Australia and India are two of the most successful and competitive cricket teams in the world. They have played against each other in various formats and tournaments, such as Tests, ODIs, T20Is, World Cups and more. They have also produced some of the greatest players and legends of the game, such as Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli and more.
But what makes their cricket rivalry so thrilling and exciting? What are some of the memorable matches and moments that have defined their cricket history? In this blog post, we will explore some of the aspects and highlights of the Australia vs India cricket rivalry.
History
The history of Australia vs India cricket rivalry dates back to 1947-48, when India toured Australia for the first time for a five-Test series. The series was dominated by Australia, who won 4-0, with one match drawn. The series also marked the debut of Don Bradman as Australia’s captain and Vinoo Mankad as India’s leading bowler.
Since then, Australia and India have played 102 Tests, 152 ODIs and 23 T20Is against each other, as of March 2023. Australia have won 46 Tests, 81 ODIs and 11 T20Is, while India have won 31 Tests, 54 ODIs and 10 T20Is. There have been 25 drawn Tests and seven tied or no result ODIs.
Australia and India have also faced each other in 12 World Cup matches, with Australia winning eight and India winning four. Australia have also won four out of five Champions Trophy matches against India. However, India have won two out of three T20 World Cup matches against Australia.
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Highlights
There have been many highlights and memorable moments in the Australia vs India cricket rivalry over the years. Some of them are:
- The tied Test at Chennai in 1986-87: This was only the second tied Test in cricket history, after the famous Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies in 1960-61. The match was a see-saw battle between the two teams, with both scoring 397 runs in their first innings. In their second innings, Australia set India a target of 348 runs to win. India needed four runs to win with one wicket remaining in the final over, but Maninder Singh was given out lbw off the last ball by Greg Matthews, resulting in a tie.
- The Kolkata Test in 2000-01: This was one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history, as India overturned a follow-on to win by 171 runs. Australia had scored 445 runs in their first innings and bowled out India for 171 runs, enforcing a follow-on. However, India staged a remarkable fightback in their second innings, thanks to a record partnership of 376 runs between VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180). India declared at 657/7 and then dismissed Australia for 212 runs on the final day, with Harbhajan Singh taking six wickets.
- The CB Series final in 2007-08: This was one of the most thrilling ODI series finals ever played, as India beat Australia by nine runs in a high-scoring encounter at Brisbane. Australia had scored 359/5 in their 50 overs, with Matthew Hayden (82), Andrew Symonds (75) and Michael Clarke (68) scoring half-centuries.
- India chased down the target with 13 balls to spare, thanks to a brilliant century by Sachin Tendulkar (117 not out) and a fiery knock by Robin Uthappa (50 not out). India also won the second final at Sydney by six wickets to clinch the series 2-0.
- The Adelaide Test in 2018-19: This was one of the closest and tensest Tests ever played, as India beat Australia by 31 runs to register their first Test win in Australia in 10 years. India had scored 250 and 307 runs in their two innings, with Cheteshwar Pujara (123 and 71) being the top-scorer. Australia had scored 235 and 291 runs in their two innings, with Shaun Marsh (60 and 60) being the top-scorer. The match went down to the wire on the fifth day, as Australia needed 32 runs to win with two wickets remaining. However, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami took the last two wickets to seal the victory for India.
- The Gabba Test in 2020-21: This was one of the most historic and heroic Tests ever played, as India beat Australia by three wickets to win the series 2-1 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India had suffered a humiliating defeat in the first Test at Adelaide, where they were bowled out for 36 runs in their second innings. They also had to deal with several injuries and absences of key players throughout the series. However, they bounced back to win the second Test at Melbourne and draw the third Test at Sydney. In the fourth and final Test at Brisbane, where Australia had not lost a Test since 1988, India had scored 336 and 329/7 in their two innings, with Shubman Gill (91), Rishabh Pant (89 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) playing crucial knocks. Australia had scored 369 and 294 runs in their two innings, with Marnus Labuschagne (108 and 25) being the top-scorer. India chased down the target of 328 runs on the final day, with Pant hitting the winning runs in the last over.
These are some of the aspects and highlights of the Australia vs India cricket rivalry. This rivalry has produced some of the most exciting and entertaining cricket matches ever played, with both teams showing great skill, passion and sportsmanship. It has also enriched the cricket culture and history of both countries, as well as inspired millions of fans and followers around the world. It is a rivalry that is always worth watching and celebrating.