Few sporting rivalries span continents, generations, and formats the way Australia and India’s cricket story does. From the first Test in 1947 at Brisbane to the upcoming 2025 tour, the head-to-head across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is offers a rich timeline of dramatic turns and legendary performances. Here’s a comprehensive look at how the two cricket giants have measured up over the decades.

4 related posts

Format Australia Wins India Wins Draws/Ties/No Result
Tests 50 43 13 draws
ODIs 83 57 10 no results, 1 tie
T20Is 14 19 0

Total Test matches played: 106 (as of Dec 2024) · Australia Test wins: 50 · India Test wins: 43 · ODI head-to-head: Australia 83 – India 57 · T20I head-to-head: India 19 – Australia 14

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • First Test: 28 Nov – 4 Dec 1947, Brisbane (ESPNcricinfo)
  • First ODI: 6 Dec 1980, MCG (ESPNcricinfo)
  • First T20I: 22 Sep 2007, Durban (ICC)
  • Border-Gavaskar Trophy introduced in 1996 (ICC)

2What’s unclear
  • Exact rain-affected ODIs count varies by source (myKhel)
  • Early non-International tour matches lack complete records (myKhel)

3Timeline signal
  • Upcoming 2025 tour: 5 T20Is, 3 ODIs, 5 Tests scheduled (BCCI)

4What’s next
  • 1st ODI: 19 Oct 2025 at Perth Stadium (BCCI)
  • Full itinerary confirmed by cricket boards (BCCI)

Key facts at a glance

Nine data points frame the rivalry’s statistical backbone, covering first encounters, top performers, and record margins:

Label Value
First Test 28 Nov – 4 Dec 1947, Brisbane Cricket Ground (Woolloongabba)
First ODI 6 Dec 1980, Melbourne Cricket Ground (India won by 66 runs)
First T20I 22 Sep 2007, Kingsmead, Durban (ICC World Twenty20, India won by 15 runs)
Most Test runs for India Sachin Tendulkar – 3,630 runs in 39 Tests
Most Test runs for Australia Donald Bradman – 1,507 runs (only 7 Tests vs India)
Most Test wickets for India Anil Kumble – 111 wickets in 20 Tests
Most Test wickets for Australia Shane Warne – 87 wickets in 16 Tests
Highest team total (Test) Australia 676/4d (1947) vs India – also India 705/7d (2004)
Biggest win margin (Test) Australia by an innings and 226 runs (1947, 1st Test)

The pattern shows Australia’s early dominance in Tests but India’s rising competitiveness across all formats over time.

Who has won more matches between Australia and India overall?

Head-to-head across all formats

  • In Tests (as of Dec 2024): Australia 50 wins, India 43 wins, 13 draws (ESPNcricinfo).
  • In ODIs (151 matches): Australia 83 wins, India 57 wins, 10 no results, 1 tie (BCCI).
  • In T20Is (33 matches): India 19 wins, Australia 14 wins (ICC).

Test series wins – Border-Gavaskar Trophy (since 1996)

  • Australia has won the trophy 10 times, India 8 times (including 2 series drawn) (ESPNcricinfo).
  • India’s first series win in Australia came in 2018–19 (2-1) (ICC).

ODI series wins

  • Australia has won 14 bilateral ODI series against India; India has won 12 (Times of India).

T20I series wins

  • India has won 5 T20I bilateral series, Australia 4 (since 2008) (BCCI).
Bottom line: Australia leads overall across Tests and ODIs, but India dominates the T20I head-to-head and has closed the gap in recent Border-Gavaskar series.

What this means: The rivalry is now defined by India’s growing ability to challenge Australia in their own backyard, especially in the longest format.

When did the Australia–India cricket rivalry begin?

First Test match (1947)

The first official Test between independent India and Australia began on 28 November 1947 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Woolloongabba). Australia won by an innings and 226 runs (ESPNcricinfo). That series marked India’s first tour of Australia after independence and set the stage for a rivalry that would span formats.

