Root Surpasses Abbas and Younis in Indian Battles

Joe Root has etched his name deeper into cricket history by becoming the first player to score over 500 runs in a Test series against India on three separate occasions.

The landmark was reached during the final Test of the 2025 England-India series at The Oval, where Root crafted a fluent 105 in the second innings. This brought his total in the series to 537 runs at an impressive average of 67.12, including three centuries.

This performance means Root has now surpassed Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas and Younis Khan, who both reached the 500-run mark in two Test series against India. Zaheer achieved the feat in the 1978-79 and 1982-83 series, while Younis did so in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Root’s dominance over India has been a recurring feature throughout his career. In the 2021-22 home series, he scored 737 runs with four centuries, averaging over 100. In the 2014 series, also in England, he notched up 518 runs across five Tests.

Overall, this marks the fourth time Root has passed 500 runs in a single Test series — a distinction he now shares with English legends like Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, and Ken Barrington.

Root’s consistent success has placed him ahead of several global greats including Ricky Ponting, Garry Sobers, Everton Weekes, and even Indian stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli — all of whom recorded 500-plus runs in only two Test series.

Having debuted against India in 2012, Root has continued to be a key performer for England whenever the two sides meet. His ability to adapt and deliver across conditions has cemented his status as one of the modern greats of Test cricket.