Openers in Test cricket have a crucial role; they are responsible for facing the new ball, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump, scoring vital runs at the start, and minimising the impact of the new ball. In SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), openers face an added challenge, as the new ball tends to swing significantly in the first hour. Throughout cricket history, many notable openers have made their mark, and India has produced some exceptional ones as well. Now, let’s take a look at the five best openers in the history of Indian Test cricket.&nbsp;<h2>1. Sunil Gavaskar – 9607 Runs</h2>Sunil Gavaskar leads the tally of most runs by an Indian opener in Test cricket. Gavaskar scored 9,607 runs as an opener, facing the world’s toughest bowlers without a helmet.<h2>2. Virender Sehwag – 8207 Runs</h2>Former India opener Virendra Sehwag smashed 8,207 runs as an opener with an astonishing strike rate of 82. Sehwag is the only player to score two triple centuries in Test cricket.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-2025-will-dhruv-jurel-bat-instead-of-rishabh-pant-here-is-what-icc-rule-says-manchester-test-1753350770840">IND vs ENG: Will Dhruv Jurel bat instead of Rishabh Pant? Here's what ICC rule says</a><h2>3. Gautam Gambhir – 4119 Runs</h2>Gambhir was India’s rock at the top order during his peak. He scored 4,119 runs opening with the bat for India. Notably, Gambhir smashed five consecutive centuries in 2009 against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.<h2>4. Murali Vijay – 3880 Runs</h2>&nbsp;Murali Vijay scored 3,880 runs, with 12 hundreds and 15 half-centuries. However, on eight occasions he went back to the dressing room without troubling the scores.<h2>5. KL Rahul – 3224 Runs</h2>&nbsp;KL Rahul is the most versatile players in the current Indian squad. He can keep the wickets, open the batting, bat in the middle and even act as a finisher. Playing as an opener, Rahul is currently on 3224 runs and counting. He is the only active player on the list.

India has produced some phenomenal openers in Test cricket. Only 12 players have crossed the 2,000 mark and five players reached the 3000 run milestone. 

Openers in Test cricket have a crucial role; they are responsible for facing the new ball, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump, scoring vital runs at the start, and minimising the impact of the new ball. In SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), openers face an added challenge, as the new ball tends to swing significantly in the first hour. Throughout cricket history, many notable openers have made their mark, and India has produced some exceptional ones as well. Now, let’s take a look at the five best openers in the history of Indian Test cricket. 1. Sunil Gavaskar – 9607 Runs Sunil Gavaskar leads the tally of most runs by an Indian opener in Test cricket. Gavaskar scored 9,607 runs as an opener, facing the world’s toughest bowlers without a helmet. 2. Virender Sehwag – 8207 Runs Former India opener Virendra Sehwag smashed 8,207 runs as an opener with an astonishing strike rate of 82. Sehwag is the only player to score two triple centuries in Test cricket. Also read | IND vs ENG: Will Dhruv Jurel bat instead of Rishabh Pant? Here's what ICC rule says 3. Gautam Gambhir – 4119 Runs Gambhir was India’s rock at the top order during his peak. He scored 4,119 runs opening with the bat for India. Notably, Gambhir smashed five consecutive centuries in 2009 against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. 4. Murali Vijay – 3880 Runs Murali Vijay scored 3,880 runs, with 12 hundreds and 15 half-centuries. However, on eight occasions he went back to the dressing room without troubling the scores. 5. KL Rahul – 3224 Runs KL Rahul is the most versatile players in the current Indian squad. He can keep the wickets, open the batting, bat in the middle and even act as a finisher. Playing as an opener, Rahul is currently on 3224 runs and counting. He is the only active player on the list.

India has produced some phenomenal openers in Test cricket. Only 12 players have crossed the 2,000 mark and five players reached the 3000 run milestone.&nbsp;

Meet five Indian openers with most runs in Test cricket. Only one active player in the list

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have offered India a solid opening pair for the ongoing Test series in England. The duo has added 285 runs in seven innings batted together and went past fifty three times so far. The pair added 94 runs on day 1 (Jul 23) of the fourth Test in Manchester - the highest for them in the series and the highest opening partnership at the venue since India got independence in 1947 from Britishers. There are only two partnerships better than Rahul-Jaiswal's 94 for the first wicket at Old Trafford - 203 and 124 - both by Vijay Merchant &amp; Syed Mushtaq Ali in 1936 and 1946, respectively.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-ben-stokes-wins-toss-and-elects-to-bowl-in-old-trafford-manchester-will-england-lose-test-history-suggests-1753265642397">Stokes wins toss, elects to bowl in Manchester - Will ENG lose? History says...</a><h2>Jaiswal becomes first opener to score fifty at Old Trafford since 1974</h2>India opener Jaiswal (58) is also the first opening batter to score 50 or more in a Test at Old Trafford in Manchester since legendary Sunil Gavaskar did so in 1974 when he scored 101 in the second innings of the Test. This is the third fifty-plus score by Jaiswal in seven innings of the series including a hundred as well. The Southpaw, however, is the first Indian opener to score a fifty of more in a Test at Old Trafford in the first innings of the match. Jaiswal reached his fifty shortly after lunch on day 1 of the Test.<h2>Rahul becomes fifth India batter to score 1000-plus Test runs in England</h2>KL Rahul scored 46 runs before being dismissed on day 1 of the Old Trafford Test shortly after lunch. His innings took his tally of Test runs in England to 1,035 and he is now only the fifth Indian batter to score 1000-run mark in England in Tests. Before Rahul, Sachin Tendulkar (1,575), Rahul Dravid (1,376), Sunil Gavaskar (1,152), and Virat Kohli (1,096) had crossed the same milestone.

There are only two partnerships better than Rahul-Jaiswal's 94 for the first wicket at Old Trafford - 203 and 124 - both by Vijay Merchant & Syed Mushtaq Ali in 1936 and 1946, respectively.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have offered India a solid opening pair for the ongoing Test series in England. The duo has added 285 runs in seven innings batted together and went past fifty three times so far. The pair added 94 runs on day 1 (Jul 23) of the fourth Test in Manchester - the highest for them in the series and the highest opening partnership at the venue since India got independence in 1947 from Britishers. There are only two partnerships better than Rahul-Jaiswal's 94 for the first wicket at Old Trafford - 203 and 124 - both by Vijay Merchant & Syed Mushtaq Ali in 1936 and 1946, respectively. Also Read - Stokes wins toss, elects to bowl in Manchester - Will ENG lose? History says... Jaiswal becomes first opener to score fifty at Old Trafford since 1974 India opener Jaiswal (58) is also the first opening batter to score 50 or more in a Test at Old Trafford in Manchester since legendary Sunil Gavaskar did so in 1974 when he scored 101 in the second innings of the Test. This is the third fifty-plus score by Jaiswal in seven innings of the series including a hundred as well. The Southpaw, however, is the first Indian opener to score a fifty of more in a Test at Old Trafford in the first innings of the match. Jaiswal reached his fifty shortly after lunch on day 1 of the Test. Rahul becomes fifth India batter to score 1000-plus Test runs in England KL Rahul scored 46 runs before being dismissed on day 1 of the Old Trafford Test shortly after lunch. His innings took his tally of Test runs in England to 1,035 and he is now only the fifth Indian batter to score 1000-run mark in England in Tests. Before Rahul, Sachin Tendulkar (1,575), Rahul Dravid (1,376), Sunil Gavaskar (1,152), and Virat Kohli (1,096) had crossed the same milestone.

