Border Gavaskar Trophy: India and Australia have been a powerhouse of sports, especially Cricket. A cricket match between India and Australia has always been provoking a lot of interest.
The first Test series between India – Australia was played back in the 1947 – 48 cricket season. Since then India and Australia have shared a bitter-sour relationship on cricket grounds.
Australia was the first team to tour India after independence. At that time Indian cricket team was led by Lala Amarnath for a five-match series to Australia which was led by Sir Donald Bradman.
Despite having good players such as Vijay Hazare and Vinoo Mankad, Australia beat India by 4-0.
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Border Gavaskar Trophy and Behind the Scenes Epic India vs Australia
India Tour of Australia: 1959-60
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India and Australia kept on playing bilateral Test series at regular intervals. It took more than 12 years for India to register their first victory against Australia.
During the second Test of 1959-60, Jasu Patel‘s bowling figures of 14 for 124 ensured India’s historic victory over Australia. Patel, who was called by then selector Lala Amarnath to the side for the second Test, proved to be a masterstroke inclusion.
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Patel was 35 at that time, with a career on the verge of end, but he was brought back and the rest is history. India registered its first Test win against Australia, but not a series. India kept on improving and showed immense improvement and drew the next series at home in 1964-65 by 1-1.
The dream of winning the series over Australia was not yet fulfilled. It took almost 42 years for the dream to turn into reality as India caught hold of its hand on its first-ever series victory in 1979-80.
It was a series of six Tests, in which India won two and drew four. But not to forget, India played against the second-string Australian side as most of the big names were busy playing Kerry Packer World Series Cricket.
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After that, India never won any series against Australia till it was given a name. In the year 1996, it was decided that any bilateral Test series played between India and Australia would be called as Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The name was given after iconic players Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. Both these great players scored more than 10,000 runs in their respective Test careers and captained their teams.
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First Test Match of Border -Gavaskar Trophy in India
The first Border-Gavaskar Trophy was played in 1996-97. It was of only one test. This series was also Sachin Tendulkar‘s maiden Test as captain of India.
India won that one-off Test quite convincingly which was played at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi and claimed the first-ever Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The test is famously known for Nayan Mongia’s 152 and incorrect decision to dismiss Sourav Ganguly. If the umpire had not given the incorrect decision. Ganguly could have a chance to equal Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of three hundred in consecutive Tests from debut.
It was only a one-off Test between India and Australia which marked the beginning of another era of rivalry. A total of 12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series have been played since then. India has won 6, Australia has 5 and 1 is drawn.
Before the series was given the iconic name, the same number of bilateral series had been played between the two countries. But India could only win one, while Australia won 7 and 4 ended in a draw. So, it can be said that India’s fortune changed after the series got a name.
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First Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia
In 1999-2000 season was played in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia which was captained by Sachin Tendulkar. It was a three-Test match series. India played a total of 25 matches with Australia in five years and six turns.
It was an uphill battle for India, losing 16 matches and winning only 3 matches. In this series express fast bowler, Brett Lee made his Test match debut. The series is also known for the infamous LBW decision that went against Sachin Tendulkar.
When an attempted Glenn McGrath bouncer stayed low and hit the ducking batsman on his shoulder. India conceded the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time.
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Epic Australia Tour of India in 2001
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The 2001 Test series is counted among the finest and most epic test matches ever played in the history of the sport. Indian Cricket Team in this series was led by Sourav Ganguly. Team India ended all the records of 16 Test match winning streak of star–studded Australian team.
Australia won the opener in Mumbai before India fought back valiantly to claim the series by 2-1. From a hat-trick by Harbhajan Singh and gritty innings of 281 by VVS Laxman to an unbelievable 376 partnership involving Rahul Dravid.
India’s encouraging win in the second Test match at Eden Gardens eventually helped them clinch the Test series in Chennai.
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A Couple of Whitewashes in Border – Gavaskar Trophy
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Hosts Australia whitewashed India 4-0 to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the 2011-12 series. Australia captain Michael Clarke was adjudged player of the series after he had accumulated 626 runs in the four Tests at an average of 125.20.
In the second match of the series, Clarke smashed his career-best score of 329 not out.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy, India exacted revenge as they whitewashed the Australians 4-0 to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy held in India in 2013.
Interestingly, in the first Test in Chennai, MS Dhoni smashed the highest score by an Indian Test captain scoring 224 runs and beating the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar.
The ugly side of India vs Australia
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After India’s heroics in Australia, it was time for the Kangaroos to return the favour on Indian soil. Interestingly, Australia’s 2-1 victory in the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was their first Test series win in India since their 1969-70 tour.
Australia had the home advantage during the 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. When the two nations met again for a fiercely fought four-match Test series.
Though Australia clinched the series 2-1, it is remembered more for India’s unlikely win in Perth’s difficult conditions and a series of controversial umpiring decisions.
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Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19: India create history Down Under
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Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, the Indian team created history by becoming the first Asian nation to win a Test series Down Under, a first since 1947-48. Australia competing without batting stalwarts, Steve Smith and David Warner.
Both of whom were serving a 12-month ban for the Sandpaper Gate — India put up a dominant show throughout the series to win it 2-1. It was a pivotal moment in India vs Australia Test series history.
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Border-Gavaskar Trophy of 2021
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The 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be noted in the books of history. The final day of the 4th Test was a roller coaster ride.
The spotlight was “The Rock” Cheteshwar Pujara’s resilience, along with a fearless approach from other youngsters.
But the main hero was Rishabh Pant, who held his nerve and guided Ajinkya Rahane and the team to a thrilling and memorable win.
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Border Gavaskar Trophy: FAQ
How did India Retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy
India won the last Border Gavaskar Trophy series in 2018-19 and in 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy series ended in a draw. So as per rules if the series draws then the trophy will remain with the list-winning team. So, India retains the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Who Won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2014 2015
Australia won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2014 2015, 4-match series with 2–0.
Who won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in the 2011 12 Season
Australia won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2011 12, 4-match series with 4–0.
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