
Sandy Verma
Tezzbuzz|31-08-2026
In a record-breaking Test match at the iconic Lord's cricket ground, the man at the helm of the England team, Joe Root, found himself etched in the record books as the highest run-scorer at home.
The 35-year-old batsman, despite being bowled out for a mere 24 by Pakistan's Mohammad Ali in the second innings, saw his 89 Test innings at home add up to an impressive 7,594 runs.
Hitting a century every 9 innings and a fifty every 3.8 innings in Tests at home, Root bettered Australia's Ricky Ponting's previous best of 7,578 runs.
Finishing with a strike rate of 53.85 with 24 centuries and 35 fifties in 89 Tests at home, Root has moved up to the top of the heap, with his countryman Ricky Ponting at number two and India's Sachin Tendulkar at third on the list.
While Root writes his name in the history books of English cricket, Indian cricket has to look back on its own list of home heroes. In the wake of Root's exploits, here are the top five Indian batters in Test cricket in home conditions:
| Position | player | Matches | Innings | runs | average | 100s/50s | highest score |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 94 | 153 | 7,216 | 52.67 | 22 / 32 |
217 vs NZ(1999)
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| 2 | Rahul Dravid | 70 | 120 | 5,598 | 51.35 | 15 / 27 |
222 vs NZ (2003)
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| 3 | Sunil Gavaskar | 65 | 108 | 5,067 | 50.16 | 16 / 23 |
236* vs WI (1983)
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| 4 | Virender Sehwag | 52 | 89 | 4,656 | 54.13 | 13 / 19 |
319 vs SA (2008)
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| 5 | Virat Kohli | 55 | 87 | 4,336 | 55.58 | 14 / 13 |
254* vs SA (2019)
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Sachin Tendulkar (7,216)
3rd on the global all-time list; 2nd on home run chart – the master blaster has two double-centuries to his name, including a career-best 217 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad
Rahul Dravid (5,598)
The Wall has a double-century and a century against New Zealand, while his 180 at Eden Gardens against Australia in 2001 remains one of the most iconic innings of all time
Sunil Gavaskar (5,067)
The Little Master was the first Indian to reach 5000 runs at home, and he did it in style – a brilliant 236 against a fearful West Indies pace attack in Chennai
Virender Sehwag (4,656)
The opener has the best strike rate among the five, 46.19 and a career-best 319 against South Africa in Cuttack in 2008
Virat Kohli (4,336)
The current captain has the best average (55.58) among the five, and seven double-centuries to his name, including a brilliant 254 against South Africa in Pune.