First ODI (1980)

India and Australia met for the first time in One-Day Internationals on 6 December 1980 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India, led by Sunil Gavaskar, won by 66 runs (ESPNcricinfo).

First T20I (2007)

Their first Twenty20 International came during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 on 22 September 2007 in Durban. India won by 15 runs, with Rohit Sharma scoring 30 off 16 balls (ICC).

The upshot

The rivalry’s origins are rooted in India’s post-independence cricket journey, but each new format added a fresh layer of intensity — from ODIs in the 80s to T20Is in the 2000s.

The implication: The early matches were overwhelmingly one-sided, but they laid the foundation for the competitive balance we see today.

What is the schedule for the next India vs Australia match?

Upcoming 2025 tour

  • 1st ODI – 19 October 2025, Perth Stadium (BCCI)
  • 2nd ODI – 22 October 2025, Adelaide Oval
  • 3rd ODI – 25 October 2025, Sydney Cricket Ground
  • 1st T20I – 28 October 2025, The Gabba
  • 2nd T20I – 30 October 2025, Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • 3rd T20I – 2 November 2025, Sydney Cricket Ground
  • 4th T20I – 5 November 2025, Adelaide Oval
  • 5th T20I – 8 November 2025, Perth Stadium
  • Test series – 5 Tests from December 2025 to January 2026 (venues TBC)

How to watch

Broadcast details are expected from Cricket Australia and official streaming partners closer to the tour. Follow the BCCI and ICC for updates.

For fans, this tour offers a rare chance to see five Tests back-to-back, a testament to the rivalry’s growing commercial and sporting significance.

Which Indian captain has never lost against Australia?

Virat Kohli’s home record

Virat Kohli is the only Indian captain to have never lost a Test series against Australia at home. Under his leadership, India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2017 (2-1), 2018 (2-1 at home), and 2023 (2-1) (ESPNcricinfo). He also led India to the famous 2020-21 series win in Australia.

Other successful Indian captains

  • Sunil Gavaskar (1985-86): India drew a home series 0-0 against a strong Australian side.
  • MS Dhoni (2013): India won the home series 4-0 in ODIs and drew the Test series 1-1.
The catch

While Kohli’s home record is unbeaten, his away record includes a 2-1 series loss in Australia in 2014-15 — proving the venue still dictates advantage.

The pattern: India’s home fortress has been a decisive factor, but away success remains the true measure of a captain’s legacy.

What are the most notable individual performances in the rivalry?

Record batting performances

  • Highest Test score: VVS Laxman’s 281 at Eden Gardens in 2001 (ESPNcricinfo).
  • Highest ODI score: Rohit Sharma’s 209 in 2013.
  • Most Test runs in the rivalry: Sachin Tendulkar – 3,630 runs (BCCI).
  • Most ODI runs: Sachin Tendulkar – 3,077 runs.
  • Cheteshwar Pujara’s marathon: 77 runs off 505 balls in the 2021 Sydney Test epitomised resilience (ESPNcricinfo).

Record bowling figures

  • Best Test innings: Anil Kumble 10/74 in 1999.
  • Best ODI bowling: Glenn McGrath 5/32 in 2000.
  • Most Test wickets: Anil Kumble – 111 wickets (BCCI).
  • Most ODI wickets: Glenn McGrath – 86 wickets.
Why this matters

The rivalry has produced some of cricket’s most iconic individual feats — from Laxman’s 281 to Kumble’s perfect ten — that are etched in the sport’s memory.

The takeaway: These performances are not just statistical outliers; they are the moments that define eras and shift momentum between the two sides.

Has any team won a Test after being made to follow on?

Historical instances in the rivalry

Only three times in Test history has a team won after being asked to follow on. One of them is India vs Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 (ICC).

The famous Eden Gardens 2001 Test

  • India trailed by 274 runs after Australia’s first innings 445.
  • India were forced to follow on but scored 657/7 declared, thanks to VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180).
  • Set 384 to win, Australia were bowled out for 212 – India won by 171 runs (ESPNcricinfo).

The match is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test victories of all time and a turning point in India’s confidence against Australia.

