SportSutra

Mastering Training Techniques for Indian Athletes

India is fast evolving into a sporting nation where athletes are performing at global tournaments such as Olympics, Grand Slams and Cricket World Cups. But the journey from being a young aspiring athlete at the grassroot level to become a world beater requires rigorous training and strategic planning. It’s not just about perfecting your technique but the success also depends on mastering training techniques that help optimize performance on the field.

Also Read: 5 Exercises to Boost Stamina and Endurance in Sports

Overview of Training Requirements Across Sports Disciplines

Gaining peak fitness remains the common goal for every athletes irrespective of the sport they are playing, but it’s true that each sport has different training requirements. For that matter, every athlete needs to develop different set of skills to withstand the demand of their sport.

1. Cricket: India's Favorite Sport

Gone are the days when cricketers, especially batsmen, could afford to carry tummy fat. In today’s world, achieving peak fitness is the first step towards becoming the best in any field. Cricket is no exception. Look at Virat Kohli, he is the epitome of how a cricketer should take care of his body. Prithvi Shaw, hailed as the next Virender Sehwag of Indian cricket, had all the talent in the world but failed to take care of his body. His career has gone South completely, as he went unsold during IPL 2025 Auction.

When it comes to training requirement, batsmen need to develop hand-eye coordination and and also need to work on their reflexes. Fielders, on the other hand, work on speed, flexibility, and reaction time. While bowlers need to have a completely different training routines. They need to have a combination of endurance, strength and agility.

2. Football: The game of the world

Football is perhaps one of few sports which requires everything – athleticism, physicality, reflexes, team work and quick decision, among other aspects. That’s why footballers, unlike athletics in sports such as cricket or golf, have to inculcate a more robust training routine to get the most of out of their bodies.

A footballer’s training typically involves sprint drills (for short burst during games), endurance runs (for continuous running for 90 minutes) and skill-based sessions (perfecting football related skills, like passing shooting).

3. Athletics: A Show of Individual Excellence

From sprinting and long-distance running to jumping and disciplines such as throwing, where Neeraj Chopra has made his name, athletics covers a wide range of sports. If you are Neeraj Chopra, you need to develop strong arms, and must perfect the art of balancing your body when throwing.

Sprinters, on the other hand, have to prioritize training methods that help them in gaining explosive power and speed. Similarly, long distance runners focus on endurance.

4. Combat Sports: Wrestling, Boxing, and Beyond

Athletes who are in combat sports must develop immense physical strength, stamina, and mental toughness. This is the form of sports where things can get ugly. Athletes in this kind of sports must have more ability to endure pain than a normal human being.

On the other hand, wrestlers also engage in rigorous weight training and technique drills to perfect the art of offence and defense. Similarly, boxers incorporate agility drills, sparring sessions, and reflex development into their routines.

5. Other Sports: Badminton, Kabaddi

As mentioned above, every sport demand different training methods. The first benchmark is to have a certain degree of fitness. Badminton might be smaller in comparison to football and cricket, but this is a game that is played fast. There are a lot of movements involved in this game, like coming to the net and going back to the back court. This requires agility, speed, and quick decision-making.

Kabaddi is also a famous sport in India. The rise of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has brought more money into the game and that means, players have to remain a certainly high-level of fitness. They need to focus on strength, stamina, and strategic movements to outmaneuver opponents. Each sport demands unique requirements that trainers and athletes must consider.

Common Challenges and Solutions in Athlete Training

Despite India boasting a diverse sporting culture, athletes often face several challenges that can hinder their progress. If an athlete can identify these obstacles and is ready to implement solutions, that it can help him achieve his goals.

Challenge 1: Lack of Quality Infrastructure in rural areas

There’s no doubt that India has world-class sports infrastructure in metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, to name a few. But living in these cities is costly and also most of India’s population lives in tier 2 cities and villages. Athletes from these parts don’t have access to sports facilities. Lack of quality infrastructure is the biggest reason why athletes from smaller towns or rural areas fail to reach their full potential.

Solution: Government should start implementing sports initiatives like Khelo India more aggressively in the villages and tier 2 cities. This can help bridge the gap. Grassroots efforts are also important. Collaborations between schools, local authorities, and private organizations should be emphasized to nurture talent.

Challenge 2: Lack of focus on Sports Science

India is still way behind in terms of implementing sports science in sports curriculum. Even coaches in metro cities still rely on outdated methods, and this often leads to subpar performance on the field. Athletes from very young age should be taught about the importance of nutrition, and how they can prevent risk of injuries.

Solution: Government should incorporating sports science into initiatives such as Khelo India. Even grassroot academies should hire qualified physiotherapists, nutritionists, and performance analysts to help athletes train smarter and recover faster.

Challenge 3: Lack of balance between Sports and Education

In India, young athletes often end up choosing between sports and academics, with the latter often winning in most cases. Also, even schools put pressure on students who are into sports to focus more on studies. This can take a toll on athletes’ mental health and often leads to anxiety, burnout, and lack of motivation towards sports.

Solution: Like in Europe where academies also offer quality education, there should be a system in India where sports and education can co-exist.

Challenge 4: Lack of personalized Training Schedules

At grassroot level training are often conducted in groups. Although this is necessary to develop team ethics and certain level of bond between athletes, but some young athletes need special attention from coaches. And in group training, this aspect is often gets overlooked. Without clear goals, aspiring athletes risk falling behind in their development.

Solution: Emphasizing structured and personalized training plans helps athletes achieve consistent progress. Coaches should assess each athlete’s current abilities and set realistic milestones to guide their journey.

Importance of a Structured Training Plan

Irrespective of the field, every individual needs a structured planning to achieve their goals. Planning gives clarity and creates pathway towards goals. Same holds true for athletes. A well-structured training plan provides direction, monitors progress, and ensures a balanced approach to physical, technical, and mental development.

