Shubman Gill reached a milestone during the second India vs Sri Lanka Test. He became the fourth-youngest Indian player to score 3,000 runs in Test cricket. Gill achieved the feat at the age of 26 years and 349 days. He went into the match needing just 13 runs and reached the landmark during the first session.
His overall Test record is impressive. He now has 3,004 runs in 43 matches at an average of 43.53. He has scored 11 centuries and eight half-centuries in the format.
His captaincy record is even more remarkable. Since taking over as captain, Gill has thrived under the added responsibility. He has scored 1,111 runs in 18 innings as captain at an average of 74.06. This includes six centuries.
In fact, Gill now has the second-highest batting average among Test captains who have scored at least 1,000 runs. His average of 71.87 is behind only the legendary Don Bradman, who averaged 101.51.
Gill sits ahead of former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, who averaged 69.60, and former Australia captain Steve Smith, who averaged 68.07. During the India vs Sri Lanka match, Gill scored 50 and added a crucial 120-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal to help India recover from early setbacks.
A Look at the Highest Batting Averages in Test Cricket as Captain
1. Sir Donald Bradman – The Unparalleled Standard
Don Bradman holds the highest batting average for any Test captain with a minimum of 1,000 runs. His average of 101.51 is more than 30 runs higher than the next player on this list. He captained Australia in 24 matches between 1936 and 1948. He scored 3,147 runs as captain with 14 centuries and 7 fifties.
His highest score was 270. He scored four double centuries as captain. He led Australia in five Test series and won all of them, including four Ashes series victories. His maiden series as captain was the 1936-37 Ashes, where he aggregated 810 runs. That remains the most by an Australian skipper in a Test series. His record is unlikely to ever be surpassed.
2. Shubman Gill – The Modern Prodigy
Shubman Gill has the second highest batting average among Test captains with at least 1,000 runs. He is behind only Sir Donald Bradman on this list. He became captain in 2025 and has played 11 matches as of August 2026. He has scored 1,150 runs at an average of 71.87 with 6 centuries and 2 fifties. His highest score is 269.
He became the first Indian captain to score 1,000 runs in a single World Test Championship cycle. In his first Test series as captain against England in 2025, he amassed 754 runs in five matches at an average of 75.40 with four centuries. His Test average was around 35 before becoming captain.
3. Kumar Sangakkara – The Elegant Accumulator
Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era. His Test captaincy average of 69.60 places him third on this list. He captained Sri Lanka between 2009 and 2011. He played 26 innings as captain and scored 1,601 runs.
He is one of only 15 players to have scored over 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He boasts the highest average among those who have achieved this feat. He amassed 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40 in 134 matches. His legacy as a captain and batsman is secure.
4. Steve Smith – The Prolific Run Machine
Steve Smith is the highest run scorer among the captains on this list. He has scored 4,425 runs as captain at an average of 68.07. He captained Australia intermittently between 2014 and 2023. He played 77 innings as leader and scored 17 centuries and 14 fifties. His average as captain is nearly 20 points higher than his average when not captaining the side.
His average without captaincy is 49.90. This shows how the responsibility elevated his batting performance. In 40 matches as captain he accumulated 4,139 runs at an average of 68.98. His conversion rate of fifties to hundreds as captain is an exceptional 54.83 percent. Smith is one of the greatest Test batsmen of the modern era.
5. Mahela Jayawardene – The Stylish Leader
Mahela Jayawardene scored 3,665 runs as Sri Lanka’s captain at an average of 59.11. He captained the team between 2006 and 2013. He led Sri Lanka in 38 Test matches and won 18 of them. His win percentage of 47.36 is joint best with Sanath Jayasuriya. He scored 11 centuries as captain. His highest Test score of 374 came during his captaincy tenure.
He has scored seven 200-plus scores in Test cricket. This is the fourth most in history behind only Don Bradman, Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara. Jayawardene was known for his elegant stroke play and tactical acumen. His legacy as a stylish leader endures.
FAQs
Q. Who has the highest average in test cricket in batting as captain?
A. Don Bradman leads with an average of 101.51.
Q. Where does Gill rank among Test captains?
A. Gill ranks second among captains with 1,000 runs.
Q. How many runs has Gill scored as captain?
A. Gill has scored 1,150 runs as Test captain.
Q. How many centuries has Gill scored as captain?
A. Gill has scored six Test centuries as captain.
Q. Who ranks third on the list?
A. Kumar Sangakkara ranks third with a 69.60 average.
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