There are only two partnerships better than Rahul-Jaiswal's 94 for the first wicket at Old Trafford - 203 and 124 - both by Vijay Merchant &amp; Syed Mushtaq Ali in 1936 and 1946, respectively.

ENG vs IND at Old Trafford: Rahul-Jaiswal register highest opening partnership since independence

From Chris Gayle to Babar Azam, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to score 5000 runs in T20 cricket. Surprisingly, only one Indian is on the list.

From Chris Gayle to Babar Azam, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to score 5000 runs in T20 cricket. Surprisingly, only one Indian is on the list.

From Chris Gayle to Babar Azam: 5 batters fastest to 5000 T20 runs, only one Indian on list

From Virat Kohli to Shubman Gill, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in away Tests (since 2020). This list also includes Rishabh Pant,  KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara.

From Virat Kohli to Shubman Gill, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in away Tests (since 2020). This list also includes Rishabh Pant, &nbsp;KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara.

From Virat Kohli to Shubman Gill: 5 Indian batters with most runs in away Tests (since 2020)

KL Rahul slammed his second hundred at the Mecca of Cricket (Lord’s), hitting 100 against England on day three of the third Test. His masterful inning won a million hearts, as alongside Rishabh Pant, he helped India stay alive in the match. He looked composed during his time in the middle, making English bowlers put in extra yards early in the first session. Soon after completing his hundred, his second of the tour, Rahul got out exactly on 100 off Shoaib Bashir (caught in the slip), but created a little history with that.&nbsp;KL Rahul had his name on the Lord’s honours board for the second time in his career, also becoming the second Indian player after ace quick Jasprit Bumrah to achieve it thus far in the ongoing Test against England. However, there is something more to Rahul’s 100 at Lord’s this time.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At Lords, <a href="https://twitter.com/klrahul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@klrahul</a> delivered yet again, his 2nd century on this historic ground, becoming only the 2nd Indian to do so. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 3 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 <a href="https://t.co/YhqadvE3Be">https://t.co/YhqadvE3Be</a> <a href="https://t.co/IvPIBFIBKY">pic.twitter.com/IvPIBFIBKY</a>&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1944019411385376989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-joins-virat-kohli-in-bashing-bcci-family-restriction-rule-gautam-gambhir-1752327851177">‘When chips are down, you need…,’ Raina joins Kohli in bashing BCCI’s family restriction rule</a> &nbsp;The record books say that KL Rahul getting out on a hundred at Lord’s makes it the 100th instance in men’s Test cricket when a batter got out on exactly 100, a unique record. Although that does no good to his Test numbers, it makes it memorable for the statisticians and the readers worldwide.<h3>Pant, Rahul among runs at Lord’s &nbsp;</h3>After dismissing England on 387 in the first innings, with Bumrah picking his 13th away five-for in Tests – a Test record for Asian quicks, the Indian batters made merry on this even-steven Lord’s pitch.&nbsp; &nbsp;After the visitors lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early inside the second over, caught in the second slip off returning Jofra Archer, Rahul and Karun Nair stitched a 61-run stand in challenging conditions to lift Team India. A brilliant one-handed catch in the first slip (by Joe Root) accounted for Nair on 40, before Chris Woakes removed Indian captain and batter in-form Shubman Gill, caught behind on 16 late on day two.&nbsp; &nbsp;Come day three, Rahul and Rishabh Pant made merry of the playing conditions. Although Ben Stokes deployed a negative approach midway through the first session, targeting Pant’s injured finger by asking him to play pull shots, both batters held their ground, but not for long.&nbsp; &nbsp;Just at the stroke of lunch, a direct throw from Stokes sent Pant packing on 74, breaking Team India’s momentum.&nbsp; &nbsp;After the second session resumed, Bashir got Rahul’s number on 100.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, two all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy, have since held India’s innings, helping them cut the deficit under 75.

KL Rahul had his name on the Lord’s honours board for the second time in his career, also becoming the second Indian player after ace quick Jasprit Bumrah to achieve it thus far in the ongoing Test against England. However, there is something more to Rahul’s 100 at Lord’s this time.

KL Rahul slammed his second hundred at the Mecca of Cricket (Lord’s), hitting 100 against England on day three of the third Test. His masterful inning won a million hearts, as alongside Rishabh Pant, he helped India stay alive in the match. He looked composed during his time in the middle, making English bowlers put in extra yards early in the first session. Soon after completing his hundred, his second of the tour, Rahul got out exactly on 100 off Shoaib Bashir (caught in the slip), but created a little history with that. KL Rahul had his name on the Lord’s honours board for the second time in his career, also becoming the second Indian player after ace quick Jasprit Bumrah to achieve it thus far in the ongoing Test against England. However, there is something more to Rahul’s 100 at Lord’s this time.

KL Rahul had his name on the Lord’s honours board for the second time in his career, also becoming the second Indian player after ace quick Jasprit Bumrah to achieve it thus far in the ongoing Test against England. However, there is something more to Rahul’s 100 at Lord’s this time.

Out on 100th 100! How KL Rahul’s Lord’s hundred made it beyond honours board

From Shubman Gill to Joe Root, here is a look at five fittest players in India vs England Test series 2025. This list also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Harry Brook and KL Rahul.

From Shubman Gill to Joe Root, here's a look at five fittest players in India vs England Test series 2025. This list also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Harry Brook and KL Rahul.

From Shubman Gill to Joe Root: 5 fittest players in India vs England Test series

India finished day 2 (Jul 11) at Lord's even with hosts England in the third Test with KL Rahul (53) and Rishabh Pant (19) at the crease and 145/3 on board. The duo has added 38 runs for the third fourth wicket after India skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for 16 nearly an hour before the close of play. This was Gill's first low score on the tour after having scored 585 runs in the first two matches. India still are 242 runs in the first innings behind on a pitch which has so far behaved odd.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-best-test-fielder-of-all-time-joe-root-surpassed-rahul-dravid-for-most-catches-watch-1752250126541">England's Root becomes most successful fielder in Test cricket with STUNNING catch to dismiss Karun Nair</a>Earlier in the day, Root scored his 37th Test hundred after resuming from overnight score of 99 not out. He dispatched India pacer Jasprit Bumrah for a four to reach the milestone but was dismissed by same bowler shortly after. Root's 103 also took him past 3000 Test runs against India - the only player to achieve the mark.England had started their day from 251/4 but were suddenly 271/6 with Bumrah taking all three wickets. England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who's in great form this series, then added 84 runs for the seventh wicket with Brydon Carse (56) before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj on 51. England managed to added just 28 runs more after Smith's dismissal and were bowled out for 387 in the first innings after tea.In reply, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit three fours in the first over of the innings off Chris Woakes but was dismissed by returning Jofra Archer in the very next over. India went to tea at 44/1 as Rahul and Nair ensured not further loss of wickets. After Nair's dismissal in the final session, Gill and Rahul added 33 runs for the third wicket before Woakes sent the Indian skipper back.

India still are 242 runs in the first innings behind on a pitch which has so far behaved odd after finishing day 2 at 145/3 with KL Rahul (53) and Rishbah Pant (19) at the crease.