1. Customized Goals and Timelines

Every athlete is different. Some look natural, like Lionel Messi, while other athletes have to put in more efforts to develop skills. A structured training plan can help an athlete to develop strength and work on their weaknesses. For example, a bowler might aim to improve his bowling speed to 150 KPH within three months, while a footballer may focus on mastering passing accuracy over a set period.

2. Balancing Training and Recovery

Training to develop skills and mastering a certain technique but recovery also plays a major role in the life of an athlete. Intense training without adequate recovery often leads to injuries and burnout. With the help of a structured plan, an athlete can incorporate rest days and recovery sessions, such as stretching, yoga, or light cardio, to rejuvenate the body and mind.

3. Monitoring Progress

Regular monitoring of an athlete’s progress is critical. It is the job of a coach to track metrics like strength gains, skill improvement, and injury recovery. Based on these observations, an athlete can make training plans to improve his recovery sessions and improve performance on the field.

Conclusion

For India to become a true sports giant in the world, coaches, athletes, and the government all have to work in tandem. This is the responsibility of the government to provide coaches and athletes with the required infrastructure, while coaches will have to make sure that they are getting the most out of India’s sports ecosystem. Similarly, athletes have to take responsibility to take care of their own bodies and ensure that they are doing everything that the coach is asking them to do.

AUS vs IND BGT Series: Can India Qualify for WTC Final and How?

The race to the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 (WTC) final is intensifying with each test match. The WTC final qualification scenario keeps changing every day. Here’s a complete analysis of India’s World Test Championship final qualification scenario and what India must do to seal a spot in the WTC final.

Can India Qualify for the WTC Final?

The answer is yes! India is still in contention and can qualify for the 2023-25 World Test Championship final. Currently, India is sitting at the third spot in the WTC points table with a win percentage of 57.29%.

The third position does indicate that Team India has to get to one of the first two positions to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. It will be a challenge looking at the fixtures ahead but certainly a possibility. India will rely heavily on how they perform in the ongoing AUS vs IND BGT Series and their prowess will tell if they can qualify or not.

How can India qualify for the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final?

Winning Two Out of Three Remaining Tests: Every match of the ongoing India vs Australia Test series is like a do-or-die. India must win at least two of the three remaining Tests against Australia if not all three. If the India National Cricket Team manages to win two tests, their win percentage will be 58.77%.
Other Results should be favourable: First things first, a 3-2 or 4-1 series win against Australia would consolidate India’s position on the WTC points table. However, there are certain uncontrolables that must go India’s way. The other contenders vying for spots are Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Their results can impact the final standings.
Losing BGT Series 2-3 can still help qualify: In case of a 2-3 BGT 2024-25 series loss, India can still make it to the final. In the event of a 2-3 loss in the Australia vs India Test series, India’s win percentage will drop to 53.51%. India can still make it the basis of several outcomes and permutations like South Africa losing both of their Tests against Pakistan.

WTC Points Table

(As of December 10, 2024)

Position	Team	Played	Won	Lost	Draw	Points Deducted	Points	Win Percentage
1	South Africa	10	6	3	1	0	76	63.33
2	Australia	14	9	4	1	10	102	60.71
3	India	16	9	6	1	2	110	57.29
4	Sri Lanka	11	5	6	0	0	60	45.45
5	England	21	11	9	1	22	114	45.24
6	New Zealand	13	6	7	0	3	69	44.23
7	Pakistan	10	4	6	0	8	40	33.33
8	Bangladesh	12	4	8	0	3	45	31.25
9	West Indies	11	2	7	2	0	32	24.24

Points System

12 points for a win

6 points for a tie

4 points for a draw

Teams are ranked according to the percentage of points won

The Top two teams progress to the final at Lord’s in 2025

Point Deductions: Points are deducted for slow over rates

Besides India, who are the other WTC final contenders?

South Africa

South Africa has comprehensively beaten Sri Lanka at home recently and now sits atop the WTC 2023-25 points table. The clean sweep of the islanders has boosted South Africa’s chances to play the WTC final with a win percentage of 63.33%.

For SA to qualify, they must win one of the two tests against Pakistan. In case of a 1-1 draw or a 0-2 loss in the series, they will still be in contention. However, the South Africa Cricket Team will give an opportunity for India or Australia to surpass them with strong performances.

Remaining matches: Pakistan (Two Tests at home)

Australia

Australian Cricket Team is second on the points table with a win percentage of 60.71%. A 4-1 or 3-2 series win against India will guarantee the Aussies a spot in the WTC final. In case Australia loses the series 2-3, they have to win both Tests in Sri Lanka and hope that other outcomes come in their favour.

Remaining matches: India (home, three Tests), Sri Lanka (away, two Tests)

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Cricket is another team that is in contention for the spot in the final. The chances are bleak though after a humiliating 2-0 loss to South Africa recently. They have a win percentage of 45.45% at the moment and must win all their remainder games to stand a chance.

Remaining matches: Australia (home, two Tests)

3rd Test IND vs AUS: 3 Changes India Should Make to Return to Winning Ways

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy battle has intensified after Australia’s dominant win in the second test at Adelaide to draw the series level 1-1. The manner of defeat is worrying for Indian cricket and they must make a few tweaks to strike the right balance for the Gabba Test in Brisbane.

After the dismal performance in the second test, there is a lot to ponder for the Team India think tank. Here are the three possible changes that can work in favor of the Indian National Cricket Team as they gear up for the 3rd Test IND vs AUS.

1. Akash Deep in place of Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana was good in the first test but was as bad in the second test. Yes, he should be backed but these are dire circumstances and there is a need to fix it!

Akash Deep, who has picked up 10 wickets at an average of 25.80 in his short test career so far, is one of the options before India. The fast bowler has impressed in the home tests and has a strong domestic record to back it.

Akash Deep has scalped 123 wickets in first-class cricket at a stunning average of 22.98. His ability to bowl tight lines from difficult angles with pace and accuracy makes him an excellent prospect in fast-bowling-friendly conditions.

