Gill Smashes Sir Garfield Sobers’ 59-Year-Old Record at The Oval

In a historic moment, India captain Shubman Gill surpassed Sir Garfield “Gary” Sobers’ 1966 tally as the highest-scoring overseas captain in a Test series played in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). Gill needed just one run to break Sobers’ mark of 722, and overtook it with a well-timed two on the sixth delivery of his innings, taking his series total to 743 runs.

The Caribbeans legend Sobers had established the record during the West Indies’ tour of England in 1966—a mark that stood unchallenged for nearly six decade.

Gill’s Historic Achievement

• New Benchmark Set: Gill now holds the record for the most runs by an overseas captain in a Test series within SENA countries, officially surpassing Sobers' long-standing tally.
   
• Series Control: His tally of 743 runs positions him third on the all-time list for most runs in a bilateral Test series, trailing only Don Bradman (810) and Graham Gooch (752).
   
• Indian Captain Feats: Gill also eclipsed Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 732 runs by a captain in a Test series, and continues closing in on the all-time Indian mark of 774 set by Gavaskar in 1971 against the West Indies.
   

Record	Sobers (1966)	Gill (2025 Series)
Runs by overseas captain in a SENA Test series	722	743+
All-time bilateral series runs (by any captain)	N/A	Third overall
Indian captain runs in a series	732 (Gavaskar)	Surpassed

Gill's consistency across the series—including four centuries—has made him a standout performer. Despite being dismissed for 21 on a rain-affected Day 1 of the Oval Test, the milestone underscores his dominance as captain during England's summer.

Shubman Gill’s record-breaking moment adds another layer to what has been a prolific series, cementing his leadership and batting prowess on the world stage.