The winner of a Test series claims the trophy, and in the event of a drawn series, the holder retains it. Known for its competitive nature and the high standards of both teams, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most prestigious bilateral trophies in Test cricket.
A Glorious Tradition Since 1996
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been contested since 1996, and it has seen numerous memorable performances. Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in the series, amassing 3,262 runs from 65 innings. On the bowling front, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has taken the most wickets, with 116 scalps over 26 matches at an average of 32.40.
Early Encounters and the Birth of the Trophy
The cricketing rivalry between India and Australia dates back to the 1935-36 tour when Australia played four unofficial Tests in India. The Australian Services cricket team also toured India in 1945-46. After India gained independence, the first official Test series between the two nations took place during India's 1947-48 tour of Australia. However, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was not introduced until much later. The 2023 World Test Championship final was the first Test since the 1991-92 series where the trophy was not contested.
Home Dominance and Historic Away Wins
PC: Twitter X / BCCI
Both India and Australia are formidable at home. India has won 8 out of 9 series held in India, while Australia has won 4 out of 7 series held in Australia as of the 2022-23 series. However, the away victories have etched a special place in cricket folklore. Australia's win in India in 2004-05 and India's wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 are celebrated achievements. The trophy has frequently changed hands, underscoring the competitiveness of the series. Notably, India ended Australia's streaks of 16 consecutive Test wins in both 2000-01 and 2007-08.
Memorable Series and Matches
1997-98 Series
Australia toured India in 1998, seeking their first series win in India since 1969-70. India dominated the series, winning 2-1. Sachin Tendulkar's brilliant performances, including a century in Chennai and another in Bangalore, were pivotal. Australia's lone win came in Bangalore, aided by centuries from Mark Waugh and Mark Taylor.
1999-2000 Series
The first official Border-Gavaskar Trophy series saw Australia win 3-0 on home soil. Despite Sachin Tendulkar's century in Melbourne, Australia, led by Steve Waugh and featuring emerging talent like Brett Lee, proved too strong.
2000-01 Series
This series is often regarded as one of the greatest in cricket history. India, after losing the first Test in Mumbai, staged a miraculous comeback in Kolkata. V.V.S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid's epic partnership of 376 runs turned the game around, and India won after following on. India clinched the series 2-1 with another victory in Chennai.
2003-04 Series
India's tour of Australia in 2003-04 was another classic, ending in a 1-1 draw. Notable performances included Rahul Dravid's double century in Adelaide and Ricky Ponting's twin double centuries. The series was marked by competitive cricket and sportsmanship, with India retaining the trophy.
2004-05 Series
The Australian cricket team toured India from October 6 to November 5, 2004, for a four-Test series, with matches in Bangalore, Chennai, Nagpur, and Mumbai. Australia won the series 2-1, ending a 35-year drought of winning a Test series in India. Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, making their last tour of India, played pivotal roles in the victory.
Australia dominated the first Test in Bangalore, winning comprehensively. Michael Clarke, in his debut match, scored 151, leading Australia to a strong position. Despite Harbhajan Singh’s impressive 10-wicket haul, India’s batting collapsed twice, resulting in a loss. Clarke was named Man of the Match.
The second Test in Chennai saw India bounce back, dismissing Australia for 235 in the first innings with Anil Kumble taking 7 wickets. Virender Sehwag’s 155 helped India gain a 141-run lead. However, rain on the final day led to a draw. Kumble's exceptional performance earned him the Man of the Match title.
In Nagpur, the third Test saw Australia clinching the series. Despite a valiant effort from Mohammed Kaif, India’s batting faltered. Damien Martyn’s century and Michael Clarke’s 91 set the stage for Australia’s win. Martyn’s performance earned him the Man of the Match award, and Australia secured their long-awaited series victory in India.
The final Test in Mumbai was a low-scoring affair. India, batting first, was bowled out for 104. Australia responded with 203, and despite a better second innings from India, setting a target of 107, Australia was bowled out for 93, giving India a 13-run victory. Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik were the chief architects of this win, with Kartik named Man of the Match. Damien Martyn was named Man of the Series.
2007-08 Series
The Indian cricket team toured Australia from December 2007 to March 2008, with a four-Test series. Australia won the series 2-1. Australia dominated the first Test in Melbourne, winning by 337 runs. Matthew Hayden’s century and a strong bowling performance led by Clark and Lee secured the victory. India fought back in the second Test in Sydney but lost by 122 runs. Michael Clarke’s crucial wickets in the final moments secured the win for Australia.
India won the third Test in Perth by 72 runs, ending Australia’s 16-match winning streak. Key performances from Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan, along with a strong bowling attack, ensured India’s victory. The final Test in Adelaide ended in a draw, with India opting to save the match. Sachin Tendulkar’s century and VVS Laxman’s 151 ensured India did not lose. Australia won the series, but India’s performance in Perth remained a highlight.
2008-09 Series
In the 2008-09 season, the first Test at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, ended in a draw. India outclassed Australia in the second Test at Mohali, winning by a record 320 runs. Sachin Tendulkar became the highest run-scorer in Test history. Sourav Ganguly also reached a milestone, scoring over 7,000 Test runs and a century.