Can he make an impact? Well, only time can tell. At this moment, India is looking for a third fast bowler who can support Jasprit Burmah and Mohammed Siraj. If Akash Deep makes an impact, he will do a world of good for the workload of Bumrah-Siraj.

2. Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar for R Ashwin

Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images

There is no denying the fact that Ravichandran Ashwin is India’s best spinner at the moment. However, the offie was not at his best in the second test and failed to make any sort of impact. Add to that, the injury concerns he dealt in the match. So, for that reason, Team India may turn to either Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar for the Brisbane Test.

Washington Sundar was favored in the first test basis of the red-hot form he was in the recent home series against New Zealand. However, it means not much since these are different conditions back home.

On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja boasts a wealth of experience and a proven all-rounder record. India may factor that in and pick a spinner with experience.

3. Rohit Sharma at the top of the batting order

Rohit Sharma’s last 11 Test Innings scores read 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3. The Indian captain is struggling big time but at the same time batting out of position can make matters worse.

In the ongoing BGT 2024-25 series, he missed the first Test and KL Rahul did well batting at the position he vacated.

In the second test, he didn’t have a great outing batting in the middle order and neither KL Rahul had a good time at the top of the batting order.

India’s think tank may consider reinstating Rohit as an opener — a batting spot where he contributes the best. As an opening batsman in 64 innings, Rohit Sharma has amassed 2,685 runs at an average of 44.02, including nine centuries.

Rohit Sharma is the kind of batsman who sets the tone of the match. And, India is looking to do that – an impactful knock at the top of the order.

Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal are India’s most successful opening pair in recent times – 1,236 runs in 26 innings.

In a nutshell, India needs Rohit Sharma at the top of the batting order more than any other position.

India’s Probable XI for Brisbane Test

Rohit Sharma
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant
KL Rahul
Nitish Reddy
Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar
Akash Deep
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj

India’s BGT 2024-25 Squad

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep

Australia takes on India in the 3rd Test at The Gabba, Brisbane, on 14 December 2024. The Australia vs India 3rd test live action starts at 5:50 AM IST.

Training for Young Athletes: Best Practices

An athlete goes through multiple trainings in his entire career. There are a lot of things an athlete do and experiments to reach their best version. An athlete’s life is full of discipline and hard work.
Youngster taking up athletics as a career has to completely transform their lives. Apart from a proper diet, a budding athlete needs to be disciplined in his training to get the best out of their body.

Multiple kids sports programs are conducted in training sessions along with some exercises to train the budding athletes. The purpose of this article is to spread awareness among budding athletes aged 10-17 years for some of the best training and programs to become a good athlete. So, let’s take a look.

Also Read: How to build confidence as an athlete?

Training for Young Athletes: Sprinting

The first training on the list is sprinting. A planned drill around a 10-yard sprint will be quite effective at the start. In this, one has to drill the starting position and basic sprinting mechanics. The next step would be a reactive sprint drill. To do this drill a tennis ball is the best prop.

The coach drops a tennis ball on the ground, and the athlete has to sprint from his position and catch the ball before it hits the ground for the second time. Another simple drill is a race between a group of athletes who run for 10 yards.

Training for Young Athletes: Jump Training

In this training, one can start with normal hops for a minute or two as a warmup. Hopping means basic jumping and could be considered as a part of skipping with a skipping rope. The other drill in this training can be the Hurdle jump to increase the effect and illustrate progression after skipping. Hurdle jump emphasizes triple extension, including hips, knees, and ankles.

To set hurdles, start with a 5-hurdle setup wherein the athletes hop over all 5 hurdles and land between each hurdle for at least 2 seconds. Once the athlete gets his pace in the 5-hurdle setup, you can increase it further to 10 and so on.

Also Read: Understanding The Indian Sports Ecosystem: Opportunities For Athletes

Training for Young Athletes: Lifting

Lifting is another exercise that should be performed by a budding athlete. Lifting can be done in different versions, like squat, bench, or deadlift. For squats, an athlete should go for a goblet squat with a 45 lbs dumbbell for at least 5 reps. Bench press should be started with 20 lbs of dumbbells again for 5 reps.

Bench press is good for measuring the strength of the athlete. Finally, while attempting the deadlift, good reps of 5 with a 90 lbs Kettlebell or a trap bar will be adequate to train the posture. All this lifting therapy is a vital part of strength training.

Training for Young Athletes: Conditioning

During conditioning, one should pick exercises which are too simple to screw up. Any exercise that requires more than 2 cues should be avoided during conditioning.- This includes Olympic lifts, compound lifts, and other dynamic movements. Exercises like sled push, bike sprints, jumping rope, and other exercises that include 2-3 cues are helpful during conditioning. Higher jumps should also be avoided because the higher you jump, the fewer reps you perform.

Also Read: 5 Exercises to Boost Stamina and Endurance in Sports

Therefore, conditioning goes hand-in-hand with simpler exercises that require minimal strength. Therefore, increasing reps, rounds, and the time one trains is taken into consideration during conditioning.
Youth Athlete Training India or around the world is done with different standards and techniques. But, the above techniques are amongst the most common ones.

ISL 2024-25 Weekly Roundup (December Week 1): Top Performances and Highlights

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 continues to thrill football fans across the country. The recently concluded Matchweek 11 was full of exciting football and results. From the last week, we see a lot of shifts in the ISL standings, a reflection of how competitive India’s premier football league has been. Let’s look at this week’s highlights, ISL points table, thrilling action as it unfolded, and standout performers.

Six-goal Thriller in Southern Derby Shakes up ISL 2024 Standings

The highlight of last week’s action was the Southern Derby between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters. Living up to the hype, the match unfolded with a flurry of goals and entertainment. As many as six goals were scored in the game and Bengaluru FC eventually emerged as a winning team. This match reasserted the dominance of Bengaluru FC and shook the ISL 2024 points table.

