Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Risabh Pant’s 89 at Gabba, Virat Kohli’s 123 at Perth are among the top five performances by India batters over the last 10 years in Australia.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is fast approaching as India and Australia reportedly gear up for an intense five-match showdown starting with the Perth Test on November 22. It is going to be a real test of strength and character for Team India and it remains to be seen how they bounce back after a horror show against New Zealand at home. Australia has been a graveyard for the touring teams and for India the case is no different either. The pacey Australian decks in Sydney and Perth have posed significant challenges and caused endless nightmares for batters of any class or aura.
But despite the unforgiving conditions down under, India heroes have gone there and triumphed not only with the bat but also with the ball, making countless memories to cherish. Over the years, the fans have been fortunate enough to witness some breathtaking batting masterclasses from some of the very best batting talents produced by Indian cricket.
Their exploits with the bat are still etched in the hearts and minds of several ardent fans to this day. In this article, we reflect on the top five batting performances from India batters in the past 10 years and throw light on how these batting prodigies went about conquering Australia in their own backyard.
Cheteshwar Pujara, 123, Adelaide, 2018
This swashbuckling ton from Cheteshwar Pujara in the first Test of the 2018-19 BGT series served as a stepping stone for India to orchestrate their maiden Test series win on Australian shores. On a day that was dominated by poor shot selection and hostile seam bowling from the Australia quicks, Pujara stayed defiant. His remarkable patience and hours of grinding hard in difficult conditions dampened the spirits of the Australia bowlers. As records would have it, Pujara’s 246-ball 123 was his longest innings in Australia surpassing his previous best of 135 deliveries on the same ground back in 2014.
His valiant 123 single-handedly dragged India to a decent score of 250 in the first innings. He resisted all the way through but his luck soon ran out when he was removed by Pat Cummins in the form of a run out during the 88th over. He later followed it up with a fighting cameo of 73 in the second innings which helped India achieve a match-winning score in the dying phase of the Test.
Read More: Pujara is India’s leading run-scorer in Tests against Australia since 2017: BGT 2024-25 calling?
Ajinkya Rahane, 112, Melbourne, 2020
On the back of Ajinkya Rahane’s sensational 112(223), India were able to stage an unbelievable comeback which shocked the hosts to its core in the second Test of the 2020-21 BGT Test series. Coming off after an embarrassing 36 all-out at Adelaide, India desperately needed a comeback of sorts to answer their critics. And to add further to Rahane’s problems, Virat Kohli left mid-way in the series to be with his newborn daughter, Vamika. Rahane not only had to take charge of the wounded India side but also had a pivotal role to play with the bat. And as fate would have it, Rahane became the central figure for India’s spectacular turnaround at the MCG.
His technique faced scrutiny following a second-innings duck in Adelaide. However, he demonstrated significant faith in his approach while enduring initial pressure, managing to score only four runs off his first 30 deliveries, before his confidence and rhythm started to emerge. With his side in tatters, Rahane led from the front by smashing a brilliant 112 (223) in the first innings which involved 12 boundaries. His mammoth contribution with the bat allowed India to gain a significant first-innings lead. With added all-round support from the seamers and spinners, India were able to level the series.
Read More: BGT 2024-25, AUS vs IND: Virat Kohli in Australia – Peak excellence with 1352 runs in 13 Tests
Virat Kohli, Twin Hundreds, Adelaide, 2014
This was perhaps the innings that defined Virat Kohli’s aura and resilience as a specialist batter for India in the longest format. Kohli was well within his formative years in Test cricket during that time but slamming two massive tons against a lethal Australia bowling attack demonstrated his hunger to compete with some of the very best in the business. Kohli recorded this magical feat in the first Test of the 2014-15 BGT Test series in Adelaide. India were up against a hostile Australia bowling attack that had cornered them from all fronts.
Tempers flared, words were exchanged, and Kohli was undoubtedly involved in the thick of things. But he did not allow his concentration to waver one bit. Despite being targeted by a barrage of bouncers by Mitchell Johnson, Kohli went on a roll and hammered 115 (184) in the first innings and 141 (175) in the second innings. It was a show of brute force and defiance from Kohli. In these dire circumstances, Kohli acted like a thorn in the side of Australia and played with a counter-attacking intent which compelled the cricketing fraternity to take cognisance of a new talent in rise. India looked well on course in their pursuit of 364 but once he was removed on 141, India’s innings capitulated prematurely as they succumbed on a viciously turning day five pitch by 48 runs.Â
Read More: Current form of Rohit, Virat raises questions ahead of Australia tour
Virat Kohli, 123, Perth, 2018
Out of the 29 centuries scored in Australia, Kohli regards this Perth masterclass as one of his best Test knocks down under. In the second Test of the 2018-19 BGT series, Kohli emerged as the lone centurion. On a notably difficult batting wicket, Kohli made an invaluable contribution of 123 (257) to drag India’s score to the 300-run mark; thus preventing Australia from getting away with a sizable first-innings lead. Kohli reportedly admitted that the Perth pitch was the toughest pitch he’s batted on in Test cricket.
He recalled how difficult it was for the batters to get their feet moving on a pitch that was doing all sorts of things off the surface. Kohli exhibited his class and took the onus on himself to take the attack to the Australia bowlers. This was yet another high-octane Test rivalry that involved several instances of heated exchanges between Kohli and the rest of the Australian players. However, his valiant knock went in vain as India were bowled out cheaply for 140 in the run chase and as a result lost the game by a whopping 146 runs.
Read More: India in BGT 2020-21: From the ‘ashes’ in Adelaide to knocking out the ‘urn’ at the Gabba
Rishabh Pant, 89*, Brisbane, 2021
Rishabh Pant’s counter-attacking 89* demonstrated just how destructive he can be against any opposition on any day. With the series level at 1-1, many experts were of the opinion that India would play out for the draw to avoid a series defeat. But the flamboyant wicket-keeper was quick to prove them wrong. His unbelievable heroics with the bat in the final stages of day five helped India breach the Gabba fortress for the first time in nearly three decades. That knock also quashed Australia’s arrogance and brought them down to their knees as their home dominance was severely compromised in one of the most unexpected ways possible.
Tasked with chasing a near-impossible 328 on a deteriorating Gabba pitch, India formed some steady partnerships along the way but it was Pant and Sundar who delivered the final punch to help India conquer the fortress and bag their second consecutive BGT title in Australia. Despite surviving a close stumping opportunity against Lyon, Pant was in no mood to lower his tempo and kept his foot down on the accelerator to get to his unbeaten 89 in 138 balls which included 12 fours and a six. The most defining moment of his Test career came when he hit the winning runs against Hazlewood to help India get over the line in a thrilling run chase.
Ahead of the first Test, India will miss the services of the specialist batter Rohit Sharma who is currently with his family in Mumbai to celebrate the arrival of his second child. In his absence, his deputy Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the side. However, it still remains unclear whether Rohit will make himself available in time for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Test series.
