Australia vs India is one of the most important rivalries in modern Test cricket. The two teams first met in Test cricket in 1947, and their contests have produced legendary players, dramatic comebacks and some of the most memorable matches in the format. Australia vs India Head-to-Head in Test
The rivalry is also closely associated with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was introduced in 1996–97 and named after former captains Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar.
As of the end of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia and India had played 112 Test matches. Australia had won 48, India had won 33, 30 matches were drawn, and one Test ended in a tie.
Australia vs India Test Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Australia | India |
|---|---|---|
| Tests played | 112 | 112 |
| Matches won | 48 | 33 |
| Matches lost | 33 | 48 |
| Draws | 30 | 30 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
| First Test | 1947 | 1947 |
| Latest Test | January 2025 | January 2025 |
Australia therefore have the larger overall number of Test victories, although India have enjoyed several highly successful periods, particularly in the 21st century. Australia vs India Head-to-Head in Test
Beginning of the Australia vs India Test Rivalry
Australia and India first played Test cricket in November 1947, when India toured Australia shortly after gaining independence.
The first Test was played at Brisbane. Australia won the match by an innings and 226 runs. India’s batting struggled against Australia’s attack, with the visitors being dismissed for 58 and 98.
During the early decades of the rivalry, Australia generally controlled the head-to-head record. India gradually became more competitive, however, and eventually established itself as a major Test force.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The bilateral Test series between Australia and India is known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The trophy was named after two legendary batsmen and former captains:
- Allan Border – Australia
- Sunil Gavaskar – India
The first Border-Gavaskar Trophy series was played in India during 1996–97. Since then, the series has become one of the most closely followed contests in Test cricket.
The rivalry has included several historic series, especially India’s tours of Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21.
Australia vs India in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The latest five-Test series was played in Australia between November 2024 and January 2025.
Australia won the series 3–1, with one match drawn, and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It was Australia’s first series victory over India in the trophy since 2014–15.
2024–25 Series Results
| Test | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Perth | India won by 295 runs |
| 2nd Test | Adelaide | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 3rd Test | Brisbane | Draw |
| 4th Test | Melbourne | Australia won by 184 runs |
| 5th Test | Sydney | Australia won by 6 wickets |
India made an excellent start by winning the Perth Test by 295 runs. Australia responded with victories in Adelaide and Melbourne, while the Brisbane Test was drawn because rain interrupted the match.
Australia then won the final Test at Sydney by six wickets to seal a 3–1 series victory.
2024–25 Series: Key Performers
Several players made significant contributions during the series.
For Australia, Travis Head was the leading run-scorer with 448 runs, while Pat Cummins took 25 wickets.
For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 391 runs, while Jasprit Bumrah was the leading wicket-taker with 32 wickets and was named Player of the Series.
The series also marked the final Test series for several prominent Indian players, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
India’s Historic 2018–19 Series Victory
One of the most important moments in the rivalry came during India’s tour of Australia in 2018–19.
India won the four-Test series 2–1, becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia.
India won the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests, while Australia won in Perth. The Sydney Test ended in a draw.
Virat Kohli captained India during the historic series, while Cheteshwar Pujara played a major role with the bat.
The victory established a major milestone in India’s Test cricket history.
The 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India produced another famous series victory in Australia in 2020–21.
Australia won the first Test in Adelaide, but India fought back to win the series 2–1.
The series became particularly memorable because of India’s victory at the Gabba in Brisbane in the fourth Test.
Australia had not lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988 before India’s historic victory in January 2021. India chased down 328 in the fourth innings, with Rishabh Pant scoring an unbeaten 89.
The victory allowed India to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The 2023 World Test Championship Final
Australia and India also met in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval in London.
Australia won the match by 209 runs.
Australia scored 469 in their first innings and 270/8 declared in their second. India responded with 296 and 234.
The result gave Australia the inaugural World Test Championship title.
Although this match was played at a neutral venue, it is included in the overall Australia-India Test head-to-head record.
Famous Players in Australia vs India Tests
The rivalry has featured some of the greatest batsmen and bowlers in cricket history.
Australian Legends
Don Bradman was one of Australia’s earliest greats and played against India during the first series between the teams.
Later generations produced players such as Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke.
Among bowlers, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Nathan Lyon have played major roles against India.
In the modern era, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head have become important Australian performers.
Indian Legends
India have also produced many outstanding performers against Australia.
Sunil Gavaskar was one of India’s greatest opening batsmen and an important figure in the early history of the rivalry.
Sachin Tendulkar produced numerous memorable performances against Australia, while Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli also played important roles.
Among bowlers, Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah have been particularly significant.
Major Test Records
Australia’s highest team total against India is 674, while India’s highest total against Australia is 705/7 declared.
Australia’s lowest completed innings against India is 83, while India’s lowest is 36.
Michael Clarke holds Australia’s highest individual score against India, with an unbeaten 329 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2012.
Nathan Lyon’s 8/50 in Bengaluru in 2017 is one of Australia’s notable individual bowling performances in the rivalry.
Australia vs India: Record by Series
The history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has included several periods of dominance by both teams.
India enjoyed a particularly strong period at home during the 2000s and 2010s. Australia, meanwhile, have traditionally been very difficult to beat on their own pitches.
India’s consecutive Test-series victories in Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21 were major achievements.
Australia responded by winning the 2024–25 series 3–1, ending India’s long run of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victories.
Why Australia vs India Test Cricket Is So Important
The rivalry has become one of the biggest contests in international Test cricket because both teams have consistently produced high-quality players.
Australian conditions provide pace, bounce and large boundaries, while Indian conditions have traditionally offered greater assistance to spin as matches progress.
This creates an interesting contrast between the two countries and makes overseas victories particularly significant.
The rivalry also includes some of the most famous Test grounds in the world, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval, Perth Stadium, the Gabba, the Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens and the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Conclusion
Australia vs India has developed into one of the most important rivalries in Test cricket. From the first meeting in 1947 to the latest Test in January 2025, the two teams have played 112 Tests.
Australia have won 48, India have won 33, 30 matches have ended in draws and one has finished as a tie.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has produced several historic series, including India’s victories in Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21. Australia regained the trophy in the 2024–25 series by winning 3–1.
With legendary players, dramatic Test matches and a long history of competitive cricket, Australia vs India remains one of the most significant rivalries in the modern Test game.
5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many Test matches have Australia and India played?
Australia and India have played 112 Test matches against each other through the end of the 2024–25 series.
2. Who has won more Tests between Australia and India?
Australia have won 48 Tests, while India have won 33. Thirty matches have been drawn and one Test has ended in a tie.
3. What is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the trophy awarded to the winner of Test series between Australia and India. It is named after Australian captain Allan Border and Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar.
4. Who won the latest Australia vs India Test series?
Australia won the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3–1, with one Test drawn.
5. Who won the 2023 World Test Championship Final between Australia and India?
Australia defeated India by 209 runs in the 2023 World Test Championship Final at The Oval in London.