Besides, there was plenty of entertainment throughout the week. Five of the six games this week ended with clear winners. Only one match ended in a goalless draw, between Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC.

The likes of FC Goa and Mumbai City FC remain in the hunt with consistent performances, while East Bengal FC shows signs of a return to form this week.

Reltaed The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

Top Performances and Highlights

Sunil Chhetri’s Hat-Trick: The jewel of Indian football, Sunil Chhetri continues to defy age at 40 years. A dazzling hat-trick for Bengaluru FC in the Southern derby win over Kerala Blasters made him the oldest player in ISL history to score a hat-trick. A reminder of why Sunil Chhetri remains one of Indian football’s greatest superstars.
Bengaluru FC catapult to the top of ISL 2024-25 standings: Under the inspired leadership of Chhetri, Bengaluru FC has climbed to the top of the ISL 2024-25 points table.
Manolo Marquez celebrates the 100th ISL match as coach with a win: FC Goa’s head coach Manolo Marquez celebrated his 100th ISL match with a comprehensive away win against his former club Hyderabad FC. On a winning streak to four games, FC Goa remains one of the ISL frontrunners this season.
East Bengal FC on the charge: East Bengal FC secured back-to-back wins and both with clean sheets to lift themselves to 11th place.
Mohammedan SC set an unwanted record: It is the inaugural ISL season for Mohammedan SC and it has been a rocky ride. Their recent loss to Punjab FC ties them with the 2019-20 Hyderabad FC team for the most losses (7) in the first 10 games of an ISL season.
Mohun Bagan SG rules the roost: Mohun Bagan SG has been dominant from the start of this season. This week, they secured their seventh win of the season against NorthEast United FC. Mohun Bagan SG has solidified its position as a title contender with winning momentum in the Indian Super League 2024.

ISL 2024 Fixtures and Points Table

Here’s the list of upcoming fixtures of the 2024-25 Indian Super League, from 11 December to 30 December 2024

Date	Time (IST)	Stadium	Match
Wed, 11 Dec	19:30	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai	Chennaiyin FC vs Hyderabad FC
Thu, 12 Dec	19:30	Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC
Fri, 13 Dec	19:30	JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur	Jamshedpur FC vs Punjab FC
Sat, 14 Dec	17:00	Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru	Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa
	19:30	Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	Mohun Bagan SG vs Kerala Blasters FC
Sun, 15 Dec	19:30	Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	Mohammedan SC vs Mumbai City FC
Tue, 17 Dec	19:30	Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC
Fri, 20 Dec	19:30	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa	FC Goa vs Mohun Bagan SG
Sat, 21 Dec	17:00	Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai	Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC
	19:30	Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	East Bengal FC vs Jamshedpur FC
Sun, 22 Dec	19:30	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi	Kerala Blasters FC vs Mohammedan SC
Mon, 23 Dec	19:30	G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad	Hyderabad FC vs NorthEast United FC
Thu, 26 Dec	19:30	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi	Punjab FC vs Mohun Bagan SG
Fri, 27 Dec	19:30	Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	Mohammedan SC vs Odisha FC
Sat, 28 Dec	17:00	G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad	Hyderabad FC vs East Bengal FC
	19:30	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai	Chennaiyin FC vs Bengaluru FC
Sun, 29 Dec	19:30	JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur	Jamshedpur FC vs Kerala Blasters FC
Mon, 30 Dec	19:30	Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai	Mumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC

ISL 2024 Points Table

Position	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points	Form
1	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	10	7	2	1	19	8	+11	23	W W W D W
2	Bengaluru FC	11	7	2	2	21	13	+8	23	W L W D L
3	Punjab FC	9	6	0	3	16	9	+7	18	W W L L W
4	FC Goa	10	5	3	2	19	13	+6	18	W W W W D
5	Odisha FC	11	4	4	3	23	16	+7	16	D W W D L
6	NorthEast United FC	11	4	3	4	21	18	+3	15	L L W D W
7	Jamshedpur FC	9	5	0	4	14	20	-6	15	W L L L W
8	Mumbai City FC	10	3	5	2	13	13	0	14	D W L D W
9	Chennaiyin FC	11	3	3	5	16	18	-2	12	L L L D W
10	Kerala Blasters FC	11	3	2	6	17	21	-4	11	L L W L L
11	East Bengal FC	9	2	1	6	7	12	-5	7	W W D L L
12	Hyderabad FC	10	2	1	7	7	19	-12	7	L L L W L
13	Mohammedan SC	10	1	2	7	5	18	-13	5	L L L D L

Golden Boot Standings

Rank	Player	Club	Goals Scored
1	A. Ajaraie	NorthEast United FC	11
2	A. Sadiku	Mumbai City FC	8
2	S. Chhetri	Bengaluru FC	8
2	Jesús Jiménez	FC Goa	8
5	Diego Maurício	Odisha FC	7

Golden Glove Standings

Rank	Player	Club	Clean Sheets
1	V. Kaith	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	6
2	G. Singh Sandhu	Bengaluru FC	5
3	H. Tiwari	Odisha FC	3
3	P. Gill	Kerala Blasters FC	3
3	P. Lachenpa	Mumbai City FC	3

What to Expect in the coming weeks?

Indian Super League continues to enthrall football fans. At the mid-way stage, there is still a lot to play for and every game is crucial in the race for the playoffs.

Stay tuned to follow the action live on ISL 2024 fixtures, updates, and ISL points table with us as the action unfolds.

2nd test, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Match Analysis and Key Performances

Australia delivered a fantastic performance under tremendous pressure to come back and draw the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 level 1-1.

India won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the tourists got off to the worst possible start as Mitchell Starc trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal LBW on the first ball. And, that set the tone for the match. The left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc was at his best and took a 6-wicket haul to dismiss India for just 180.

