Top 5 Performances By Indian Batters In Border-Gavaskar Trophy In Australia

Indian Batters in Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is almost here, with India and Australia getting ready for an exciting five-match series starting with the Perth Test on November 22. This will be a tough test for Team India, especially as they look to recover from a disappointing performance against New Zealand at home. Playing in Australia has always been challenging, and the fast pitches in places like Sydney and Perth are especially hard for batters of any skill level.

However, despite the tough conditions, Indian players have often risen to the occasion, shining with both the bat and ball and creating unforgettable moments. Over the years, fans have enjoyed some incredible batting performances from India’s finest players.

These batting displays are still remembered fondly by cricket lovers. In this article, we look back at the top five batting performances by Indian players in the last 10 years and explore how they overcame the challenges of playing in Australia.

5. Cheteshwar Pujara, 123, Adelaide, 2018

Indian Batters in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Cheteshwar Pujara’s brilliant century in the first Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was key to India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia. On a tough day, with poor shot selection and strong fast bowling by the Australian pacers, Pujara stood firm. His incredible patience and hard work in challenging conditions frustrated the Australian bowlers. His 246-ball 123 became his longest innings in Australia, surpassing his previous best of 135 balls on the same ground in 2014.

Pujara’s brave 123 helped India post a decent first-innings score of 250. He fought hard but was eventually run out by Pat Cummins in the 88th over. In the second innings, he scored a vital 73, which helped India secure a match-winning total late in the game.

4. Ajinkya Rahane, 112, Melbourne, 2020

After India’s shocking 36 all-out in Adelaide, they needed a big comeback in the second Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ajinkya Rahane stepped up with a brilliant 112 runs off 223 balls, helping India make an incredible recovery that stunned the Australian team. With Virat Kohli leaving the series to be with his newborn daughter, Rahane took charge of the struggling team and played a key role with the bat.

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Although Rahane faced criticism for getting out for a duck in the second innings at Adelaide, he stayed confident in his technique. He started cautiously, scoring just four runs from his first 30 balls, but soon found his rhythm. His superb century, featuring 12 boundaries, gave India a big first-innings lead. With great support from India’s bowlers, the team leveled the series in style.

3. Virat Kohli, Twin Hundreds, Adelaide, 2014

This was the innings that showed Virat Kohli’s strength and determination as a top batter for India in Test cricket. At the time, Kohli was still early in his Test career, but scoring two big centuries against a strong Australian bowling attack proved his hunger to compete at the highest level. He achieved this remarkable feat in the first Test of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Adelaide.

The match was intense, with tempers flaring and plenty of words exchanged. Kohli, in the middle of it all, stayed focused. Even when Mitchell Johnson targeted him with short balls, Kohli fought back, scoring 115 off 184 balls in the first innings and 141 off 175 in the second. It was a powerful and fearless display of batting.

Kohli’s counter-attacking approach frustrated the Australian team and showed the world his rising talent. India seemed on track to chase 364, but after Kohli was dismissed for 141, the rest of the team collapsed on a turning fifth-day pitch, losing by 48 runs.

2. Rishabh Pant, 89*, Brisbane, 2021

Rishabh Pant’s attacking 89* showed how dangerous he can be against any team on any day. With the series tied at 1-1, many experts thought India would play for a draw to avoid losing the series. But Pant proved them wrong. His incredible batting on the final day helped India break Australia’s Gabba fortress, which had been unbeaten for nearly 30 years. That innings not only stunned Australia but also ended their dominance at home in the most unexpected way.

India had to chase a tough target of 328 on a challenging Gabba pitch. While steady partnerships helped along the way, it was Pant and Washington Sundar who delivered the final blow. Pant survived a close stumping chance off Lyon but didn’t slow down. He scored an unbeaten 89 in 138 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six. The highlight of his career came when he hit the winning runs off Hazlewood, sealing a thrilling victory and securing India’s second straight Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

As the first Test approaches, India will miss Rohit Sharma, who is in Mumbai with his family for the birth of his second child. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to captain the team. However, it’s still unclear if Rohit will return for the rest of the series.

1. Virat Kohli, 123, Perth, 2018

Of the 29 centuries Kohli has scored in Australia, he considers this one in Perth as one of his best Test innings. In the second Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series, Kohli was the only batter to score a century. On a tough pitch for batting, he made a crucial 123 runs from 257 balls, helping India reach 300 and stopping Australia from taking a big first-innings lead. Kohli later said the Perth pitch was the hardest he has ever played on in Test cricket.

He shared how tough it was for batters to settle on a pitch that behaved unpredictably. Kohli showed his skill and took the responsibility to counter the Australian bowlers. The match also saw some heated moments between Kohli and the Australian players. Despite his brilliant knock, India were bowled out for just 140 in the second innings, losing the game by a huge margin of 146 runs.