India’s journey in Test cricket has been illuminated by monumental individual performances—innings that transcend the match and enter the realm of folklore. While team efforts win series, it is the rare instances of towering personal scores that often shape legacies and shift momentum across formats. From epic triple centuries to heroic double tons, batters with most individual runs In Test by Indian have left their mark across the cricketing world.

Top 7 Highest Individual Score in Test for India

These knocks symbolize not only the batters’ class but also their capacity to absorb pressure, adapt to conditions, and push the limits of endurance. Let’s revisit the seven highest individual score in Test for India, reflecting the very essence of India’s red-ball excellence.

1＆2. Virender Sehwag – Most Individual Runs In Test By Indian

No discussion on individual Test greatness is complete without Virender Sehwag. The swashbuckling opener redefined how batting in the longest format could be approached; he played Tests as if they were ODIs, dismantling bowling attacks without compromising his natural game. Sehwag’s 319 against South Africa in Chennai remains the highest individual score in Test for India, an innings marked by dominance, flair, and absolute clarity of purpose. He played with remarkable freedom against a quality Proteas attack and turned the match into a personal canvas of strokeplay. Despite extreme heat and pressure, Sehwag never slowed down. His intent remained aggressive till the very end.

Sehwag’s ability to make the extraordinary look effortless was again evident in 2004 when he became the first Indian to score a triple century in Tests, blasting 309 against Pakistan in Multan. That innings didn’t just break records—it broke myths about how Indian openers should play abroad. He attacked both pace and spin with equal authority and pushed India into a dominant position, setting the tone for the series. These two monumental knocks have made Virender Sehwag the only Indian batter to register two triple centuries, and both innings still rank among the greatest in Test history. With these feats, Sehwag also firmly etched his name in the list of players with the most individual runs in Test by Indian cricketers.

3. Karun Nair – 303* vs England (2016, Chennai)

In 2016, Karun Nair stunned the cricketing world with a sublime unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai. Making only his third Test appearance, Nair grabbed the opportunity with both hands, becoming just the second Indian after Sehwag to score a triple century in Tests. More impressively, he remains the only Indian to convert his maiden Test century into a triple. His knock helped India pile up a massive score and secure an innings victory.

4. Virender Sehwag – 293 vs Sri Lanka (2009, Mumbai)

Sehwag features again on this list with his majestic 293 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in 2009. On a surface that had plenty for the batters, he imposed himself early and made full use of the conditions. The Sri Lankan attack looked listless as Sehwag flayed them all around the park, missing his third triple century by just seven runs. Despite narrowly missing the milestone, this innings further proved his insatiable hunger for big runs and his capacity to control the tempo of a Test single-handedly. Sehwag’s dominance in long innings is unparalleled in Indian cricket history.

5. VVS Laxman – 281 vs Australia (2001, Kolkata)

VVS Laxman’s 281 at Eden Gardens in 2001 is one of the most celebrated innings in Test cricket, not just in India but globally. Coming in after India was asked to follow on against an invincible Australian side, Laxman produced a knock for the ages. His elegant strokeplay combined with steely resolve helped India stage a historic comeback, eventually turning the match and the series. The 281 was not just an individual milestone but a turning point in Indian cricket, breaking Australia’s winning streak and igniting a period of dominance at home.

6. Rahul Dravid – 270 vs Pakistan (2004, Rawalpindi)

Known as “The Wall,” Rahul Dravid crafted one of the most patient and technically perfect innings with his 270 in Rawalpindi. Coming against arch-rivals Pakistan on their turf, the innings was not just about runs; it was about resilience and grit. Dravid’s knock powered India to a match-winning total, helping them seal a historic Test series win in Pakistan. His effort was methodical and relentless, a masterclass in mental discipline. It still remains his highest individual score in Test for India and one of the most iconic performances in Indian overseas victories.

7. Shubman Gill – 269 vs England (2025, Birmingham)

The most recent and arguably one of the most significant additions to the list of the highest individual score in Test for India is Shubman Gill’s monumental 269 in the 2025 Edgbaston Test against England. At just 25, Gill already carried the burden of being India’s next batting torchbearer. As captain, he elevated that expectation into execution. His 269 wasn’t just a personal milestone; it shattered multiple records. It is now the highest individual score by an Indian captain in Test cricket, overtaking Virat Kohli’s 254* against South Africa in 2019.

📍 Edgbaston

Captain Shubman Gill 👋#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/qXph7DRhMx

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 6, 2025

Gill’s innings also stands as the highest score by an Indian batter in England, breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s long-standing 221 at The Oval in 1979. Furthermore, it is the highest score by an Indian captain in an away Test, surpassing Kohli’s 200 in the West Indies in 2016. Perhaps most significantly, Gill’s 269 is now the highest individual score by an Indian batter in Tests outside Asia, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s 241* at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004.

Related Article：Masterclass in England—Gill Smashes Most Test Runs by an Indian Captain

Final Reflections

From Virender Sehwag’s triple hundreds that revolutionized opening batting to Shubman Gill’s record-breaking epic that signals the dawn of a new age, these seven innings represent the pinnacle of Indian Test greatness. The highest individual score in test for india aren’t just statistical landmarks—they’re windows into the evolution of Indian cricket. They showcase a spectrum of styles: the brute force of Sehwag, the elegance of Laxman, the patience of Dravid, the composure of Gill.