In reply, Australia’s Travis Head lit up Adelaide with an explosive 140, and vital contributions from Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney ensured India had no chance in the match. After a 157-run lead, India succumbed under pressure in the second innings with not much resistance from any batter and eventually conceded a 10-wicket loss.

Australia is now the new No.1 in the World Test Championship 2023-25 points table while India has dropped to No.3.

Match Summary and Key Performances

Australia 337 (Head 140, Labuschagne 64, Bumrah 4-61, Siraj 4-98) and 19 for 0 beat India 180 (Reddy 42, Starc 6-48, Cummins 2-41) and 175 (Reddy 42, Pant 28, Cummins 5-57, Boland 3-51) by ten wickets

From India’s point of view, the batting was dismal. Other than youngster Nitish Reddy, no other batsman looked in good touch. India would like their experienced batters to lead from the front in the next test match. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was a standout bowler for the tourists and was well-supported by Mohd Siraj. However, there is still a lot of work to do in the bowling department for the side ahead of the third test.

For Australia, the fast bowling trio – Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland – was on the money and made life difficult for Indian batters throughout the Adelaide test. On the batting front, Travis Head was at his explosive best while Marnus Labuschange and Nathan McSweeney played a good supporting hand.

Australia Test Record in Day-night Tests

Test Matches: 13

Wins: 12

Loss: 1

Australia has won each of the eight day-night Test matches at Adelaide Oval.

India’s Test Record in 2024

Result	Margin	Toss	Bat	Opposition	Ground	Start Date
Won	7 wickets	Lost	2nd	South Africa	Cape Town	3 Jan 2024
Lost	28 runs	Lost	2nd	England	Hyderabad	25 Jan 2024
Won	106 runs	Won	1st	England	Visakhapatnam	2 Feb 2024
Won	434 runs	Won	1st	England	Rajkot	15 Feb 2024
Won	5 wickets	Lost	2nd	England	Ranchi	23 Feb 2024
Won	Inns & 64 runs	Lost	2nd	England	Dharamsala	7 Mar 2024
Won	280 runs	Lost	1st	Bangladesh	Chennai	19 Sep 2024
Won	7 wickets	Won	2nd	Bangladesh	Kanpur	27 Sep 2024
Lost	8 wickets	Won	1st	New Zealand	Bengaluru	16 Oct 2024
Lost	113 runs	Lost	2nd	New Zealand	Pune	24 Oct 2024
Lost	25 runs	Lost	2nd	New Zealand	Wankhede	1 Nov 2024
Won	295 runs	Won	1st	Australia	Perth	22 Nov 2024
Lost	10 wickets	Won	1st	Australia	Adelaide	6 Dec 2024

Most consecutive losses in Test Cricket for an Indian captain

Test Matches	Captain	Year
6	MAK Pataudi	1967-68
5	Sachin Tendulkar	1999-00
4	Datta Gaekwad	1959
4	MS Dhoni	2011
4	MS Dhoni	2014
4	Virat Kohli	2020-21
4	Rohit Sharma	2024

Most WTC Test Wins as Captain

Wins	Captain	Matches
18	Pat Cummins	30
17	Ben Stokes	28
14	Virat Kohli	22
12	Rohit Sharma	22
12	Joe Root	32

Post-match Player Reactions

Pat Cummins (winning captain): Great week, knew we were far away from the team we want to be in Perth. This is back to how we want to play. (On his personal form) I was happy, wasn’t too upset with how I bowled in Perth, felt really good this week and good to get a few wickets. Amazing, never that much noise within the group, we know what a good unit we are. Having someone like Starc, he’s amazing, just does it time and time again. He’s done it for over a decade now. Feel very lucky and privileged to have him in our team. (On Head) He loves batting here, again one of those momentum-shifts, the game could have gone either way when he walked out to bat but he took it straight out of their hands. The main thing was the lead, just happened that it was a pretty good time to bowl as well. seems to do a little bit more under lights. But the big thing was getting a big lead. Scotty just fitted in straightaway like as he does. Feels so lucky to have someone like him, he probes with every ball. Hopefully Josh’s back next week but Scotty is unbelievable. (On Lyon bowling just 1 over in the Test) He’ll jump in the ice bath, he’s had a big week.

Rohit Sharma: Disappointing week for us, we didn’t play well enough to win the game and Australia played better than us. There were times in the game where we could have grabbed those opportunities but we failed to do that and that cost us the game. What we did in Perth was very special, we wanted to come out here and do that again but every Test match has its own challenge. We knew it was going to be challenging with the pink ball. Like I said, Australia was better than us. We are quite looking forward to it (Gabba Test), there’s not much time in between as well. We want to go out there and think about what we did right in Perth and what we did last time when we were here. Some really good memories there, hopefully we understand the challenges of every Test match. We want to start well and play well.

Travis Head (Player of the Match): Nice to get some runs again. I felt like I moved well last week, I felt like I am in good form. It’s a good dressing room to be in, it’s a tight one, most people might suggest otherwise. Putting a good performance in, nothing was ever guaranteed, nice momentum and now we have to move on with it. It wasn’t talked about (to bowl in the final session on day two), Pat gives me great confidence. I can see the game and play the game how I want to see it. I felt like there was a good opportunity with that second new ball. Tried to get as many as we could get and put them under pressure. It was a hot couple of days. Felt like the new ball was going to be tough work. Nice that it was able to come off. I picked the moments really well throughout the innings and we were able to get the ball rolling. (Century celebration) Did it with Miller as well, nice to have them (family) here and it’s been a nice week.

Alex Carey: A great result, what a place it is to play cricket it is, a beautiful venue. To call it our home venue, Travis and I and Nathan now, a fantastic win. (On Starc) He is a proven champion of Australian cricket, not just with the red ball, he’s probably the greatest pink ball bowler. He’s been fantastic again. he bowled really well in Perth and got the rewards this week. (On Head) He’s really found his straps over the last couple of years, he’s just so consistent in his methods. We love watching it. chaotic at times, but it comes off quite often than not. He plays his best when it’s the hardest situation to come out and bat. Marnus and Nathan really set it up and Trav took the game away from India.