Anil Kumble retired after the third Test in Delhi, which ended in a draw. VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir scored double hundreds. India won the final Test in Nagpur by 172 runs, regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ishant Sharma was named Man of the Series.
2010-11 Series
India won the two-Test series against Australia 2-0. Sachin Tendulkar was named Man of the Series. The first Test in Mohali was a thriller, with India winning by one wicket. VVS Laxman’s unbeaten 73 and Ishant Sharma’s resilience led India to a dramatic victory. Zaheer Khan was named Man of the Match.
In the second Test in Bangalore, India won by 7 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar scored 403 runs in four innings, averaging 134.33. Zaheer Khan was the leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in two Tests. Sachin Tendulkar was named Man of the Match.
Read the article - The Evolution of Cricket Scoring: From Pen and Paper to Digital Platforms
2011-12 Series
Australia won the first Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground by 122 runs within four days. Debutant Ed Cowan top-scored with 68. India’s collapse from 214-3 to 282 all out saw Australia recover and set a target of 292, which India failed to chase. James Pattinson was named Man of the Match with impressive figures of 18*, 2/55, and 4/53.
In the second Test at Sydney Cricket Ground, India collapsed for 191 after winning the toss. Australia responded with 659/4, featuring a triple century from Michael Clarke (329 not out), 150 from Michael Hussey, and 134 from Ricky Ponting.
2014–15 Series
The 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off with Australia winning the toss and batting first, setting a formidable 517/7 declared. It marked Virat Kohli's debut as India's Test captain. David Warner blazed with 145 runs, and Steve Smith added an unbeaten 162. Rain washed out the second day, but on the third day, India responded with 444, thanks to Kohli's 115. Australia declared at 290/5 in their second innings, with Warner hitting another century. Despite Kohli's second ton, India was bowled out for 315, losing by 48 runs. Nathan Lyon earned Man of the Match for his 12-wicket haul.
Australia won the second match, securing a 2-0 lead. The final two Tests were drawn, giving Australia the series victory and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first Test was a tribute to Phillip Hughes, with players wearing black armbands bearing Hughes' cap number, 408, after his tragic death from a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield game.
2016–17 Series
In the first Test of the 2016-17 series, Australia won the toss and batted first, with DRS making its debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia triumphed in Pune by 333 runs, thanks to Steve O'Keefe's 12-wicket haul. In Bangalore, Nathan Lyon's 8/50 in India's first innings couldn't prevent India from leveling the series, courtesy of fifties from KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravichandran Ashwin's six wickets. The third Test was drawn, but India won the fourth, clinching the series 2-1 and retaining the trophy.
2018–19 Series
Entering the 2018-19 series without David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft due to the ball-tampering scandal, Australia faced a formidable Indian side. In Adelaide, Cheteshwar Pujara's 123 and 71 set up a 31-run win for India. Australia leveled the series in Perth, but Pujara's century in Melbourne helped India to a 137-run victory, securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The final Test in Sydney ended in a draw, with Pujara named Player of the Series for his 521 runs.
2020–21 Series
India held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy entering the 2020-21 series. In the first Test in Adelaide, India collapsed to 36 all out in their second innings, losing by eight wickets. However, India bounced back in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, with Ajinkya Rahane's century leading to an eight-wicket win. The third Test in Sydney ended in a dramatic draw, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batting for 289 balls. In the decisive fourth Test at the Gabba, despite numerous injuries, India chased down 328 to win by three wickets, sealing a historic 2-1 series victory. Rishabh Pant's 89* earned him Man of the Match, while Pat Cummins was named Man of the Series.
PC: Twitter X / Cricket Australia
2022–23 Series
The 2022-23 series, postponed due to the T20 World Cup, was played in February 2023. In Nagpur, Ravindra Jadeja's five-wicket haul helped India to an innings and 132-run win. In Delhi, Jadeja's 7/42 in Australia's second innings led India to a six-wicket victory. Australia won the third Test in Indore, with Nathan Lyon's eight-wicket haul earning him Man of the Match. The final Test in Ahmedabad, attended by the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers, ended in a draw. India won the series 2-1, retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Virat Kohli was the Player of the Match for his 186 runs, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared the Player of the Series award for their all-round performances.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 is set to commence tomorrow, and cricket fans around the world are buzzing with excitement. India and Australia will face off in a gripping five-Test series, starting from November 22, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
India has dominated the last three series, retaining the trophy each time, which adds an extra layer of anticipation to this year’s contests. Fans are eager to see if India can continue their winning streak or if Australia will reclaim the trophy on their home turf.
Adding to the excitement, India's regular captain Rohit Sharma will miss the first Test due to personal reasons. Stepping up in his absence, Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead the Indian team for the opening match. Bumrah’s captaincy will be a focal point, and fans are keen to see how his leadership will influence the team’s performance
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah(c), Mohammed Siraj, Sarfaraz Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Abhimanyu Easwaran
Australia Squad: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins(c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Scott Boland.
As the series unfolds, all eyes will be on the thrilling cricket action and the high-stakes battles between two of the world's top cricketing nations. Stay tuned for updates related to BGT 2024 by downloading the CricClubs App.
Content Credits: Wikipedia
Pc: ICC