Most Fifties India vs England

In the long and storied history of India-England Test series, some of the finest batters from both sides have left a mark with memorable performances. From Sunil Gavaskar’s grinding knocks to Joe Root’s consistency, the bilateral series has witnessed a rich legacy of individual batting brilliance. Topping the list for the most fifty-plus scores in India vs England Test matches is England’s modern-day stalwart, Joe Root.

Joe Root, the stylish English right-hander, leads the tally with 21 fifty-plus scores in India-England Tests. Since his debut against India in 2012, Root has featured in 30 matches and 55 innings against India, scoring 2,846 runs at a superb average of 58.08. His ability to anchor innings while shifting gears when needed has made him England’s most dependable batter in this rivalry. Root has been consistent across conditions, including some tough tours in India.

Tendulkar and Gavaskar: Batting legends

Not far behind is India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 20 fifty-plus scores against England. The batting legend played 32 Tests against England from 1990 to 2012, scoring 2,535 runs at an average of 51.73. His elegance and patience were on full display during some iconic duels with English bowlers in both home and away series.

Joining him in joint second is another Indian great, Sunil Gavaskar. The original batting superstar of Indian cricket matched Tendulkar’s 20 fifty-plus scores in 38 matches. Gavaskar, who played against England from 1971 to 1986, compiled 2,483 runs. While his average of 38.20 may appear modest, it reflects the challenging conditions and bowling attacks of that era.

Former England captain Alastair Cook finds himself fourth on the list with 16 fifty-plus scores, built on the back of his solid technique. Cook scored 2,431 runs in 30 Tests against India. India’s stylish middle-order maestro Gundappa Viswanath has also scored 16 fifty-plus scores in 30 matches against England. His total of 1,880 runs came from 54 innings, reflecting his consistency during the 1970s and early 80s.

Dravid and Kohli: Modern day greats

Rahul Dravid brought his dependable technique to the fore in India-England Tests. He notched up 15 fifty-plus scores in just 37 innings. Dravid’s average of 60.93 in these contests shows his consistency against England in home and English conditions.

Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket recently, has managed 14 fifty-plus scores in 28 Tests against England. His highest score of 235 came during a prolific 2016 home series. Kohli’s battles against James Anderson became a feature of recent encounters, with the stylish batter tallying 1,991 runs in these matchups.

Three more English batters round out the top 10. Graham Gooch has notched up 13 fifty-plus scores including a monumental 333 at Lord’s. Ken Barrington, with a remarkable average of 75.27, had 12 scores over 50 in just 21 innings. Meanwhile, the flamboyant Kevin Pietersen also tallied 12 fifty-plus scores, often dominating Indian bowling attacks with his brilliant strokeplay.