Mitchell Starc: It’s been a good week. Nice way to start the other day. We were pretty good throughout. Moving on from the first Test, we knew we had to improve, we’ve responded really well. We weren’t concerned, we left Perth in Perth, we went our own ways for a few days, prepared the way we normally do, got ready for the big Test and responded well. No secret, work hard and see how we go. We are an experienced side, we spend a lot of time together on and off the field playing with and against each other. We left Perth in Perth and we got the job done. You never let the highs get too high and the lows get too low, we did a fair bit of good stuff in the last Test, a lot of things to improve on but not to forget some of the positives to take out of last week. We prepared normally this week and did the job with bat and ball.

Marnus Labuschagne: It’s nice to be in the runs and help the team. There’s a lot of talk during the week, I got back to doing what I know the best that’s hitting lots and lots of cricket balls, looking at the footage where I felt like I was falling short. The selection policy and selection process with this team is very consistent. For me, it was about staying true to myself, true to how I got here as a player. Spent hours thinking about it, spoke to different people and I was able to find my feet in the innings. Always good (to play in Brisbane). The series is 1-1. Last week, we lost the Test match and we were apparently the worst Test team ever. This week, we finished on day three. It’s nice that there’s so much talk about the game.

What to expect in India vs Australia 3rd Test?

Now that Australia has bounced back emphatically after losing the first test in Perth, the series is nicely set up. Aussie have sent a strong message to India and now it’s time for the tourists to regroup and be back at their best.

India vs Australia 3rd Test starts on 14th December 2024 in Brisbane. Brisbane is known for fast, bouncy conditions and it will be testing for both India and Australia to cope with. Stay tuned with Sportsutra for all Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 news updates and thrilling action.

Decoding India’s Winning Formula in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Over the Years

Just like the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has become an iconic test series in cricket. Even before the inception of the series back in 1996, the matches between India and Australia produced some thrilling contests. India were once considered underdogs, and also a poor traveler, but the team is now considered a formidable opponent, both in home and away games. Let’s decode India’s Winning Formula in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Over the Years.

Leveraging Home Conditions: The Spin Factor

Much of India’s test dominance comes from the home conditions. It’s also a major contributor to their success in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. From time and again, India has managed to produce world-class spinners who went on to exploit home conditions better than opponents.

Key Spin Performances

Harbhajan Masterclass in 2001 Border-Gavaskar Series: Australia took the 1-0 lead following a big 10-wicket win in the first match. But Harbhajan Singh’s remarkable hat-trick in the 2nd test match and 15 wickets in the third match helped India to the 2-1 series win. He ended the series with a jaw-dropping 32 wickets in three matches.
Legendary Stuff From Anil Kumble in 2004 Border-Gavaskar Series: During the 2nd test match of 2004 Border-Gavaskar Series, legendary spinner Anil Kumble picked up 1 wickets across two innings – 7/48 and 6/133. Kumble proved to be most lethal in the Chennai test and set the tone for India’s 10-wicket win.
R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja's Combined 53 wickets in 2013: The magic duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have long been terrorizing the opponents, especially in home conditions. The duo’s peak performance came during the 2013 Border-Gavaskar series at home when both picked up a combined 53 wickets in four matches. That was really an unbelievable performance. Ashwin finished the series with 29 wickets and Jadeja ended up with 24 wickets.
Ashwin and Jadeja Rolling Back The Years In 2023: 10 years on from taking a combined 53 wickets Australia, the veteran duo of Ashwin and Jadeja turned back the time after taking 47 wickets – 25 for Ashwin and 22 for Jadeja. Time and time again, this duo has won India games on their own. They are the perfect example of how to exploit home conditions.

India’s formula of winning home games revolve around preparing spin friendly pitches. There’s nothing wrong in it, as every team try to leverage the home conditions. Whenever India hosts a cricket team, the focus is always on the spin bowling. In Border-Gavaskar series, spin has made the biggest difference in home conditions this trend is likely to continue in the future as well.

Tackling Opponents Spinners – The Batting Factor

It’s not just about troubling the Australians with the spin, as the conditions in India also suit the away spinners. And over the years, Australia have travelled with some of the very best when it comes to spin bowlers. Shane Warne being the very best, while the likes of Stuart McGill and Nathan Lyon, to name a few, are also world class. But Indian batsmen still managed to dominate the Australian spinners on most days. This reflects in India’s total dominance in home matches against the Australians.

Key Batting Performances

Tackling Prime Shane Warne in 2001: The 2001 Border-Gavaskar series is a historic series for many reasons. VVS Laxman’s 281-run innings, Harbhajan Singh’s hattrick and on top of that, it was India’s aggression under Saurav Gangully that started a new era for Indian cricket.
One thing also stood out from that series. It was Indian batsmen rendering Shane Warne ineffective on the spin friendly tracks. Australia’s legendary spinner took five wickets in the first match, but took only five more in the next two games. This was one of the main reasons why India won that series.
Stopping Lyon and O'Keefe in their track: Back in 2017, Australia started the Border-Gavaskar series in the most dominating way, winning the first match by a record 333-run margin. At the heart of Australia’s dominance was Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe, with the duo combining for 17 wickets out of 20 in that game. O’Keefe in particular shocked everyone after taking 6 wickets in each of the two innings. But in the next six innings, O’Keefe could manage only seven wickets. Such was the manner in which India batsmen dominated him.

Australia have certainly travelled with some high quality spinners. But the fact that Australia have won only one Border-Gavaskar series in India is a testament to Team India’s ability to tackle Australia’s spinners.