India finished day 2 (Jul 11) at Lord's even with hosts England in the third Test with KL Rahul (53) and Rishabh Pant (19) at the crease and 145/3 on board. The duo has added 38 runs for the third fourth wicket after India skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for 16 nearly an hour before the close of play. This was Gill's first low score on the tour after having scored 585 runs in the first two matches. India still are 242 runs in the first innings behind on a pitch which has so far behaved odd. Also Watch - England's Root becomes most successful fielder in Test cricket with STUNNING catch to dismiss Karun Nair Earlier in the day, Root scored his 37th Test hundred after resuming from overnight score of 99 not out. He dispatched India pacer Jasprit Bumrah for a four to reach the milestone but was dismissed by same bowler shortly after. Root's 103 also took him past 3000 Test runs against India - the only player to achieve the mark. England had started their day from 251/4 but were suddenly 271/6 with Bumrah taking all three wickets. England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who's in great form this series, then added 84 runs for the seventh wicket with Brydon Carse (56) before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj on 51. England managed to added just 28 runs more after Smith's dismissal and were bowled out for 387 in the first innings after tea. In reply, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit three fours in the first over of the innings off Chris Woakes but was dismissed by returning Jofra Archer in the very next over. India went to tea at 44/1 as Rahul and Nair ensured not further loss of wickets. After Nair's dismissal in the final session, Gill and Rahul added 33 runs for the third wicket before Woakes sent the Indian skipper back.

India still are 242 runs in the first innings behind on a pitch which has so far behaved odd after finishing day 2 at 145/3 with KL Rahul (53) and Rishbah Pant (19) at the crease.

IND vs ENG: Rahul holds fort for India after Smith revives England

From Raina-Dhoni to Bravo-Pollard, here's a look at the five most popular friendships in IPL and international cricket. This list also includes Kohli-De Villiers, Stuart Broad-James Anderson and Rahul-Mayank Agarwal.

From Raina-Dhoni to Bravo-Pollard, here's a look at the five most popular friendships in IPL and international cricket. This list also includes Kohli-De Villiers, Stuart Broad-James Anderson and Rahul-Mayank Agarwal.

From Raina-Dhoni to Bravo-Pollard: 5 most popular friendships in IPL and International cricket

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scores fifty in second Test vs England on day 1 (Jul 2). This is his second fifty or more score in three innings he had batted on this tour. Only a few other Indian opening batters have achieved the same landmark on previous India Test tours of England.

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scores fifty in second Test vs England on day 1 (Jul 2). This is his second fifty or more score in three innings he had batted on this tour. Only a few other Indian opening batters have achieved the same landmark on previous India Test tours of England.

IND vs ENG: Yashasvi Jaiswal is now first Indian opener to achieve THIS milestone with fifty in second Test vs England

Smriti Mandhana scripted history vs England in Trent Bridge on July 28 by becoming the first Indian woman and overall sixth player from her country to hit a century across all three formats(Test+ODI+T20). Here's a look at the six Indian players who have hit centuries in all three formats:

Smriti Mandhana scripted history vs England in Trent Bridge on July 28 by becoming the first Indian woman and overall sixth player from the country to hit a century across all three formats(Test+ODI+T20). Here's a look at the six Indian players who have hit centuries in all three formats:

From Virat Kohli to Smriti Mandhana: 6 Indian players to hit a century in all three formats

KL Rahul made India proud on Monday (Jun 23), scoring a brilliant century in the second innings of the first Test match against England at Headingley, Leeds. But the proudest people were at home, his better half Athiya Shetty and father-in-law Suniel Shetty. This was KL Rahul’s first Test hundred in almost 18 months. It was also his third Test century in England, making him the only Indian opening batter to do so. After reaching his hundred, Rahul took off his helmet and smiled as the crowd cheered for him.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-car-accident-to-creating-history-when-life-bowled-a-bouncer-rishabh-pant-hit-a-century-1750762288365">From car accident to creating history - When life bowled a bouncer, Rishabh Pant hit a century</a>&nbsp;Athiya Shetty, a Bollywood actress and Rahul’s wife shared her joy on Instagram. She posted a photo of KL Rahul celebrating and wrote, “This one is special” with a heart emoji.&nbsp;Her father, popular actor Suniel Shetty, also showed his happiness on social media. He wrote, “A knock that spoke less, but said everything. Proud of you son @klrahul,” along with a photo from the match.&nbsp;Actor Arjun Kapoor also shared photos from the game. He praised Rahul’s beautiful cover drives and said the innings inspired him.&nbsp;KL Rahul’s hundred, along with a big century from Rishabh Pant, helped India give England a tough target of 371 runs to win. Meanwhile, in its response, England are 117/0 at lunch on day 5 (Jun 24) with openers Ben Duckett and Zack Crawley well set on the crease. They need 254 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the five-game Test series. India will need to play their A-game and get quick wickets to get back in the game. To add, England have a special connection at Headingley as in 2019 they had scripted a thrilling one-wicket win against Australia in the Ashes.&nbsp;

This was KL Rahul’s first Test hundred in almost 18 months. It was also his third Test century in England, making him the only Indian opening batter to do so.

KL Rahul made India proud on Monday (Jun 23), scoring a brilliant century in the second innings of the first Test match against England at Headingley, Leeds. But the proudest people were at home, his better half Athiya Shetty and father-in-law Suniel Shetty. This was KL Rahul’s first Test hundred in almost 18 months. It was also his third Test century in England, making him the only Indian opening batter to do so. After reaching his hundred, Rahul took off his helmet and smiled as the crowd cheered for him. Also Read | From car accident to creating history - When life bowled a bouncer, Rishabh Pant hit a century Athiya Shetty, a Bollywood actress and Rahul’s wife shared her joy on Instagram. She posted a photo of KL Rahul celebrating and wrote, “This one is special” with a heart emoji. Her father, popular actor Suniel Shetty, also showed his happiness on social media. He wrote, “A knock that spoke less, but said everything. Proud of you son @klrahul,” along with a photo from the match. Actor Arjun Kapoor also shared photos from the game. He praised Rahul’s beautiful cover drives and said the innings inspired him. KL Rahul’s hundred, along with a big century from Rishabh Pant, helped India give England a tough target of 371 runs to win. Meanwhile, in its response, England are 117/0 at lunch on day 5 (Jun 24) with openers Ben Duckett and Zack Crawley well set on the crease. They need 254 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the five-game Test series. India will need to play their A-game and get quick wickets to get back in the game. To add, England have a special connection at Headingley as in 2019 they had scripted a thrilling one-wicket win against Australia in the Ashes.

This was KL Rahul’s first Test hundred in almost 18 months. It was also his third Test century in England, making him the only Indian opening batter to do so.

IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Athiya Shetty and Suniel Shetty celebrate as KL Rahul scores a century

India are having a record-breaking Test at Headingley in Leeds against England with KL Rahul joining the list as well. Rahul (120 at tea on day 4), playing as an opener, has scored a century in the second innings to go with Yashasvi Jaiswal's ton (101) in the first innings. This is only the second instance for India in Tests in England with both openers scoring at least one century in the same match. It was in 1936 Manchester Test when both Indian openers Vijay Hazare (114 in second innings) and Syed Mushtaq Ali (112 in second innings) scored a ton in the same Test in England.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-1st-test-pant-follows-bumrahs-footsteps-breaks-29-year-old-pakistan-record-in-sena-countries-1750686480497">IND vs ENG: Pant breaks 29-year-old Pakistan record in SENA countries</a>With his century in the first innings, Jaiswal had become the first Indian opener ever to score a ton at Headingley in Leeds. His 101 set the base for India's 474-run total in the first innings which also had tons from skipper Shubman Gill (147) and Rishabh Pant (134).The century from Gill was his first in maiden Test as skipper and he became only the fifth Indian skipper to achieve the milestone. Before Gill, Virat Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Vijay Hazare had scored a ton in their maiden Test as India skipper.The century from Pant in the first innings saw India repeat the Headingley 2002 feat when Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly had scored a ton each.In the second innings, Pant scored a century as well apart from Rahul. With the ton, Pant became only the second wicketkeeper-batter in the world and first Indian to score twin tons in a Test. Before him, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower had scored twin tons in a Test when he scored 142 and 199 not out against South Africa in Hararein 2001.India also have recorded five centuries in the match - the first such instance for the Asian giants, going past their previous record of four tons against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007. &nbsp;

India also have recorded five centuries in the match - the first such instance for the Asian giants, going past their previous record of four tons against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007.

India are having a record-breaking Test at Headingley in Leeds against England with KL Rahul joining the list as well. Rahul (120 at tea on day 4), playing as an opener, has scored a century in the second innings to go with Yashasvi Jaiswal's ton (101) in the first innings. This is only the second instance for India in Tests in England with both openers scoring at least one century in the same match. It was in 1936 Manchester Test when both Indian openers Vijay Hazare (114 in second innings) and Syed Mushtaq Ali (112 in second innings) scored a ton in the same Test in England. Also Read - IND vs ENG: Pant breaks 29-year-old Pakistan record in SENA countries With his century in the first innings, Jaiswal had become the first Indian opener ever to score a ton at Headingley in Leeds. His 101 set the base for India's 474-run total in the first innings which also had tons from skipper Shubman Gill (147) and Rishabh Pant (134). The century from Gill was his first in maiden Test as skipper and he became only the fifth Indian skipper to achieve the milestone. Before Gill, Virat Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Vijay Hazare had scored a ton in their maiden Test as India skipper. The century from Pant in the first innings saw India repeat the Headingley 2002 feat when Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly had scored a ton each. In the second innings, Pant scored a century as well apart from Rahul. With the ton, Pant became only the second wicketkeeper-batter in the world and first Indian to score twin tons in a Test. Before him, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower had scored twin tons in a Test when he scored 142 and 199 not out against South Africa in Hararein 2001. India also have recorded five centuries in the match - the first such instance for the Asian giants, going past their previous record of four tons against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007.

India also have recorded five centuries in the match - the first such instance for the Asian giants, going past their previous record of four tons against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007.

IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Rahul joins Jaiswal to replicate rare feat from India's 1936 Test against England

The first India vs England Test is underway at Headingley with already great signs visible for the Shuman Gill's relatively inexperienced batters. Batting first after losing the toss, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the batting for India and added 52 runs for the opening wicket in the first 15 overs. This is only the second time in India's history of touring England for Tests that they have crossed 50-run mark for the opening wicket at Headingley. The only other time Indian openers crossed 50-run mark for opening wicket in Leeds was back in 1986 with Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth adding 64 runs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/meet-the-only-england-player-to-feature-in-headingley-test-vs-india-in-2021-and-2025-1750399034870">Meet the only England player to feature in Headingley Test vs India in 2021 and 2025</a> Notably, India went on to win that Test in 1986, second of the series, and the series as well having won the first Test already. The series win in 1986 - only second in Tests for India in England ever - came under 1983 ODI World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev. The other two times India won a Test series in England was in 1971 (under Ajit Wadekar) and 2007 (under Rahul Dravid).By 20th over, the openers had crossed the previous highest opening partnership mark when Rahul hit a sumptuous four off Ben Stokes.Rahul and Jaiswal's partnership ended when the former chased a wide full ball only to be caught at the slips off Brydon Carse. The duo, however, added 91 runs - the highest opening partnership for India at Headingley.Earlier, India handed a Test debut to Sai Sudharsan after a bumper season in IPL 2025 where he ended with Orange Cap for most runs in the tournament while playing for Gujarat Titans. They also offered a place to Karun Nair who is returning to India set up after an eight-year hiatus.India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed SirajEngland Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

This is only the second time in India's history of touring England for Tests that they have crossed 50-run mark for the opening wicket at Headingley. The only other time Indian openers crossed 50-run mark for opening wicket in Leeds was back in 1986.

The first India vs England Test is underway at Headingley with already great signs visible for the Shuman Gill's relatively inexperienced batters. Batting first after losing the toss, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the batting for India and added 52 runs for the opening wicket in the first 15 overs. This is only the second time in India's history of touring England for Tests that they have crossed 50-run mark for the opening wicket at Headingley. The only other time Indian openers crossed 50-run mark for opening wicket in Leeds was back in 1986 with Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth adding 64 runs. Also Read - Meet the only England player to feature in Headingley Test vs India in 2021 and 2025 Notably, India went on to win that Test in 1986, second of the series, and the series as well having won the first Test already. The series win in 1986 - only second in Tests for India in England ever - came under 1983 ODI World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev. The other two times India won a Test series in England was in 1971 (under Ajit Wadekar) and 2007 (under Rahul Dravid). By 20th over, the openers had crossed the previous highest opening partnership mark when Rahul hit a sumptuous four off Ben Stokes. Rahul and Jaiswal's partnership ended when the former chased a wide full ball only to be caught at the slips off Brydon Carse. The duo, however, added 91 runs - the highest opening partnership for India at Headingley. Earlier, India handed a Test debut to Sai Sudharsan after a bumper season in IPL 2025 where he ended with Orange Cap for most runs in the tournament while playing for Gujarat Titans. They also offered a place to Karun Nair who is returning to India set up after an eight-year hiatus. India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

This is only the second time in India's history of touring England for Tests that they have crossed 50-run mark for the opening wicket at Headingley. The only other time Indian openers crossed 50-run mark for opening wicket in Leeds was back in 1986.

IND vs ENG: Rahul, Jasiwal start off Headingley Test with HISTORIC milestone last achieved in 1986

As India is gearing up to take on England at Headingley, starting on June 20 (Wednesday), here is a look at the five players who can make a big impact for India in this series.

As India is gearing up to take on England at Headingley, starting on June 20 (Wednesday), here is a look at the five players who can make a big impact for India in this series.

IND vs ENG 2025: 5 Indian players to watch out for in Test series

KL Rahul made a statement ahead of the upcoming Test series against England after he slammed a hundred for India A in the second unofficial Test on Friday (June 7). Playing at the County Ground in Northampton, Rahul’s hundred comes at a crucial time for India as they look to fill in the void left by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who announced their retirement from the red-ball format in May. His hundred also propelled India to 319/7 at the closure of Day 1.

KL Rahul made a statement ahead of the upcoming Test series against England after he slammed a hundred for India A in the second unofficial Test on Friday (June 7).

