A League of Their Own: Gooch, Yousuf & the Glorious Art of Batting in a 3-Test Series

Shubman Gill’s latest Test series wrapped up with an impressive tally of *754 runs* — a figure that instantly catches the eye and cements his place among the game’s modern batting greats. While such tall totals have been recorded more than thirty times across cricket history, what makes each instance unique is the number of matches played to achieve them.

Most batters who have crossed the *700-run* threshold in a single series have had the luxury of *four or more Tests. Some played five; a few even stretched it to six. But remarkably, only **one batsman in the history of the game* has breached the 700-run mark in a series of just *three Tests* — the legendary *Graham Gooch*.

Let’s rewind to *1990, when England hosted India. Gooch, leading from the front, scored a staggering **752 runs* in that series. It remains the *highest aggregate ever in a 3-Test series*.

Top Run Scorers in a 3-Match Test Series:

1. *Graham Gooch* – 752 runs vs India (1990)
2. *Brian Lara* – 688 runs vs Sri Lanka (2001/02)
3. *Mohammad Yousuf* – 665 runs vs West Indies (2006/07)
4. *Virat Kohli* – 610 runs vs Sri Lanka (2017/18)

These four are part of an elite club — the only batters in Test history to score *600 or more runs* in a three-match series.

What makes their achievements even more fascinating is the number of innings played. Gooch and Lara batted in *all six innings* of their respective series, while Yousuf and Kohli made do with just *five. Kohli was even **not out* in one of them, which further amplifies the brilliance of his numbers.

### Their Batting Averages in Those Series:

* *Virat Kohli* – 152.50
* *Mohammad Yousuf* – 133.00
* *Graham Gooch* – 125.33
* *Brian Lara* – 114.67

Kohli, Gooch, and Lara each notched up *three centuries* in those iconic series — a rare feat, yet not unheard of. But *Mohammad Yousuf* went a step further.

In a breathtaking display of consistency and elegance, Yousuf hammered *four centuries* in just *three Tests* — a record that arguably *stands unmatched* to this day. There’s no known instance of any other player scoring *four centuries in a 3-Test series*.

While stats often speak for themselves, it’s in these fine details — the innings played, the conversion rate, the consistency — where greatness truly reveals itself. Gooch’s dominance, Lara’s flair, Kohli’s modern precision, and Yousuf’s sublime touch — they all make the art of batting in a short series feel like a complete symphony.

And as Shubman Gill enters the record books with his 754-run effort, it’s worth pausing to remember those who carved history in *less time — but no less impact.