The highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to commence on Wednesday in London, featuring last edition’s runners-up, India, against this year’s table toppers, Australia. After two years of high-quality cricket, one of these teams will emerge victorious and claim the WTC trophy on June 11.
Although the majority of the Test matches in this WTC cycle were played at home, India and Australia will now compete in the WTC final 2023 at the Kennington Oval. As we approach the commencement of this year’s final, let’s take a closer look at the head-to-head record between these two nations.
Australia currently holds a 44-32 lead in the head-to-head record against India in Test cricket. While the last three series between the two sides ended in India’s favor, Australia maintains a respectable lead in the overall head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter was in March 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where both teams amassed runs in a match that ultimately ended in a draw.
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Here’s a summary of their head-to-head record:
- Matches Played: 106
- Matches won by India: 32
- Matches won by Australia: 44
- Matches drawn: 29
- Matches tied: 1
The WTC final 2023 will be held at the Kennington Oval in London, marking the first time India and Australia will face each other at a neutral venue in Test cricket. The conditions in London are expected to favor the fast bowlers, leading some cricket experts to consider Australia as the favorites in this upcoming match.
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Looking back at the last five Test matches between India and Australia, India emerged victorious in three encounters, triumphing at the Gabba in 2021 and registering wins in Nagpur and Delhi this year. Australia secured a win in the Indore Test, while the Ahmedabad Test ended in a draw.
As the WTC final draws near, former India captain Virat Kohli has several records within reach. He will face his favorite team, Australia, at The Oval, starting on June 7, and will be aiming to surpass the great Don Bradman and current India coach Rahul Dravid in certain milestones.
If Kohli scores a century at the Kennington Oval, it will be his 29th in Test cricket, equaling Bradman’s career tally. Among active cricketers, he will still be one century behind Australia’s Steve Smith, who presently holds the top spot with 30 centuries. Joe Root follows closely with 29 Centuries.
Virat Kohli also has the opportunity to surpass Dravid’s record against Australia. In 24 appearances against the Aussies, Kohli has scored 1979 runs at an average of 48.26. By scoring an additional 188 runs, he can surpass Dravid’s record of 2166 runs against Australia, becoming the third-highest Indian run-scorer against the opposition, behind Tendulkar (3630) and VVS Laxman (2434).
Achieving that run tally would also propel Kohli beyond Virender Sehwag’s career Test record of 8586 runs. With 8416 runs in 108 matches, Kohli is just 170 runs short of this milestone. If he achieves it, the 33-year-old will become the fifth-highest run-scorer in Tests for India, following Tendulkar (15921), Dravid (13288), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), and Laxman (8781).