<h2>Rahul slams hundred for India A</h2>Having missed the first unofficial Test due to Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments, Rahul scored his ton in the second session of Day 1. It took 151 balls for the Indian batter to make his mark on Day 1 of the England tour as he completed his ton. He was later dismissed by George Hill on 119 off 168 deliveries. His innings consisted of 15 fours and one six while he was striking a rate of almost 70.&nbsp;Rahul was given a good helping hand by Dhruv Jurel (52) and Karun Nair (40) as they steered the Indian innings to a respectable total.&nbsp;Interestingly, with Rahul opening the innings, the Indian management has clearly hinted at him being used in the role when the series begins on June 20.&nbsp;Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (11), however, failed to make the most as they departed cheaply. Later Nitish Kumar Reddy(34) and Shardul Thakur (19) tried helping the Indian team reach 300 in the challenging conditions of Northampton.<h2>India tour of England 2025</h2>1st Test: 20 June to 24 June, Headingley, Leeds2nd Test: 2 July to 6 July, Edgbaston, Birmingham3rd Test: 10 July to 14 July, Lord's, London4th Test: 23 July to 27 July, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester5th Test: 31 July to 4 August, Kennington Oval, London

KL Rahul made a statement ahead of the upcoming Test series against England after he slammed a hundred for India A in the second unofficial Test on Friday (June 7). Playing at the County Ground in Northampton, Rahul’s hundred comes at a crucial time for India as they look to fill in the void left by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who announced their retirement from the red-ball format in May. His hundred also propelled India to 319/7 at the closure of Day 1.

KL Rahul made a statement ahead of the upcoming Test series against England after he slammed a hundred for India A in the second unofficial Test on Friday (June 7).

Watch: KL Rahul impresses on Day 1 of England tour, slams hundred for India A in unofficial Test

Amid the ongoing IPL 2025 playoffs, some movement is occurring in the UK within the India-A squad ahead of their warm-up fixtures, starting Friday (May 30). Per the latest report, a key member of the senior team picked for the five-match Test series against England will link up with the A squad to get much-needed practice ahead of the challenging tour. While a few are busy with the IPL knockouts, those scheduled to travel in different batches are gearing up for the Test series.&nbsp;Ace batter KL Rahul will join the India-A squad in the UK and play the second warm-up match against England Lions in Northampton beginning June 6. Per an Indian Express report, Rahul will fly to England on Monday (June 2), earlier before the main squad leaves for the tour.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-we-have-lost-the-battle-but-not-the-war-pbks-captain-shreyas-iyer-not-ready-to-drop-guard-despite-qualifier-1-thrashing-rcb-1748595606502">‘We have lost the battle but not the war’: PBKS captain Iyer not ready to drop guard despite Qualifier 1 thrashing</a> &nbsp;Part of the 18-man squad for England Tests, Rahul has informed BCCI of his decision to play the second practice match following his IPL team, Delhi Capitals’ exit from the ongoing season. &nbsp;“He will be flying on Monday and will be playing a second warm-up game with the India A side. As he is part of the senior men’s team, which will be playing five Test matches in the series, these matches will give him game time and match practice,” a BCCI source close to the information said, as&nbsp;quoted by the Indian Express. &nbsp;While India-A begins their shadow tour in Canterbury, a full-strength Indian team will play them in an intra-squad match in Beckenham on June 13 before facing England in the first Test in Leeds starting June 20. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Rahul played as an opener on India’s last away tour against Australia Down Under, scoring 255 runs in five Tests at an average of 30.66, including two fifties. Although his first game heroics (26 and 77) helped India win the Perth Test, he failed to maximise his form in the remaining matches, where, after Rohit Sharma’s return to the side, his position shuffled across, leading to instability and thus lack of runs.

Key senior team batter included in India-A squad for second warm up game in England

Amid the ongoing IPL 2025 playoffs, some movement is occurring in the UK within the India-A squad ahead of their warm-up fixtures, starting Friday (May 30). Per the latest report, a key member of the senior team picked for the five-match Test series against England will link up with the A squad to get much-needed practice ahead of the challenging tour. While a few are busy with the IPL knockouts, those scheduled to travel in different batches are gearing up for the Test series. Ace batter KL Rahul will join the India-A squad in the UK and play the second warm-up match against England Lions in Northampton beginning June 6. Per an Indian Express report, Rahul will fly to England on Monday (June 2), earlier before the main squad leaves for the tour. Also read | ‘We have lost the battle but not the war’: PBKS captain Iyer not ready to drop guard despite Qualifier 1 thrashing Part of the 18-man squad for England Tests, Rahul has informed BCCI of his decision to play the second practice match following his IPL team, Delhi Capitals’ exit from the ongoing season. “He will be flying on Monday and will be playing a second warm-up game with the India A side. As he is part of the senior men’s team, which will be playing five Test matches in the series, these matches will give him game time and match practice,” a BCCI source close to the information said, as quoted by the Indian Express. While India-A begins their shadow tour in Canterbury, a full-strength Indian team will play them in an intra-squad match in Beckenham on June 13 before facing England in the first Test in Leeds starting June 20. Meanwhile, Rahul played as an opener on India’s last away tour against Australia Down Under, scoring 255 runs in five Tests at an average of 30.66, including two fifties. Although his first game heroics (26 and 77) helped India win the Perth Test, he failed to maximise his form in the remaining matches, where, after Rohit Sharma’s return to the side, his position shuffled across, leading to instability and thus lack of runs.

While a few are busy with the IPL knockouts, those scheduled to travel in different batches are gearing up for the Test series.

Key senior team batter included in India-A squad for second warm-up game in England

After missing out on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/t20-worldcup">T20 World Cup </a>last year, wicketkeeper batter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul"> KL Rahul</a> has his eyes set on making a comeback to India’s T20I squad. And his performance in the ongoing IPL 2025 makes a strong statement of his return in the shortest format for India.&nbsp;Rahul had last played a T20I game in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. At the Adelaide Oval, where India faced a 10-wicket defeat.&nbsp;However, this time he has let his bat do the talk. Rahul has been in superb form this season for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-capitals">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC). In 13 outings, he has scored 539 runs at an average of 53 and an impressive strike rate of 149.72. He already has one century and three half-centuries to his name, making him the leading run-getter for DC.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/where-i-went-wrong-reveals-klaasen-after-ending-ipl-2025-for-srh-with-a-ton-1748238872304">'That's where I went wrong,' reveals Klaasen after ending IPL 2025 for SRH with a ton</a>&nbsp;With India set to host the T20 World Cup in 2026, Rahul is determined to be a part of the squad. “Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is in my mind, but for now it’s just trying to enjoy how I’m playing right now," Rahul was quoted saying to Sky Sports.&nbsp;Reflecting on his career, Rahul shared how he has always prioritised the team’s needs over personal preferences. “If you have seen how my career has gone, I don’t think I really had a choice. I just want to be in the team and whatever challenge is thrown at me, I have found that’s better for me to adapt to,” he said.&nbsp;Known for his flexibility and versatility, Rahul has batted across positions from opener to No.7. “When the role is given to me and the coaches and the captain and the selectors tell me that look this is what we are expecting from you, maybe No.5, maybe No.6, open the batting. Yeah, that sort of gives me clarity and then I work around my game,” he signed off.&nbsp;KL Rahul's batting stats in T20I cricket (as of May 27, 2025)

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Matches</td><td>Total runs</td><td>Average</td><td>Strike rate</td><td>Best score</td><td>Centuries</td><td>Half-centuries</td></tr><tr><td>72</td><td>2265</td><td>37.75</td><td>139.12</td><td>110*</td><td>1</td><td>22</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Rahul last played a T20I in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal against England. At the Adelaide Oval, where India had faced a thumping 10-wicket defeat, since then Rahul was dropped from the side.

