Most Test runs by an Indian in England

India have a long cricketing history with England. The Men In Blue have travelled many a time for a visit to their former colonial rulers. The first official Test match between these two nations were played in 1932, but stories of their encounters on the 22-yards go even further. Earlier cases of India winning Tests on English shores were rare. It was only in 1971, under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar, that India managed to win a Test series in England, their first ever. Fifteen years later in 1986, a sublime run-of-form from Dilip Vengsarkar gave India another away series win in the five-day format. Things changed under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy. Under his leadership Indian cricket finally evolved from being lions at home and sheep abroad. The Prince of Kolkata, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were instrumental as India drew the 2002 series 1-1. Dravid went on to finally lead India to a Test series win in England as captain in 2007. Here's a look at the most Test runs scored by an Indian in England.

#10 Farokh Engineer

Tests: 9

Runs: 563

Ave: 37.53

Best: 87

100/50: 0/4

Engineer was instrumental in guiding India to it’s first ever series win in England in 1971. The wicketkeeper-batsman was India's second-highest run scorer in the series (172 runs at an average of 43), just behind skipper Ajit Wadekar. Coming in to bat at number 7, the gloveman's 59 and unbeaten 28 was crucial in India's 4-wicket win in the 3rd Test at the Oval. It was India's lone win in the series, and handed Wadekar's boys a 1-0 series win, and granted them heroic status in the process. The Mumbaikar still has the most Test runs (563 in 9 Tests) scored by an Indian wicketkeeper on English soil.

#9 VVS Laxman

Tests: 11

Runs: 586

Ave: 47.14

Best: 74

100/50: 0/5

For VVS Laxman, England may not be a hunting ground, as good as Down Under, but the Hyderabad batsman still has played several crucial knocks there. Though he doesn't have any Test ton in England, Laxman has many a time scored fifties that were crucial for the visitors. In the 2007 tour, India won the 2nd Test at Nottingham that ensured a 1-0 lead. Thus in the 3rd Test at the Oval, a draw at the least was required to seal a series win after 21 long years. Laxman's 51 and unbeaten 46 in the Test helped India ensure a draw, as Rahul Dravid's boys won the Test series in England, their first since 1986.

#8 Mohammad Azharuddin

Tests: 9

Runs: 626

Ave: 41.66

Best: 179

100/50: 2/2

Mohammad Azharuddin's strokeplay had always been more about grace than brute force. The Hyderabadi's silky drives using his wrists were a treat for the eyes. His finest outing in England came in the 1990 series. Though unfortunately India lost the 3-match series 1-0, captain Azhar led from the front, becoming the highest Indian run-scorer in the series. Leading a side that featured legends like Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri, Azhar stood above all of them. In the 3-match series, he amassed 426 runs, that included a quickfire 111-ball 121 at Lords and 179 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

#7 Kapil Dev

Tests: 13

Runs: 638

Avg: 35.44

Best: 110

100/50: 1/4

Other than being India's mainstay in the bowling department in the 1980's Kapil Dev was also a threat to reckon with the bat. Other than being arguably India's greatest ever fast bowler, Kapil could also churn out matchsaving knocks with the willow. A perfect example of such an innings would be his ton at The Oval in the 3rd Test of the 1990 series. Coming in to bat at number 8, the Haryana all-rounder struck his only ton on English soil, a 142-ball 110. His heroics with the bat and a 110-run partnership stitched for the 7th wicket with Ravi Shastri guided India to a respectable 606 for 9, as Mohammad Azharuddin decided to declare the innings. And it has to be noted that batting at number 7,8 in a Test match is not an easy task. And inspite of batting such low in the order, Kapil has managed to amass 638 runs in England.

#6 Gundappa Vishwanath

Tests: 13

Runs: 858

Avg: 39.00

Best: 113

100/50: 1/9

A wizard with the willow Vishwanath was a treat to watch for cricket lovers all over. The Mysore-born batsman was one who rated silky strokeplay over brutal assault, and his late cuts were the stuff of legends. He doesn't have a very flattering away record in Tests, but still has a certain liking for English conditions.

#5 Sourav Ganguly

Tests: 9

Runs: 915

Ave: 65.35

Best: 136

100/50: 3/5

It was in England that the Prince of Calcutta found redemption. After a disastrous start to his international career Down Under in 1991, it was finally in England that Ganguly made his mark. In the 1996 series, the Bengal lad made his Test debut at Lords, and announced himself to the world with a sublime 131. He was also crucial during India's tour in 2002 and 2007. The southpaw was the skipper as India drew the 2002 series 1-1, scoring 351 runs in the process. In 2007, he was India's second-highest run-scorer (263 runs), just 14 runs behind Dinesh Karthik.

#4 Dilip Vengsarkar

Tests: 13

Runs: 960

Avg: 48.00

Best: 157

100/50: 4/4

Vengsarkar was the wrecker-in-chief as India sealed a Test series win on English soil in 1986. The Right-handed batsmen scored two tons in the series, ending as the tournament's highest scorer with 360 runs in 3 Tests. His unbeaten 126 was batting at it’s finest, and what better venue to bring it up than Lords. He notched up his third successive ton at the hallowed Mecca of cricket.

#3 Sunil Gavaskar

Tests: 16

Runs: 1152

Avg: 41.14

Best: 221

100/50: 2/8

Sunil Gavaskar is a veteran of two Test series wins away at England. Sunny was part of both the sides under Ajit Wadekar in 1971, and then under Kapil Dev in 1986 that won the series. Though in both of these tours Gavaskar failed to inspire his side with the willow. In the 6 Tests that he featured in during those series-winning Tests, he failed to score a single ton. His best memories in England came during the Oval Test in 1979, when he notched up a mammoth 221 in the drawn encounter.

#2 Rahul Dravid

Tests: 13

Runs: 1376

Avg: 68.80

Best: 217

100/50: 6/4

The Wall has many a times tormented the English in their own backyard. The ice-cool batsman was India's highest scorer in the 2002 Test series, as India drew the series 1-1. Dravid amassed 602 runs in the 4 Tests, studded with 3 centuries. After losing the first Test at Lords, His score sheet for the remaining Tests in the tour read: 13, 115, 148 and 217. In 2007 he captained India to a memorable 1-0 series win in England. Then during his final tour in 2011, he was the only saving grace as he amassed 461 runs in the series during India’s 4-0 loss.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Tests: 17

Runs: 1575

Avg: 54.31

Best: 193

100/50: 4/8

Sachin has many fond memories of playing in England. As a 17-year-old kid, he scored his maiden Test ton, an unbeaten 119 in the second innings of the Manchester Test. Since then The Master Blaster has developed a liking for English tracks, scoring 7 of his 51 Test tons in England. Arguably one of his finest Test knocks in England was a monstrous 193 at Headingley. India went on to bring the Englishmen down to their knees with an innings and 46 run win. With 1575 runs, the Mumbaikar leads the all-time list for most Test runs by an Indian on English soil.