Also Read: Top-10 performances by Indian cricketer in Border-Gavaskar series

Pace Revolution: Winning Abroad

India have won the last four edition of Border-Gavaskar series. Two of those series were played in Australia. Now that’s a better way to put this in a statement. Winning in Australia, and that too a full test series, is a marathon effort. Not only the India’s batsmen had to tackle the pace and bounce of Australia’s bowlers such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but the visitors also had to bowl the opponents out. And they did, with the help of quality pace unit.

Key Elements of India’s Pace Success:

Diversity in Attack: Much of India’s success down under in recent years is down to the variety as well as quality in India’s pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah is unique in all aspects while Mohammed Shami in in his own league. The likes of Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan played huge part in India’s series win on last two tours.
Improved Fitness: Improved fitness standards have allowed India’s fast bowlers to perform at their peak for a longer period. As the BGT series often consists of five tests, fitness is a crucial factor, especially in Australian conditions where grounds are bigger.

Memorable Performances:

2024 Melbourne Test: After India were bolwed out for just 150 runs in the 1st innings of Perth test in 2024, Jasprit Bumrah, who was captaining the team, brought his team right back into the game with a fifer in the first innings. Australia were bowlers out for just 104 runs, and India never looked back. Bumrah took another three wickets in the 2nd innings and won the man-of-the-match award as well.
2018 Melbourne Test: In the Boxing day test of 2018, Jasprit Bumrah took nine wickets across two innings, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings. As always, he was instrumental in India’s big 13-run win in the third test, which was also a series-clinching win.
2021 Gabba Test: Despite missing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami, India still managed to bowl out Australia in both the innings. That was really a performance for the ages by India’s pace bowlers, which consisted of T Natarajan, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. The trio combined for 16 wickets and India recorded a famous series win.

Conclusion

India’s winning formula in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is simple – leverage the home conditions and travel with a high-quality pace attack. From Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble to Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India always had spinners who had skills to exploit home conditions better than any other bowlers. While on tour, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj fough toe-to-toe with Australia’s pace attack. India dominated the recent Border-Gavaskar series because they had the players who could adjust their game to different circumstances.

India’s Bowling Attack: The Key to Success in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Team India made a mockery of the Australian bowling attack and batting unit at the Optus Stadium in Perth during the first Border Gavaskar Trophy Test. The Indian team, under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, were all over the hosts in Perth and registered a famous victory by 295 runs, leaving Australia dispersed. With a 1-0 lead in their kitty, team India has kicked off the series in the most effective manner and would be hoping to continue with the same intensity and momentum in the remaining Tests.

The Australian pitches and conditions have always aided pacers. The conditions down under have always suited seamers and pacers, and this is something both teams have stressed. The Indian bowling attack, especially the pacers, is a new breed with the likes of Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, and Mohammad Siraj in the squad and one of the best pacers in the world, Jasprit Bumarh leading the pack. In this post, we will be discussing the Indian bowling attack, which could well be the key to success in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Also read: Best matches of Border-Gavaskar Series

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is the most vital cog in the Indian bowling lineup in Australian conditions. The fiery pacer took 8 wickets in the opening game and deservingly walked away with the Man of the Match trophy. Bumrah has already built a legacy in World Cricket and his numbers speaks volumes for the talent he possesses. Bumrah’s action makes him a fearsomely unique prospect in India’s bowling unit and he will hold the key in this series.

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
9	44	2.47	18.47	6/33

Ravichandran Ashwin

The experience of Ravichandran Ashwin will be handy for the Indian team in Australia. Irrespective of the fact that the Australian conditions don’t favor spinners much, but Ashwin being a wiley customer, will surely bring something out of his armory to trouble the Aussies batters. Check his numbers below.

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
11	40	2.93	42.42	4/55

Also Read: Top 10 Performances by Indian Cricketers in BGT Trophy

Ravindra Jadeja

Irrespective of the conditions, left-arm spinners somehow get into wickets, and Ravindra Jadeja is a prime example of this. Jadeja’s quality is that he is always at the stumps and doesn’t give any room whatsoever to the batters. Jadeja’s all-round abilities could be crucial in Australia. Check out his numbers in Australia.

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
4	14	2.41	21.78	4/62

Mohammad Siraj

Mohammad Siraj will be the partner in crime of Jasprit Bumrah in this Border Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm medium pacer scalped 2 in the first innings and 3 wickets in the second in Perth and played an instrumental role in bowling out Australia in the second innings. Siraj will be the first-choice bowler to partner Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
9	22	2.97	25.13	5/73

Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana impressed one and all in the opening Test. Castling Travis Head in the first innings was the premier highlight of his debut game, and he ended up with 3 scalps in the first innings. Harshit made his Test debut in the opening match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and will play an important role in this series, especially with his ability to hit the deck hard.

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
1	4	4.51	50.75	3/48

Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep

Both Prasidh Krishna and Akashdeep are yet to make their debut in Australia. Both played Test cricket in Indian conditions and possess different qualities. While Prasidh Krishna takes advantage of his height and hits the deck hard, Akashdeep is a skiddy customer and likes to angle the ball inside the right-hander. With two bowlers possessing two different attributes, it would be interesting to see when and where these two will get their chance in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Prasidh Krishna

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
2	2	4.64	65	1/27

Akash Deep

Matches in Australia	Wickets	Economy	Average	Best in an Innings
5	10	3.73	25.80	3/83

India’s Strategy to Counter Australian Conditions in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has long been the ultimate litmus test for cricketing giants India and Australia. Over the years, this series has produced cricket moments that will live long in the memory of Indian cricket fans, with the rivalry now evolving into a fierce contest of skill, temperament, and resilience. As the two cricket giants fighting in the 2024-25 edition, let’s discuss India’s strategy to tackle the challenges posed by Australian conditions.

