KARACHI, March 28: Virender Sehwag on Sunday joined an exclusive group with his unbeaten 228 on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan to become the 15th Indian to score a Test double century.

Sehwag's double century was 26th scored by Indians in 372 Tests until now. The 25-year-old Delhi-born right-handed opening batsman, who launched his Test career with 105 against South Africa at Bloemfontein in 2001-02, has so far made six centuries in 21 Tests.

Vangipurappu Laxman, who is due to bat next in the Multan Test, holds India's record of the highest individual innings with 281 against Australia in that remarkable Test at Kolkata in 2000-01 when the hosts came from behind to win after being forced to follow-on.

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar heads the list with four double centuries, followed by current superstars Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid with three apiece.

Following is the full list of double centuries scored by Indian batsmen in descending order:

V.V.S. Laxman - 281 v Australia at Kolkata, 2000-01.

S.R. Tendulkar - 241 v Australia at Sydney, 2003-04.

S.M. Gavaskar - 236* v West Indies at Chennai, 1983-84.

R. Dravid - 233 v Australia at Adelaide, 2003-04.

V. Mankad - 231 v New Zealand at Chennai, 1955-56.

V. Sehwag - 228* v Pakistan at Multan, 2003-04.

V.G. Kambli - 227 v Zimbabwe at Delhi, 1992-93.

V.G. Kambli - 224 v England at Mumbai, 1992-93.

V. Mankad - 223 v New Zealand at Mumbai, 1955-56.

P.R. Umrigar - 223 v New Zealand at Hyderabad (India), 1955-56.

G.R. Viswanath - 222 v England at Chennai, 1981-82.

R. Dravid - 222 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04.

S.M. Gavaskar - 221 v England The Oval, 1979.

S.M. Gavaskar - 220 v West Indies at Port-of-Spain, 1970-71.

S.V. Manjrekar - 218 v Pakistan at Lahore, 1989-90.

S.R. Tendulkar - 217 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 1999-2000.

R. Dravid - 217 v England at The Oval, 2002.

D.N. Sardesai - 212 v West Indies at Kingston, 1970-71.

R.J. Shastri - 206 v Australia at Sydney, 1991-92.

S.M. Gavaskar - 205 v West Indies at Mumbai, 1978-79.

Mansur Ali Khan (Nawab of Pataudi Jr) - 203* v England at Delhi, 1963-64.

A.D. Gaekwad - 201 v Pakistan at Jalandhar, 1983-84.

N.S. Sidhu - 201 v West Indies at Port-of-Spain, 1996-97.

S.R. Tendulkar - 201* v Zimbabwe at Nagpur, 2000-01.

D.N. Sardesai - 200* v New Zealand at Mumbai, 1964-65.

R. Dravid - 200* v Zimbabwe at Delhi, 2000-01.