After missing out on the T20 World Cup last year, wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul has his eyes set on making a comeback to India’s T20I squad. And his performance in the ongoing IPL 2025 makes a strong statement of his return in the shortest format for India. Rahul had last played a T20I game in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. At the Adelaide Oval, where India faced a 10-wicket defeat. However, this time he has let his bat do the talk. Rahul has been in superb form this season for Delhi Capitals (DC). In 13 outings, he has scored 539 runs at an average of 53 and an impressive strike rate of 149.72. He already has one century and three half-centuries to his name, making him the leading run-getter for DC. Also Read | 'That's where I went wrong,' reveals Klaasen after ending IPL 2025 for SRH with a ton With India set to host the T20 World Cup in 2026, Rahul is determined to be a part of the squad. “Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is in my mind, but for now it’s just trying to enjoy how I’m playing right now," Rahul was quoted saying to Sky Sports. Reflecting on his career, Rahul shared how he has always prioritised the team’s needs over personal preferences. “If you have seen how my career has gone, I don’t think I really had a choice. I just want to be in the team and whatever challenge is thrown at me, I have found that’s better for me to adapt to,” he said. Known for his flexibility and versatility, Rahul has batted across positions from opener to No.7. “When the role is given to me and the coaches and the captain and the selectors tell me that look this is what we are expecting from you, maybe No.5, maybe No.6, open the batting. Yeah, that sort of gives me clarity and then I work around my game,” he signed off. KL Rahul's batting stats in T20I cricket (as of May 27, 2025)

Rahul last played a T20I in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. At the Adelaide Oval, where India faced a 10-wicket defeat

'I want to get back in T20 team': KL Rahul makes BOLD statement after stellar IPL 2025 season

After a heartbreaking exit from IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals would look to take the positives from this season and build a strong team with these five players as their core.

After a heartbreaking exit from IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals would look to take the positives from this season and build a strong team with these five players as their core.

5 players DC might retain post IPL 2025: No. 2 is obvious but no.3 is a shocker. Check the full list here

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have stepped up for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025 and have recorded the most runs by an Indian pair in IPL 2025. Check out the other Indian duos with a record-breaking partnership in IPL history.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have stepped for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025 and have recorded the most runs by an Indian pair in IPL 2025. Check out the other Indian duos with record-breaking partnerships in IPL history.

Indian pairs with most partnership run in single IPL season

Delhi Capitals (DC) may have lost their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 game against Gujarat Titans (DC) on Sunday (May 18) but KL Rahul had one of the best days as a player. Rahul ended up scoring a ton - his fifth in the IPL - as DC put up 199/3 on the board in 20 overs which eventually proved insufficient before red-hot GT.<h2>Here is the list of records broken by KL Rahul in DC vs GT IPL 2025 match:</h2>&nbsp;Hundred for three different teams&nbsp;Rahul scored 112 not out off 65 for DC and with that he became the first player in the IPL to hit a hundred for three different teams. He had previously hit centuries for Punjab Kings (erstwhile Kings XI Punjab) in 2019 and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-blessing-muzarabani-zimbabwe-seamer-earns-ipl-call-up-as-temporary-replacement-for-lungi-ngidi-at-rcb-1747641299307">Zimbabwe seamer earns IPL call-up as temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi at RCB</a>&nbsp;Five IPL hundreds&nbsp;Rahul now has five hundreds in IPL and he's only the fourth player to do so in the cash-rich league. He hit two tons for PBKS (2019 and 2020) and two for LSG (2022) before hitting one for DC in IPL 2025.&nbsp;Only three players are ahead of him in the list: Virat Kohli (8), Jos Buttler (7) and Chris Gayle (6).&nbsp;Fastest Indian to score 8000 T20 runs&nbsp;During his century against GT, Rahul crossed 8,000 runs in all T20s and did so in 224 innings - becoming the fastest Indian to reach the milestone by surpassing Virat Kohli's mark of 243 innings.&nbsp;Only two players are ahead of Rahul in the list of players fastest to 8k T20 runs - Chris Gayle (213 innings) and Babar Azam (218 innings).&nbsp;Rahul is currently playing for his fifth team in the IPL and has previously featured for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in addition to representing LSG, PBKS and Delhi Capitals as well.

Rahul is currently playing for his fifth team in the IPL and has previously featured for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in addition to representing LSG, PBKS and Delhi Capitals as well.

Delhi Capitals (DC) may have lost their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 game against Gujarat Titans (DC) on Sunday (May 18) but KL Rahul had one of the best days as a player. Rahul ended up scoring a ton - his fifth in the IPL - as DC put up 199/3 on the board in 20 overs which eventually proved insufficient before red-hot GT. Here is the list of records broken by KL Rahul in DC vs GT IPL 2025 match: Hundred for three different teams Rahul scored 112 not out off 65 for DC and with that he became the first player in the IPL to hit a hundred for three different teams. He had previously hit centuries for Punjab Kings (erstwhile Kings XI Punjab) in 2019 and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022. Also Read: Zimbabwe seamer earns IPL call-up as temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi at RCB Five IPL hundreds Rahul now has five hundreds in IPL and he's only the fourth player to do so in the cash-rich league. He hit two tons for PBKS (2019 and 2020) and two for LSG (2022) before hitting one for DC in IPL 2025. Only three players are ahead of him in the list: Virat Kohli (8), Jos Buttler (7) and Chris Gayle (6). Fastest Indian to score 8000 T20 runs During his century against GT, Rahul crossed 8,000 runs in all T20s and did so in 224 innings - becoming the fastest Indian to reach the milestone by surpassing Virat Kohli's mark of 243 innings. Only two players are ahead of Rahul in the list of players fastest to 8k T20 runs - Chris Gayle (213 innings) and Babar Azam (218 innings). Rahul is currently playing for his fifth team in the IPL and has previously featured for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in addition to representing LSG, PBKS and Delhi Capitals as well.

Rahul is currently playing for his fifth team in the IPL and has previously featured for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in addition to representing LSG, PBKS and Delhi Capitals as well.

IPL 2025 | DC lose but KL Rahul breaks multiple records during 112 against GT

From Sanju Samson to Shaun Marsh, here's a look at 6 batters with highest individual score in losing cause in IPL also including Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, KL Rahul and Riyan Parag. Cricket | Sports | Photos

From Sanju Samson to Shaun Marsh, 6 batters with highest individual score in losing cause in IPL

