In the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25), Team India dominated Australia by a massive 295 runs to open the tour down under. Even before he arrived in Perth with the team, the young Yashasvi Jaiswal was referred to by the Australian media as the “new king” of Indian cricket, which is fascinating enough.
In the first innings of his international career in Kangaroo country, Jaiswal was easily dismissed by Mitchell Starc via the gully region, which made everything seem to go against him at first, much like in a suspense thriller novel. To make a spectacular entrance, he quickly made amends by hitting a daddy hundred (161 runs) in the second innings at Optus Stadium. The BGT 2024-25 Test series’ next match will be a pink-ball Test, and it will begin on December 6 in Adelaide.
As a result, every fan is hoping to see Yashasvi Jaiswal deliver for Team India and rise to the difficulties of the pink ball.
Furthermore, if the 22-year-old hits a particular record sooner rather than later, he will join the ranks of the greatest Indian batters. Notably, after England mainstay Joe Root, Jaiswal is the second-highest run scorer of the current season. Notably, Root has amassed 1,361 runs in 2024 thus far. Jaiswal, on the other hand, has 1,280 runs this season. Therefore, he is in a strong position to become the Indian hitter who scores the most runs in a calendar year in the Test format.
The record for most runs scored for India in a calendar year is now held by Sachin Tendulkar, the former Indian great. Tendulkar made 14 Test appearances in 2010 and amassed 1,562 runs. The erstwhile explosive opener Virender Sehwag, who amassed 1,462 and 1,422 runs in 2008 and 2010, respectively, is the next best. Legendary players like Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, GR Viswanath, and Sunil Gavaskar are also on the list.
Even if Jaiswal is unable to overcome the pink ball’s demons, he still has three more Tests to overtake the aforementioned luminaries in a short amount of time because the BGT 20240-25 series consists of five Tests. The Mumbai-based southpaw was in scorching form earlier when England played India, smashing over 700 runs and recording two noteworthy double hundreds. However, he did not leave an impression in the most recent home Test series against New Zealand.
But Yashasvi Jaiswal is only 283 runs away from overtaking Sachin Tendulkar to take the kingdom, and there will be plenty of possibilities on the Australia tour. In contrast, former Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf holds the record for most runs scored in a calendar year in Test cricket, amassing 1,788 runs in just 11 Test matches in 2006.
A bit of a batting order dilemma is currently plaguing Team India as regular captain Rohit Sharma rejoins the squad after missing the first Test because of the birth of his second kid. Though he has been a top opener for India for a few years, it is doubtful that the captain will want to change the opening partnership given the calibre of batting displayed by the KL Rahul-Yashasvi Jaiswal combination. A historic triumph over Australia was achieved in Perth thanks to the two players’ generous 201-run partnership.
Most runs scored by Indian batters in a calendar year
| Player Name | Total Runs | Total Matches | Calendar Year |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1,562 runs | 14 | 2010 |
| Virender Sehwag | 1,462 runs | 14 | 2008 |
| Virender Sehwag | 1,422 runs | 14 | 2010 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 1,407 runs | 17 | 1979 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1,392 runs | 16 | 2002 |
| GR Viswanath | 1,388 runs | 17 | 1979 |
| Rahul Dravid | 1,357 runs | 16 | 2002 |
| Virat Kohli | 1,322 runs | 13 | 2018 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 1,310 runs | 18 | 1983 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 1,280 runs | 12 | 2024* |
India
