The Fascinating Rivalry between India and Australia in the cricket world
Cricket is a game that brings people together, especially when it involves a high-profile match between two fierce rivals like India and Australia. One major reason for this rivalry is that the sport is very popular in both nations. Apparently, cricket is more like a religion in India. Hence, both countries have a long history with cricket and a storied rivalry on the field.
Australia vs India is one of the most intense cricket rivalries in the world. In fact, if there is any match-up like “the Ashes” or the legendary India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, it’s definitely India vs Australia. Games between these two sides are always full of action, grit, and passion. Even though the two teams have a perfect relationship off the field, as they have often hung out together during international tours and other outings, they aren’t friends once they step onto the field. The two teams have been at the top of the cricketing world for a long time, having won one World Cup each. They have also won the ICC World Cup thrice each.
Cricket fans worldwide are aware of the rivalry between India and Australia. This is because both of these teams are so evenly matched. As a result, any game between them is bound to be exciting, regardless of where it is played or what kind of pitch is used.
This article explores the history behind this rivalry and why it has become one of the most talked about today.
The beginning of the rivalry.
These two teams faced each other for the first time in December 1947, just months after India’s independence. The first match was a five-match test series played at the Aussies’ home ground in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and again at Melbourne. The Australians won four of the five matches, while the Indian side did not win a single game. The best result India had was a draw in the second match of the series despite their excellent bowling performances.
As evident from the scoreline, it is safe to say that the Australian team outclassed the Indians in this five-match series. The Indian team did, however, have some outstanding individual performances to their credit, but as a team, they could not hold off the Aussies. Aside from the humiliating 5-match series, the Indian team played in other first-class matches during the same tour. They played nine games in total, winning two, losing three, and drawing four.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The history of the Australia-India rivalry would be incomplete without mentioning these two sporting legends. Sunil Gavaskar, an Indian hero, and his Australian counterpart, Allan Border, became the first cricketers to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Their renowned feats in the sport prompted the establishment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their honor. Today, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored in Test cricket. In addition, he also has the most runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Before establishing the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the Indian and Australian sides met over 50 times across different match formats. There have been 15 editions of the competition since it was renamed, and India has won the most overall. Also, they are the current title holders.
India vs. Australia in numbers
India and Australia are definitely the cricketing giants of today’s world. The two national teams faced each other for the first time in 1947 in a Test match, with Australia coming out with a win in the encounter. The most recent clash was the T201 match in September this year, which saw India emerge victorious. In between are several years of outstanding cricket display across different game formats. Let’s dive into their head-to-head statistics.
Test match stats
Since the first test series in 1947, the two sides have been involved in 26 cricket series that included 74 test matches. In the 26 series, the Aussies recorded 12 Series wins, including a victory in 43 games. The Indian side, on the other hand, has only managed to win 9 test series with 30 match wins. So far, 9 of the 26 test series played ended in a draw, but only one of the series matches was a tie.
ODI stats
The two sides have played 59 ODI series and 133 ODI matches. The ODI series involved other nations, who have emerged victorious on 16 occasions. Nevertheless, of the 53 series played, the Australian team dominated again with 27 wins, while India only won 15 times. The Australian dominance is also seen in the total number of matches won, as they have recorded 80 victories, compared to India’s 53.
T20I stats
India has managed to get ahead of the Aussies in the T20I format of the game, which they didn’t start playing until the 2000s. So far, the two sides have been involved in 15 non-bilateral T20 series, of which India has emerged victorious five times. Australia has only managed to win the series twice, with the remaining 8 won by other nations in the series. The Indian side has also been dominant in the 22 direct T20 matches between the two sides. They have recorded a total of 13 wins compared to Australia’s 9.
Conclusion
The Indian-Australian rivalry is one of the most intense rivalries in the cricket world. Although the Aussies have had an overall head-to-head dominance over the years, matches between both sides are not a walk-over for either team, as they are always played with a high degree of grit and intensity. Visit a reliable betting site like Parimatch for a fantastic experience betting on cricket or any other sport.