&nbsp;In the IPL, talent comes at a price and sometimes, a very hefty one.
The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=mega+auction" rel="dofollow">2025 IPL mega auction</a> saw teams dig deep into their wallets, chasing big names with even bigger bids. Rishabh Pant went to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=LUCKNOW+SUPER+GIANTS" rel="dofollow">Lucknow Super Giants</a> for a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore, while Punjab Kings splashed ₹26.75 crore on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=SHREYAS+IYER" rel="dofollow">Shreyas Iyer.</a> These were eye-popping figures, but did the batters live up to the price tag?
As the league stage winds down, it's time to break down the price tag to see whether the franchise's investment in the players gave better returns.
Here's how much each run cost the top five most expensive batters in IPL 2025.
1. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was picked up for a massive $3.21 million (₹27 crore) in the IPL 2025 auction by Lucknow Super Giants, but his performances haven&rsquo;t matched the price tag. In 11 matches, he has scored only 128 runs, which means every single run has cost his team around $25,078 (₹21.42 lakhs).
2. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer was signed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for $3.18 million (₹26.75 crore), and he has delivered a steady season so far. With 405 runs in 11 games, each of his runs has come at a cost of about $7,582 (₹6.70 lakhs). He&rsquo;s been more consistent than most in the top-paid list and his captaincy has helped Punjab be in the top 2 of the points table.
<figure class="image"><img alt="GFX-2" src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/05/14/nMERTaDj4eyJxNFpsLgx.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
<figcaption>Photograph: (WION)</figcaption>
</figure>
3. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer was bought for $2.83 million (₹23.75 crore), but the returns haven&rsquo;t been up to his price tag. He has managed just 142 runs in 11 matches, which means every run has cost KKR $ 19,929 (₹17.02 lakhs).
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-time-olympic-medalist-neeraj-chopra-conferred-with-honorary-rank-of-lieutenant-colonel-in-territorial-army-9068770" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra conferred with honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army</a>
4. Jos Buttler
Gujarat Titans(GT) picked Jos Buttler for $1.88 million (₹15.75 crore), and he&rsquo;s proven to be worth every penny. With 500 runs in just 11 matches, each run has cost the team only $3,760 (₹ 3.21 lakhs), the best value per run among the top five expensive batters. He is just 10 runs behind the orange cap leader Suryakumar Yadav.
5. KL Rahul
KL Rahul came into the season with a price tag of $1.67 million (₹14 crore). He has scored 381 runs in 10 games for Delhi Capitals. That brings his cost per run to around $4,383 (₹3.74 lakhs).
As IPL 2025 nears its end, it's clear that spending big doesn&rsquo;t always guarantee big returns. While some top-priced batters like Shreyas Iyer and Jos Buttler have delivered, others have struggled to match expectations for their price tag. In a tournament as competitive as the IPL, every run and every penny truly counts.
Sometimes, the question should be asked: Do players fall to the pressure of high price tags?
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The 2025 IPL mega auction saw teams dig deep into their wallets, chasing big names with even bigger bids. Rishabh Pant went to Lucknow Super Giants for a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore, while Punjab Kings splashed ₹26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer. Cricket | Sports

In the IPL, talent comes at a price and sometimes, a very hefty one. The 2025 IPL mega auction saw teams dig deep into their wallets, chasing big names with even bigger bids. Rishabh Pant went to Lucknow Super Giants for a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore, while Punjab Kings splashed ₹26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer. These were eye-popping figures, but did the batters live up to the price tag? As the league stage winds down, it's time to break down the price tag to see whether the franchise's investment in the players gave better returns. Here's how much each run cost the top five most expensive batters in IPL 2025. 1. Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant was picked up for a massive $3.21 million (₹27 crore) in the IPL 2025 auction by Lucknow Super Giants, but his performances haven’t matched the price tag. In 11 matches, he has scored only 128 runs, which means every single run has cost his team around $25,078 (₹21.42 lakhs). 2. Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer was signed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for $3.18 million (₹26.75 crore), and he has delivered a steady season so far. With 405 runs in 11 games, each of his runs has come at a cost of about $7,582 (₹6.70 lakhs). He’s been more consistent than most in the top-paid list and his captaincy has helped Punjab be in the top 2 of the points table. Photograph: (WION) 3. Venkatesh Iyer Venkatesh Iyer was bought for $2.83 million (₹23.75 crore), but the returns haven’t been up to his price tag. He has managed just 142 runs in 11 matches, which means every run has cost KKR $ 19,929 (₹17.02 lakhs). Also Read | Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra conferred with honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army 4. Jos Buttler Gujarat Titans(GT) picked Jos Buttler for $1.88 million (₹15.75 crore), and he’s proven to be worth every penny. With 500 runs in just 11 matches, each run has cost the team only $3,760 (₹ 3.21 lakhs), the best value per run among the top five expensive batters. He is just 10 runs behind the orange cap leader Suryakumar Yadav. 5. KL Rahul KL Rahul came into the season with a price tag of $1.67 million (₹14 crore). He has scored 381 runs in 10 games for Delhi Capitals. That brings his cost per run to around $4,383 (₹3.74 lakhs). As IPL 2025 nears its end, it's clear that spending big doesn’t always guarantee big returns. While some top-priced batters like Shreyas Iyer and Jos Buttler have delivered, others have struggled to match expectations for their price tag. In a tournament as competitive as the IPL, every run and every penny truly counts. Sometimes, the question should be asked: Do players fall to the pressure of high price tags?

Rs 21 lakhs per run? Shocking price tag of Top 5 expensive batters of IPL 2025 revealed. Check

See how many dollars each run has cost 5 richest batters of IPL 2025 featuring Jos Buttler, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Venkatesh Iyer. Cricket | Sports | Photos

IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant's each run costs Rs. 21,42,000 to LSG - Check list of players with highest cost-to-run ratio

With Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, here are 5 strong contenders who can take up the opener’s role for Team India. Sports Cricket Photos

From Sai Sudharsan to KL Rahul: Top 5 contenders to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s Test opener

Here's a look at 5 Players who can succeed Rohit Sharma as new Test captain featuring Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Cricket | Sports | Photos

5 Players who can succeed Rohit Sharma as new Test captain - one name will shock you

In India, where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cricket</a> is like a religion, it&rsquo;s no surprise that even the names of your kids are inspired by cricketing idols. But what if the name you&rsquo;ve had all your life was the result of a mistake?
That&rsquo;s exactly what happened with Indian wicket-keeper batsman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kl+rahul" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">KL Rahul</a>.
KL Rahul, whose full name is Kannur Lokesh Rahul, was born in 1992 in Karnataka. His father, K.N. Lokesh, is a college professor and a huge cricket fan. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was a big admirer of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, the first Indian batsman to cross 10,000 runs in Test cricket.
When Lokesh became a father, he wanted to name his son after Gavaskar&rsquo;s child. He believed that Gavaskar&rsquo;s son was named &ldquo;Rahul.&rdquo; Out of that deep admiration, he decided to name his son Rahul.
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But here&rsquo;s the twist: Gavaskar&rsquo;s son is named Rohan Gavaskar, not Rahul.
KL Rahul once shared this story in an interview, saying, &ldquo;My dad was a huge fan of Sunil Gavaskar and thought his son&rsquo;s name was Rahul. So, that&rsquo;s how I got the name. He found out later that the actual name was Rohan.&rdquo;
Despite the mix-up, the name stayed. And over the years, that mistaken identity turned into an identity that now commands respect and admiration across the cricketing world.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul went on to become one of India&rsquo;s most stylish and dependable batters. He has played in all three formats, served as vice-captain, and captained IPL teams like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=punjab+kings" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Punjab Kings</a> and Lucknow Super Giants. Known for his calm nature and strong performances, the name &ldquo;Rahul&rdquo; now carries its weight in Indian cricket.
What began as a small error is now part of Indian cricket history.

