Top 5 Asian captains with most Test runs

Someone who leads from the front will be the one to lead his side to success. The most essential player in any playing XI is its captain, the one who makes the most important decisions both on-field as well as off-field.

Especially for any Asian side, it is pretty much important for the captain to score runs or take wickets, giving the much-needed boost to the team, outside the sub-continent. Only a few Asian batsmen have been capable enough of scoring runs in SENA. So, it becomes very much important for the leader to lead from the front.

Throughout the course of the game, many players were given the responsibility of leading their sides, but only a few of them could make an impact. Asia is blessed with some of the finest batsmen in world cricket. In fact, more than 70% of players in top-20 run-getters in international cricket are from Asia. Almost each of them was given the responsibility of leading the side, but only few could lead from the front.

Here is a list of top 5 Asian captains with most Test runs.

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#5 Sunil Gavaskar: 3449 runs

Sunil Gavaskar led Indian side for the first time in Tests against New Zealand in 1976. In the first match itself, he scored a match-winning 116 in the first innings and helped Indian chased down a total in the fourth inning with a worthy 36*. He was one of the highest run-getters as a captain during his time.

He led India in 47 Tests from 1976-1985, scoring 3449 runs at an average of 51. He scored 11 centuries during his tenure as the Indian captain and had the highest score of 206. He is also the 20th overall in the list for most runs by a Test captain.

#4 Mahendra Singh Dhoni- 3454 runs

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, former Indian skipper

The most successful Asian captain in Tests, MS Dhoni was given the responsibility of leading the side in absence of Anil Kumble against South Africa in 2008. In the very first match of Dhoni's captainship, India registered a win over the Proteas.

After the retirement of Anil Kumble in the Australia series in 2008, MS Dhoni was made the permanent captain of the team. He took India to the 1st position in ICC rankings and surpassed Ganguly's tally of most Test victories for India.

He scored 3454 runs in 96 innings of 60 Tests with an average of 41. He also scored 5 centuries and 24 fifties during his tenure with the highest score of 226.

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#3 Mahela Jayawardene- 3665 runs

Mahela Jayawardene, former Sri Lankan skipper

Mahela Jayawardene, one of the most successful Sri Lankan skipper, features at number 3 in this list. He led Sri Lanka in 38 Tests during the period of 2006-2013.

He scored 3665 runs with an average of 59. He scored 14 centuries and 10 fifties with a highest score of 374 leading the side. He appears at number 14 in the list of most runs by any captain in Tests.

#2 Misbah-ul-Haq- 4214 runs

Misbah ul Haq, former Pakistani skipper

Misbah is the most capped Pakistani captain in the Tests. He captained Pakistan for 56 Tests and scored 4214 runs in 99 innings. During his tenure from 2010-2017, he led Pakistan to some of its best Test victories ever. He scored runs at an average of 52 with 8 centuries and 35 fifties. Interestingly, he is also one of the oldest captain in Test history.

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#1 Virat Kohli- 4233 runs*

Virat Kohli, current Indian captain

Virat Kohli is at number 1 in this list and the only non-retired player in top-10 worldwide. Virat led India for the first time against Australia in Adelaide in absence of injured MS. He was then made the permanent skipper of the side after Mahi's retirement mid-series. He scored 3 centuries in his first 3 innings as a captain and became the first to do so.

So far, Virat has led India in 42 Tests and scored 4233 runs in 63 innings. He is also one of the fastest captains to reach 4000 runs. He has walloped 17 centuries with a whopping average of 66 and has 6 double-tons under his chin. He ranks at number 8 in the same list worldwide and has hit 3rd most centuries as a captain.