India's captain Shubman Gill is on the verge of a landmark in Test cricket as the country gears for a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He needs 157 runs in the upcoming series to become the first Indian batsman to score 3,000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC).
The first test is scheduled to begin on 15th August at Galle International Stadium with Gill leading the Indian side in the series.
Gill is now the leading run-scorer in the history of the World Test Championship in India and currently has 2,843 runs from 40 Tests, averaging more than 43, with 10 centuries to his name.
A total of 157 runs would take his career total beyond 3,000 runs and put him in a unique place in Indian Test cricket history.
Gill Leads India's WTC Run-Scorers
Gill is currently at the top of India's list of top run-scorers in the World Test Championship.
India's top WTC run-scorers are:
Shubman Gill – 2,843 runs
Rishabh Pant – 2,780 runs
Rohit Sharma – 2,716 runs
Virat Kohli – 2,617 runs
Gill’s persistence in the longest format has helped him go ahead of several top international Indian players. His 10 WTC centuries show his increasing importance to India's Test batting line-up.
Rishabh Pant is second on the list with 2,780 runs from 40 matches, while former captain Rohit Sharma has 2,716 runs on the list. Virat Kohli is fourth with 2,617 runs.
If Gill manages to score 157 runs during the two Tests against Sri Lanka, he will become the first Indian player to cross the 3,000-run barrier in the WTC.
Another Milestone Within Reach
Gill may also achieve another great feat in the Sri Lanka series.
The Indian captain has scored 950 runs in eight Tests as captain during the ongoing 2025-27 WTC cycle. He therefore needs only 50 more runs to become the first Indian captain to score 1,000 runs in a single WTC cycle.
That might come as early as the first test in Galle if Gill gets off to a good start.
Only three Indian batters have ever crossed the 1,000-run mark in one WTC cycle: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gill has the chance to get into that elite group while achieving the feat specifically as India’s captain.
India prepare for Galle test
The next series against Sri Lanka will be Gill's biggest assignment in his leadership career. The first test in Galle will provide difficult conditions for India’s batters, with the possibility of spin bowling in the course of the match.
And Gill's contribution to India's chances will depend very much on how he plays. His recent performances and record in the WTC make him one of the key players to watch during the series.
With two big milestones in sight, the Indian skipper has a lot to play for.
Joe Root Still WTC's Leading Run-Scorer
While Gill is closing in on the 3,000-run mark among Indian batters, England's Joe Root remains comfortably ahead in the overall WTC run-scoring charts.
Root has 6,651 runs in 77 WTC games for England, making him the leading run-scorer in the history of the competition.
Gill is still some distance away from Root's record, but reaching 3,000 runs would be a significant achievement given his young Test career.
The Sri Lanka series could thus become an important chapter in Gill's development as a batter and captain.
With just 157 runs separating him from 3,000 WTC runs and 50 runs needed for 1,000 runs as captain in the current cycle, Shubman Gill goes into the Sri Lanka Tests with two major personal milestones firmly in sight.
