IND vs SA / Shubman Gill on the Brink of History: Set to Become First to 1000 Test Runs in 2025

The highly anticipated Test series between India and South Africa is set to commence on November 14. The inaugural match of this series will be played at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens, where the young and talented Indian batsman, Shubman Gill, will lead Team India as captain, while this match isn't just the beginning of a crucial series but also presents a golden opportunity for Shubman Gill to achieve a significant personal milestone, potentially etching his name into the annals of cricketing history alongside some of the sport's greatest legends.

A Historic Opportunity Awaits

Shubman Gill stands on the cusp of creating history in the first Test match against South Africa. He's remarkably close to reaching the coveted milestone of 1000 Test runs in a single calendar year. For the year 2025, Gill requires just 21 more runs to achieve this significant feat. Should he manage to cross this threshold in the very first Test, he will become the first batsman to score 1000 Test runs in the calendar year 2025. This accomplishment would solidify his position as one of the most impactful Test batsmen of the year, given that no other player is even close to this mark. It would serve as a testament to his exceptional form, consistency, and growing stature in the longest format of the game.

Gill's Stellar Performance in 2025

Shubman Gill has delivered an outstanding performance in Test cricket throughout 2025. In just 8 Test matches and 15 innings this calendar year, he has accumulated a formidable 979 runs at an impressive average of 69, while 92. These statistics underscore his profound batting prowess and consistency against various bowling attacks and conditions, while during this period, Gill has notched up 5 magnificent centuries, highlighting his ability to convert starts into substantial scores. On top of that, he has registered one half-century. These figures clearly demonstrate the significant impact Gill has made in the Test format this year, emerging as a pivotal figure for the Indian team, while his sustained consistency and knack for scoring big runs have brought him to the brink of this historic achievement.

Joining an Elite Indian Club

If Shubman Gill successfully scores the required 21 runs against South Africa in the first Test, he will become only the 14th Indian batsman to score 1000 or more runs in a single calendar year in Test cricket. This is an incredibly exclusive club, a dream for any aspiring Test cricketer, while to date, only 13 Indian batsmen have managed to achieve this remarkable feat. The illustrious list includes legendary figures such as the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, the 'Little Master' Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, modern-day superstar Virat Kohli, Mohinder Amarnath, the stylish VVS Laxman, 'The Wall' Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, the explosive Virender Sehwag, Gundappa Viswanath, and the dynamic Yashasvi Jaiswal, while gill's entry into this esteemed group will further elevate his reputation and underscore his growing importance in Indian cricket.

Top Test Run-Scorers in 2025

Shubman Gill's current tally of 979 runs in 2025 places him firmly at the top of the list of highest run-scorers in Test cricket for the year. Following him in second place is KL Rahul, who has scored 745 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal occupies the third spot with 662 runs to his name. Ravindra Jadeja is fourth with 659 runs, while Sean Williams has accumulated 648 runs and Ben Duckett 602 runs, while these figures clearly illustrate that Gill has established a significant lead over all other batsmen this year, making his impending 1000-run milestone even more remarkable and a testament to his dominant form.

Sachin Tendulkar's Enduring Record

The record for the most Test runs scored by an Indian in a single calendar year remains firmly held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin achieved this incredible milestone in 2010, when he amassed a staggering 1562 runs from 14 Test matches and 23 innings, at an exceptional average of 78, while 10. That year, his bat yielded 7 centuries and 5 half-centuries. This monumental record has remained unbroken by any Indian batsman to date. Last year, in 2024, Yashasvi Jaiswal came close to challenging this record, scoring 1478 runs, but ultimately fell short of Sachin's colossal figure. While breaking this record might be a future aspiration for Shubman Gill,. His immediate focus will undoubtedly be on reaching the significant 1000-run mark.