KL Rahul, whose full name is Kannur Lokesh Rahul, was born in 1992 in Karnataka. His father, K.N. Lokesh, is a college professor and a huge cricket fan. Sports Cricket

In India, where Cricket is like a religion, it’s no surprise that even the names of your kids are inspired by cricketing idols. But what if the name you’ve had all your life was the result of a mistake? That’s exactly what happened with Indian wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul. KL Rahul, whose full name is Kannur Lokesh Rahul, was born in 1992 in Karnataka. His father, K.N. Lokesh, is a college professor and a huge cricket fan. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was a big admirer of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, the first Indian batsman to cross 10,000 runs in Test cricket. When Lokesh became a father, he wanted to name his son after Gavaskar’s child. He believed that Gavaskar’s son was named “Rahul.” Out of that deep admiration, he decided to name his son Rahul. Also Read | IPL 2025: SRH redefines the game, says pacer Mohammed Shami But here’s the twist: Gavaskar’s son is named Rohan Gavaskar, not Rahul. KL Rahul once shared this story in an interview, saying, “My dad was a huge fan of Sunil Gavaskar and thought his son’s name was Rahul. So, that’s how I got the name. He found out later that the actual name was Rohan.” Despite the mix-up, the name stayed. And over the years, that mistaken identity turned into an identity that now commands respect and admiration across the cricketing world. Meanwhile, KL Rahul went on to become one of India’s most stylish and dependable batters. He has played in all three formats, served as vice-captain, and captained IPL teams like Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. Known for his calm nature and strong performances, the name “Rahul” now carries its weight in Indian cricket. What began as a small error is now part of Indian cricket history.

KL Rahul was never meant to be 'Rahul' — The shocking story behind his name

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DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction: Delhi Capitals: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=delhi+capitals" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Delhi Capitals</a> (DC) will take on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kolkata+knight+riders" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday (Apr 29). DC are coming into this contest after facing a defeat against RCB, while KKR's last match ended in a no-result. So here's our take on who should make it to the Dream11 for the DC vs KKR contest.&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">DC vs KKR Match Preview</h2>
Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head into the match sitting fourth and seventh, respectively, on the points table. Delhi Capitals will look for a win to solidify their position in the points table. However, a defeat for KKR will see them drop crucial points in the race for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11</h2>
Wicketkeeper: Abhishek Porel, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 
Batters: Karun Nair, Tristan Stubbs, KL Rahul(C), Angriksh Raghuvanshi 
All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Moeen Ali, Vipraj Nigam 
Bowlers:&nbsp; Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sports-rohit-sharma-suryakumar-yadav-praise-teenage-sensation-vaibhav-suryavanshi-after-record-breaking-ton-in-ipl-2025-9012764" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav praise teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi after record-breaking ton in IPL 2025</a>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">DC vs KKR Head-to-Head Records</h2>
Friday's meeting between DC and KKR will be the 35th overall in the IPL. The visitors lead the competition with 18 wins. Delhi, on the other hand, has won 15 encounters, and one match has ended in a no-result.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices<o:p></o:p></h2>
1. KL Rahul
KL Rahul is the leading run scorer for Delhi Capitals with 364 runs in nine innings. He has been in good form in the past matches and is a good pick for the captain.
2. Karun Nair
Karun Nair has been in great touch recently and is an explosive batter top of the order. He dominates the game in the first powerplay and takes on the bowlers all around the park.
3. Kuldeep Yadav
Left arm Chinaman spinner, Kuldeep Yadav has dismissed 12 batters with a great economy of 6.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-updated-points-table-indian-premier-league-rankings-standings-net-run-rate-8888780" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">DC vs KKR Fantasy Cricket Tips<o:p></o:p></h2>
KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc will be value additions to the contest, so we suggest you pick them in the Dream11 for the IPL 2025 contest.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Team Analysis<o:p></o:p></h2>
DC: DC are placed fourth on the points table with six wins and three losses in nine matches thus far. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by six wickets in the previous tie and will be looking to bounce back and turn the momentum for the remainder of IPL 2025.
KKR: KKR are placed seventh on the table with three wins, five losses and one no-result in nine matches. They will aim to find a win and stay alive in the tournament.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report<o:p></o:p></h2>
The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first at the Arun Jaitley stadium especially after observing how the DC vs RCB game unfolded at this venue. With the pitch showing signs of wear late in the tournament, spinners could dominate and reverse swing may help seamers.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for MI vs CSK Dream11 Fantasy Cricket<o:p></o:p></h2>
Wicketkeeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz 
Batters: Faf du Plessis, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashutosh Sharma, Rinku Singh 
All-Rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine 
Bowlers: Vaibhav Arora, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmanta Chameera, Varun Chakravarthy 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Match Prediction: Who Will Win MI vs CSK?</h2>
Delhi will be looking for a win and to strengthen their position in the top four of the points table.. However, we expect KKR to beat DC seeing the spin bowling of KKR with likes of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy
Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Delhi Capitals will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the 48th match of IPL 2025. Delhi will aim to win, whereas a defeat for KKR could see them in trouble. India News Cricket Sports

DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction: Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday (Apr 29). DC are coming into this contest after facing a defeat against RCB, while KKR's last match ended in a no-result. So here's our take on who should make it to the Dream11 for the DC vs KKR contest. DC vs KKR Match Preview Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head into the match sitting fourth and seventh, respectively, on the points table. Delhi Capitals will look for a win to solidify their position in the points table. However, a defeat for KKR will see them drop crucial points in the race for the IPL 2025 playoffs. DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction MyPlaying 11 Wicketkeeper: Abhishek Porel, Rahmanullah Gurbaz Batters: Karun Nair, Tristan Stubbs, KL Rahul(C), Angriksh Raghuvanshi All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Moeen Ali, Vipraj Nigam Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje Also Read: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav praise teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi after record-breaking ton in IPL 2025 DC vs KKR Head-to-Head Records Friday's meeting between DC and KKR will be the 35th overall in the IPL. The visitors lead the competition with 18 wins. Delhi, on the other hand, has won 15 encounters, and one match has ended in a no-result. 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices 1. KL Rahul KL Rahul is the leading run scorer for Delhi Capitals with 364 runs in nine innings. He has been in good form in the past matches and is a good pick for the captain. 2. Karun Nair Karun Nair has been in great touch recently and is an explosive batter top of the order. He dominates the game in the first powerplay and takes on the bowlers all around the park. 3. Kuldeep Yadav Left arm Chinaman spinner, Kuldeep Yadav has dismissed 12 batters with a great economy of 6. ALSO READ | 'Updated IPL 2025 Points Table': Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details DC vs KKR Fantasy Cricket Tips KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc will be value additions to the contest, so we suggest you pick them in the Dream11 for the IPL 2025 contest. Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Team Analysis DC: DC are placed fourth on the points table with six wins and three losses in nine matches thus far. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by six wickets in the previous tie and will be looking to bounce back and turn the momentum for the remainder of IPL 2025. KKR: KKR are placed seventh on the table with three wins, five losses and one no-result in nine matches. They will aim to find a win and stay alive in the tournament. Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first at the Arun Jaitley stadium especially after observing how the DC vs RCB game unfolded at this venue. With the pitch showing signs of wear late in the tournament, spinners could dominate and reverse swing may help seamers. Suggested playing 11 No. 2 for MI vs CSK Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Wicketkeeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz Batters: Faf du Plessis, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashutosh Sharma, Rinku Singh All-Rounders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine Bowlers: Vaibhav Arora, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmanta Chameera, Varun Chakravarthy Match Prediction: Who Will Win MI vs CSK? Delhi will be looking for a win and to strengthen their position in the top four of the points table.. However, we expect KKR to beat DC seeing the spin bowling of KKR with likes of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions and WION does not promote or endorse any sort of betting activity. They do not reflect the views of WION. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. WION does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction: Check Team, captain and vice-captain picks for Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders

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