Don Bradman scored the most double centuries in Test cricket, 12. He made them in 80 innings, which is one every seven trips to the crease, and no one has come closer than Kumar Sangakkara’s 11 in 233.
Only three batters have reached nine. Below them the list is crowded: eight players are tied on six, and ten more on four.
Most double centuries in Test cricket
Every batter with four or more Test double centuries, complete to 9 September 2026. Ties are ordered by fewest innings. Source: ESPNcricinfo.
| Rank | Player | Team | Span | Mat | Inns | 200s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don Bradman | Australia | 1928-1948 | 52 | 80 | 12 | 334 |
| 2 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2000-2015 | 134 | 233 | 11 | 319 |
| 3 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 1990-2006 | 131 | 232 | 9 | 400* |
| 4 | Wally Hammond | England | 1927-1947 | 85 | 140 | 7 | 336* |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | India | 2011-2025 | 123 | 210 | 7 | 254* |
| 4 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 1997-2014 | 149 | 252 | 7 | 374 |
| 7 | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 1990-2007 | 90 | 156 | 6 | 249 |
| 7 | Virender Sehwag | India | 2001-2013 | 104 | 180 | 6 | 319 |
| 7 | Javed Miandad | Pakistan | 1976-1993 | 124 | 189 | 6 | 280* |
| 7 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 2010-2026 | 110 | 195 | 6 | 251 |
| 7 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 2000-2017 | 118 | 213 | 6 | 313 |
| 7 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1995-2012 | 168 | 287 | 6 | 257 |
| 7 | Joe Root | England | 2012-2026 | 168 | 307 | 6 | 262 |
| 7 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1989-2013 | 200 | 329 | 6 | 248* |
| 15 | Graeme Smith | South Africa | 2002-2014 | 117 | 205 | 5 | 277 |
| 15 | Rahul Dravid | India | 1996-2012 | 164 | 286 | 5 | 270 |
| 15 | Alastair Cook | England | 2006-2018 | 161 | 291 | 5 | 294 |
| 18 | Zaheer Abbas | Pakistan | 1969-1985 | 78 | 124 | 4 | 274 |
| 18 | Len Hutton | England | 1937-1955 | 79 | 138 | 4 | 364 |
| 18 | Greg Chappell | Australia | 1970-1984 | 87 | 151 | 4 | 247* |
| 18 | Mohammad Yousuf | Pakistan | 1998-2010 | 90 | 156 | 4 | 223 |
| 18 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 2004-2016 | 101 | 176 | 4 | 302 |
| 18 | Gordon Greenidge | West Indies | 1974-1991 | 108 | 185 | 4 | 226 |
| 18 | Michael Clarke | Australia | 2004-2015 | 115 | 198 | 4 | 329* |
| 18 | Sunil Gavaskar | India | 1971-1987 | 125 | 214 | 4 | 236* |
| 18 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 2004-2019 | 124 | 215 | 4 | 311* |
| 18 | Steve Smith | Australia | 2010-2026 | 125 | 223 | 4 | 239 |
India and Australia have five batters apiece in the 27, England and Pakistan four each, Sri Lanka three, and New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies two each.
Bradman’s 12, and the rate nobody has matched
Bradman made his 12 double centuries in 80 innings. Sangakkara needed 233 for 11 and Lara 232 for nine. Put another way, Bradman turned an innings into a double century once every 6.7 innings; Sangakkara once every 21.2.
His first came at Lord’s in June 1930, 254 off 376 balls, and his highest followed a fortnight later at Leeds — 334, made in the next Test of the same series. Eight of his 12 were against England.
The nearest miss in the list belongs to him too: 299 not out against South Africa at Adelaide in January 1932, one run short of a triple century, left stranded when Australia’s last wicket fell.
Virat Kohli’s seven
Kohli has the most Test double centuries by an Indian, seven, and they arrived in a burst. All seven came between July 2016 and October 2019 — 200 against West Indies at North Sound, 211 at Indore, 235 at the Wankhede, 204 at Hyderabad, 213 at Nagpur, 243 in Delhi and 254 not out against South Africa at Pune.
He did not make another. His last Test was in 2025, more than five years after the innings at Pune.
Who is still playing
Three of the 27 are still active: Joe Root and Kane Williamson on six each, and Steve Smith on four.
Root’s most recent is also the most recent by anyone in this list — 262 against Pakistan at Multan in October 2024, an innings in which Harry Brook also made 317, so two of the 420 double centuries in Test history came in the same innings. Williamson’s sixth came against Sri Lanka at Wellington in March 2023, and Smith’s fourth against West Indies at Perth in November 2022.
Most Test double centuries for India
Five Indians are in the list, more than any country except Australia, who also have five.
| Rank | Player | Span | Mat | Inns | 200s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 2011-2025 | 123 | 210 | 7 | 254* |
| 2 | Virender Sehwag | 2001-2013 | 104 | 180 | 6 | 319 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1989-2013 | 200 | 329 | 6 | 248* |
| 4 | Rahul Dravid | 1996-2012 | 164 | 286 | 5 | 270 |
| 5 | Sunil Gavaskar | 1971-1987 | 125 | 214 | 4 | 236* |
Sehwag is the only Indian on the list who also has a Test triple century, and he has two of them — 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa at Chennai in 2008. India’s most recent Test double century is not on this list at all: Shubman Gill’s 269 against England at Birmingham in July 2025.
How rare is a Test double century?
There have been 420 double centuries in Test cricket, made by 218 different batters. More than half of those batters — 131 of them — made exactly one, and only 27 have four or more.
The most recent belongs to Amir Jangoo, 233 for West Indies against Sri Lanka at North Sound in June 2026.
Most double centuries in Test cricket: quick answers
Who has scored the most double centuries in Test cricket? Don Bradman, with 12.
Who has the most Test double centuries among Indians? Virat Kohli, with seven.
Which active player has the most? Joe Root and Kane Williamson, on six each.
How many double centuries have been scored in Tests? 420, by 218 batters.
What is the highest of them? Brian Lara’s 400 not out for West Indies against England in 2004, which is also the highest individual Test score.
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Featured photo: Alamy