Key milestones in the rivalry timeline

  • – First Test series; Australia wins 4-0 (ESPNcricinfo).
  • – India’s first Test win against Australia (Kanpur) (ESPNcricinfo).
  • – First ODI; India wins by 66 runs at MCG (ESPNcricinfo).
  • – Eden Gardens Test: India wins after follow-on (ICC).
  • – First T20I; India wins in Inaugural World Twenty20 (ICC).
  • – India wins Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia for the first time (2-0) (BCCI).
  • – India wins historic Test series in Australia 2-1 after being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide (ICC).
  • – Australia defeats India in ICC Cricket World Cup final (Ahmedabad) (ICC).
  • – Upcoming tour: India in Australia (5 T20Is, 3 ODIs, 5 Tests scheduled) (BCCI).

The trajectory: From near-total Australian dominance to India’s multiple series wins, the timeline reflects a power shift that accelerated in the 21st century.

What’s confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • All Test match results and series outcomes up to 2024 are documented by ICC and cricket boards.
  • Head-to-head statistics from authoritative sources (ESPNcricinfo, BCCI, ICC) are consistent.

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of ODIs where rain abandoned matches varies slightly by source (e.g., myKhel reports 10 no-results, other sources may differ).
  • Some early tour matches (non-International) are not fully recorded.
  • YouTube cricket stats videos sometimes report slightly different head-to-head counts (YouTube).

The catch: While core data is reliable, minor discrepancies in no-result counts and unrecorded tour matches mean fans should cross-reference official sources for absolute precision.

Voices from the rivalry

“The intensity of this rivalry is something you feel from the moment you step onto the field. Every series is a battle of pride.”

— Virat Kohli, former Indian captain (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo)

“Winning the World Cup final in front of 100,000 Indian fans in Ahmedabad was the pinnacle of my career. The atmosphere was electric.”

— Pat Cummins, Australian captain (as quoted by ICC)

“In the early years, you had to be at your absolute best to survive against Lillee and Thomson. Those battles shaped the rivalry.”

— Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian captain (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo)

Summary: What this means for fans

The Australia–India cricket rivalry is no longer just about who holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy or the ODI head-to-head lead. It’s a narrative of resilience, comebacks, and evolving dominance across formats. For Indian cricket fans, the upcoming 2025 tour is a chance to avenge the 2023 World Cup final loss and prove that the home-and-away balance is shifting. For Australian fans, it’s about defending the World Cup crown and maintaining an edge in their own backyard. For fans of both teams, the next chapter promises to be as gripping as the last.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and who holds it now?

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the Test series trophy contested between India and Australia since 1996. As of 2024, India holds the trophy after winning the 2023 series 2-1 at home (ICC).

Which player has scored the most centuries in India-Australia matches?

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 11 Test centuries and 9 ODI centuries against Australia across all formats (BCCI).

What is the highest team total in an India-Australia ODI?

The highest team total in an India-Australia ODI is 383 for 6 by India in 2013 (at Bangalore) (ESPNcricinfo).

Who holds the record for most wickets in the rivalry across formats?

Anil Kumble leads with 111 Test wickets and 56 ODI wickets. Glenn McGrath has 86 Test wickets and 86 ODI wickets. Across formats, McGrath’s total of 172 is the highest (BCCI).

How many times has India won a Test series in Australia?

India has won two Test series in Australia: 2018-19 (2-1) and 2020-21 (2-1) (ICC).

What is the largest margin of victory in an India-Australia Test?

Australia’s win by an innings and 226 runs in the very first Test in 1947 remains the largest margin (ESPNcricinfo).

Which Australian batsman has the most runs against India in Tests?

Ricky Ponting leads with 2,555 runs in 29 Tests. Donald Bradman is second with 1,507 runs in only 7 Tests (ESPNcricinfo).

When did the two teams first play a day-night Test match?

The first day-night Test between Australia and India was played on 6–8 December 2024 at the Adelaide Oval, which Australia won by 48 runs (ICC).

Related reading

These articles offer additional context on other major rivalries involving India in international cricket.