win and get better as a test match side. During the 140+ years of test cricket there have been around 2500+ test matches that have been played by the various teams playing and these teams strive to beat the other team in this match and win the series as a result. Winning a test match is the ultimate satisfaction for a team even now. So, letβs look at the statistics of Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010.
The number 5 team in this list is the New Zealand team which has won 52 test matches since 2010 out of a total of 122 test matches played till now. They have lost 46 matches which is not a good record to have and hopefully the win loss difference decreases and they have a total of drawn test matches of 24 and going forward it can be said that their record will improve.
4. South Africa | 66
South Africa have one of the most impressive records in the test cricket as in the 127 test matches they have played in from 2010-2025 , they have been able to win 66 test matches and they have lost 39 matches against good teams as well and they also have drawn 22 test matches. South Africa was barred from cricket as well for a number of years and they were reinstated in 1993 again and their journey hasnβt looked back since.
3. India | 80
After Australia, the third team with most test match wins is the Indian team with 80 test match wins since 2010 in a total of 156 matches. They have also lost 48 matches which is not a good sign as well as they have 28 drawn matches throughout their journey from 2010 and the hope is this record gets better with time and they win more matches than they lose.
2. Australia | 84
Australia have played a total of 157 test matches since 2010 and they have won 84 matches and also lost 48 matches as a side and some of the losses were memorable. And Australia have drawn 25 matches and drawn test matches can be very entertaining as well. Australia will play more test matches as they go along over the years and they will reach 100 test wins really soon as well.
England is the test team with the most number of wins in test matches since 2010. They are the only team who have played over a 190 test matches and they have won 90 matches whereas they have also lost 70 test matches as well which shows they are beaten a lot of times as well and the number of drawn test matches by England are at 31 and as they play along they will win more rest matches as well as lose matches as well.
Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup
The rising young pacer Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup. Discover the reason behind this last-minute key addition for the upcoming intense clash starting from June 20, 2025.
The BCCI has made a strategic last-minute addition to the India's Test squad for England tour (starts June 20, 2025) which will mark the beginning of Shubman Gill's captaincy era. It is now official that Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup.
He has not been officially added to the squad but has travelled to Leeds as an unofficial cover for the team. Check the full story below:
Harshit Rana's inclusion as a backup in India's Test squad against England
Harshit Rana representing India in tests. Image | Instagram
Harshit Rana's journey in England has taken a significant turn as he has been asked to stay with the senior Indian Test squad for the upcoming series. He was initially part of the India A team that toured England.
During this time, Rana played two unofficial test matches against England Lions where he contributed with the ball (took an important wicket) and bat (scored 16 runs).
He was also involved in an intra-squad practice match in Beckenham, providing him further opportunities to showcase his skills in front of the senior team.
Following these engagements, the team management have decided to extend his stay and include him as backup. "Please don't count him as an official member of the squad as yet,β a top BCCI official told Cricbuzz to confirm Rana's presence.
The potential reason behind the call-up:
India's Test squad for England series. Image | Instagram
Rana's inclusion (even as a backup) provides crucial depth and flexibility, and gives them diverse options to adapt to various pitch conditions throughout the demanding series.
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