Fresh on the platter, the 16th edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is India’s most awaited Test assignment of the 2023 cricket calendar. This fabled rivalry, more often than not a classic blend of drama, unpredictability and narratives, has captured the imagination of the nation and cricketing fraternity alike; arguably single-handedly keeping the long format alive and entertaining.

Some of our MI legends have stamped their legacy in the India-Australia series over the years. We revisit and fondly remember those iconic moments, which are still fresh for some Indian fans.

Sachin Tendulkar

The God of cricket and Mumbai’s crown jewel, Sachin Tendulkar had a penchant for scoring runs against the mighty Australians in his decorated career. Riding on the echoes of ‘Sachin, Sachin’, the Master Blaster often milked the likes of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and the late Shane Warne.

Like the innumerable records to his name, Sachin Tendulkar sits atop the list for most runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Tendulkar’s unbeaten 241 in the 2004 Sydney Test remains the highest knock by an Indian on Aussie soil. The legendary batter smacked 33 boundaries in that game where he famously refused to play a single cover drive. His other significant knocks include 214 in the 2010 Bangalore Test, a century at the MCG during India’s whitewash in 2000, and an unbeaten 155 that sparked a turnaround victory in the 1998 Chennai Test where he smashed Warne around.

Record vs Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Matches: 34, Runs: 3,262, Average: 56.24, Strike Rate: 59.38, Highest score: 241*

Harbhajan Singh

The Turbanator’s relationship with Australia in Test cricket like no other. Besides his debut against them in 1998, Bhajji played a central role in ending Australia’s 16-match winning streak (1999-2001). His efforts sowed the seeds for India’s newest chapter in red-ball cricket.

In the 2001 series, a young Harbhajan became India's first player with a Test hat-trick after he dismissed Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne off three consecutive deliveries. He carried his newfound purple patch into the following Test at Chennai with match figures of 15/217. Bhajji's 32 wickets in the 2000/01 Test series ushered in a memorable comeback series win for India and made him immortal in this cricketing rivalry.

Record vs Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Matches: 18, Wickets: 95, Economy: 2.94, Best Bowling (Innings): 8/84, Best Bowling (Match): 15/217

Zaheer Khan

Swing with the new ball and reverse the old. Our current Global Head of Cricket Operations is the leading wicket-taking speedster in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 61 wickets in just 19 Tests.

Zippy Zak notched up his best performances against the Aussies with five-wicket hauls in an innings of the 2008 Bengaluru Test (5/91) and the 2010 Mohali Test (5/94). Oh and not to forget his heroics with the bat in that same Bengaluru Test, where he refused to throw in the towel and played a key role in India holding on to a draw.

Record vs Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Matches: 19, Wickets: 61, Economy: 3.37, Best Bowling (Innings): 5/91, Best Bowling (Match): 8/137

Rohit Sharma

Our captain. Our Hitman. Rohit Sharma will enter his first India vs Australia Test as a skipper and boy are we excited! This is the first time he is set to play the Aussies in India, and Indian cricket fans can be assured that our captain would boss them around as well.

Since making his foray into red-ball cricket in 2013, Rohit has batted in just seven matches against Australia and registered a collective 408 runs and three half-centuries. This includes a solid-looking fifty in the fourth innings of the Sydney Test of 2021, wearing out the new ball and eating up time as India secured a draw. 

Record vs Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Matches: 7, Runs: 408, Average: 31.38, Highest score: 63*

Jasprit Bumrah

A modern day bowling great for India, Boom Boom Bumrah, in recent years has tormented the Australian batting order, with 32 wickets in seven outings at an economy of 2.47.

Jasprit Bumrah is best remembered for his Player of the Match performance (6/33 and 3/53) that set India’s Boxing Day Test victory in Melbourne in 2018. The 2020-21 tour Down Under saw him claim 11 wickets, including 6/110 in the second Test at the MCG. Despite having made his debut as recently as 2018, Bumrah has emerged as a leader of this fast bowling pack, with some of his finest moments coming Down Under.

Record vs Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Matches: 7, Wickets: 32, Economy: 2.47, Best Bowling (Innings): 6/33, Best Bowling (Match): 9/86

The efforts of our MI legends over the years has engineered India’s recent dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with nine wins in the last 15 series. SKY and our pocket dynamo, Ishan Kishan, are just waiting to get added to this list. With a ticket to the ICC World Test Championship Final on the line, our boys look determined, hungrier and fresh to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, something they have held since 2016/17.