The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is just around the corner, and the cricketing world is bracing for another exciting chapter in the fierce rivalry between India and Australia. The five-match Test series, set to begin on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth, promises to deliver thrilling action. The series will then move to Adelaide for a day-night Test from December 6 to 10, followed by the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.
The final two matches will take place in Melbourne from December 26 to 30 and in Sydney from January 3 to 7. India has been on an upward trajectory in recent years, having won the last two Test series played on Australian soil. With the series win in 2021, they made history by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia, and they followed it up with another victory in 2023. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team will be looking to complete a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. However, the task is not going to be easy.
The Australians are formidable on home soil, with their players in excellent form, and the series is expected to be fiercely contested. On the other hand, India is grappling with a few injury concerns to key players, which may affect their plans. In the 52 Test matches played between the two teams on Australian soil, India has had a challenging history, managing to win just nine games.
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However, they have made significant strides in recent tours, with four of those wins coming in the last two series. Australia, with their strong tradition of dominance at home, has historically been difficult to beat, but India has shown that they can hold their own against the Aussies. One of the most iconic moments in India’s Test history on Australian soil came in January 2004, when the team, led by Sourav Ganguly, posted a monumental 705/7 in their first innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The two key contributors were Sachin Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 241, and VVS Laxman, who made 178. This innings marked one of India’s most memorable performances in Australia. However, India also experienced some tough moments, including the infamous 36 all-out in Adelaide in December 2020, which remains their lowest total in Test history.
India’s biggest victory by innings came in January 1978 at the SCG, where they won by an innings and two runs. Their largest margin of victory by runs came just a year earlier, in 1977, when they defeated Australia by 222 runs in Melbourne. The smallest win by runs came in December 2018 at Adelaide Oval, where India triumphed by just 31 runs. As for the smallest victory by wickets, India defeated Australia by three wickets in Brisbane in January 2021, securing a historic win that sealed their first Test series win in Australia in over 70 years.
When it comes to individual performances, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar has left a lasting legacy in Australia. He holds the record for the most runs by an Indian in Tests played on Australian soil, with 1809 runs in 20 matches. His highest score of 241* in Sydney in 2004 is the highest individual score by an Indian on Australian turf. Tendulkar also scored six centuries and seven fifties in Australia.
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Another modern-day great, Rishabh Pant, has made his mark in Australia with 624 runs in just seven Tests at an impressive average of 62.40. Virat Kohli, too, has been prolific, scoring six centuries in Australia and amassing 692 runs during the 2014-15 tour. In the bowling department, former India captain Kapil Dev holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian in Australia, having claimed 51 wickets in 11 Tests. Kapil’s best performance came in the 1985 Test at Adelaide, where he took 8 wickets for 106 runs.
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, another iconic Indian bowler, holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in Australia, with 12 wickets for 104 runs in the 1977-78 Melbourne Test. Anil Kumble and Bishan Singh Bedi have also taken 10 wickets in a match each in Australia. Kumble, one of India’s most successful bowlers, is also known for his record-breaking achievements across the globe, and he remains one of the pillars of Indian cricket history.
India’s wicketkeeping legends, including MS Dhoni, have also contributed significantly to the team’s success in Australia. Dhoni completed 31 catches and 4 stumpings in nine Test matches in Australia, further solidifying his role as a leader and performer. VVS Laxman, another stalwart, took 18 catches in his 15 Tests in Australia. The 2004 Sydney Test, where Tendulkar and Laxman added 353 runs for the fourth wicket, remains one of the most iconic partnerships in Test history.
As for captains, Bishan Singh Bedi, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane each led India to two Test victories in Australia, showcasing their leadership qualities. Kohli, in particular, oversaw India’s historic series win in 2018-19, while Rahane led the team to victory in the 2020-21 series after a major injury setback to Kohli.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 series, India has a rich history in Australia, but the competition will be fierce. With several key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah in top form, and younger players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant stepping up, India will be looking to add another successful chapter to their Australian saga. However, they must overcome the challenges posed by a formidable Australian team, led by Pat Cummins, with their own set of in-form players, including David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. As the series unfolds, all eyes will be on these two cricketing giants, as they battle for supremacy in one of the most anticipated Test series in recent years.
