Most Fours India vs England

The cricketing rivalry between India and England in Tests has produced some unforgettable batting performances over the decades. Among those, certain innings stand out not just for the runs scored, but for the elegance shown through in the form of boundary hitting.

Graham Gooch’s masterclass at Lord’s

Topping the list is England’s legendary opener Graham Gooch, who played a monumental innings of 333 runs against India at Lord’s in 1990. In this iconic knock, Gooch struck 43 fours, the highest number of boundaries by any batsman in an India vs England Test match innings. Gooch faced 485 balls and batted for over 10 hours. This innings remains one of the finest ever played by an English batter against India and a cornerstone of Gooch’s legacy.

Alastair Cook, the former England skipper, who scored 294 runs in Birmingham in 2011 had hit 33 boundaries. Cook, known for his solid technique, slowly wore down the Indian attack over 773 minutes at the crease.

India’s Karun Nair, who is making a Test comeback after he recorded his name in the history books with a phenomenal 303 not out against England in Chennai in 2016. During this innings, Nair hit 32 fours, the third-highest in India vs England Tests. His strokeplay was fluent, making him only the second Indian to score a triple century in Tests. Despite being a relatively new name at the time, Nair's innings demonstrated remarkable composure and shot selection.

Boundary hitters across eras Among modern Indian players, Yashasvi Jaiswal features prominently with two double centuries against England in 2024. In Rajkot, he scored 214 runs with 14 fours, and earlier in Visakhapatnam, he made 209 with 19 boundaries. Though not topping the list in terms of number of fours, his consistency and flair have already made him one of India’s brightest prospects. He will be a key feature for India during the 2025 England tour.

From previous generations, India’s Budhi Kunderan and Gundappa Viswanath both recorded innings featuring 31 fours each. Kunderan scored 192 and Viswanath 222, both in Chennai. England’s Geoffrey Boycott, true to his style, compiled a watchful 246 with 30 fours in Leeds in 1967, while Wally Hammond, way back in 1936, struck 30 fours during his innings of 217 at The Oval.