1. Understanding Cricket Conditions in Australia

Playing in Australia is a completely different challenge. The pitches are bouncier, faster, and at times offer assistance to spinners as well. One of the biggest challenge playing in Australia is to deal with the Kookaburra ball. It’s no secret that Kookaburra ball is completely different from the SG balls used in India. The Kookaburra balls are known for their low seam and quick loss of swing, and that’s where bowlers’ ability come to the fore. In addition, Australia’s world-class batting unit and formidable pace attack, led by Mitchell Starc, make them a tough side to beat at home.

India’s success in the ongoing 2024-25 the Border-Gavaskar Trophy depends on how the team adapt to the conditions. Every ground is different. The conditions in Perth are different from what Indian team will be facing in Adelaide, Melbourne or Brisbane. So it’s all about adapting, and adapting fast.

2. More Responsibility From Top Order Batsmen

In Australia, the key to a strong batting performance lies in facing the new ball which often does most of the trick for the fast bowlers. Since grounds in Australia are large, batsmen can easily tire out the bowlers. India’s top-order, which consists of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, must shoulder responsibility to see out the the new-ball spell from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. If India’s top-order batsmen manage to keep wicket column of the likes of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood empty, then India could find themselves in a great position in this series.

Key Focus Areas for Batsmen

Playing the Short Ball: Australian pitches are known for their bounce and quickness. Aussie pacers, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, are expert at exploiting bounce. Indian batsmen need to mitigate the threat of bounce while also learning when to leave deliveries.
Building Partnerships: Winning a test match requires big totals. India’s middle order, featuring players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, must focus on capitalizing on starts and converting them into centuries.
Attacking Nathan Lyon: Australia have only one recognized spinner in their ranks, in the shape of Nathan Lyon. If Indian batsmen can attack him, then this can leave Australia short on bowling options. That also means, there will be more pressure on their pacers.

Also Read: Top 10 Performances by Indian Cricketers in BGT Trophy

3. Balanced Bowling Attack

The big reason for India’s wins in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series was their world-class bowling attack. In Australian conditions, pace is king, but spin can also play a decisive role if the match goes to fourth and the fifth day.

Fast Bowlers: The Spearhead of the Attack

Though India are without Mohammed Shami, they still have Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, two of India’s most formidable pacers. Their success will hinge on:

Exploiting Early Swing: Using the new ball effectively is crucial, as the Kookaburra loses swing after the first 10-15 overs.
Hitting the Deck Hard: Consistent line and length aimed at the top of off-stump will test Australian batsmen’s patience.
Reverse Swing: As the ball looses it shine, reverse swing becomes a vital weapon.

4. Spinners: Must be more than a Support Act

Australians conditions definitely favors fast bowlers, but the pitches at grounds such as Brisbane and Sydney also have something for spinners. In Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, India have te best spinning duo in their ranks. Jadeja’s all-round abilities and Ashwin’s experience could prove invaluable in turning games around on wearing tracks.

5. Keeping Jasprit Bumrah Fresh

India is not a one-man team, but their bowling heavily relies on Jasprit Bumrah. The Mumbai Indians star was the biggest reason for India’s win in the first test at Perth. He picked up a fifer in the first innings and another three-wicket haul in the 2nd innings to end the match with a man-of-the-match award.

Having said that, the Indian captain has to ensure that Bumrah isn’t overused. He has a history of injuries, so putting excessive burden on Bumrah, especially when Mohammad Shami is missing, could be counterproductive.

Also read: Best matches of Border-Gavaskar Series

6. Leveraging Bench Strength

The Border-Gavaskar series is a marathon. It’s a five-match test series, so it’s likely that there will be rotation due to factors such as fatigue and injuries. The 2021 series is a perfect example of bench strength. India were plagued by injuries and the absence of key players such as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah and yet India recorded a series win. It was down to players such as Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur who stepped up to the occasion.

For India to emulate success from last tour, every player has to perform at the optimum level to help the team negotiate Australia’s threat. Players such as Akash Deep and Sarfraz Khan, to name a few, must be ready to play if the situation demands.

7. Better Use of Technology (DRS)

Modern cricket relies heavily on technology. It’s not just down to data analytics of opponents and making looking to find weakness in opposing batsmen through videos, or using any other form of technology, but the success also depends on the use of DRS.

It’s no secret that India’s record at taking DRS is poor ever since MS Dhoni retired. Bowlers normally ride on their emotions when an umpire deem a decision against them, and they try to convince the captain, in India’s case, Rohit Sharma. But Indian captain must keep the emotions out and should take the DRS decision based on merit.

Conclusion

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains one of the most exciting test series in world cricket. The ongoing 2024-2025 edition is heading towards a blockbuster series. India won the first test match but in a series as long as this, a 1-0 lead is very dangerous. It can change quickly. For India to remain in a commanding position, every player and the team management as well have to bring their A-game to the very last phase of the game.

Top 10 Performances by Indian Cricketers in BGT Trophy

The Border-Gavaskar series is full of moments when players turned into superheroes, winning games for their team from an improbable situation. Be it the 2001 Kolkata Test or the famous win at Brisbane in 2021, these are the games that are etched in the memories of Indian fans. It’s hard to pick a few performances considering the rich cricket history between India and Australia. But here are the top-10 performances by Indian cricketers in the India vs Australia matches.

Also read: Best matches of Border-Gavaskar Series

1. 2001 Kolkata Test- VVS Laxman, 281 Runs In 2nd innings

When there’s a conversation between commentators or fellow cricket fans about the best ever batting performance, then VVS Laxman’s 281-run innings is discussed with verve and passion. What makes this innings standout is the surreal circumstances it was played. Not only India were trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, but they were staring at a certain in the 2nd test in Kolkata. Australia were holding all the mighty cards, and the match was heading in only one direction – in a record-extending 17th test win for Australia.

But fate had other plans. Enter VVS Laxman, the batsman who had magic in his wrists. He arrived at the crease at a time when India were 52-1, still facing a 222-run deficit. Laxman held the fort at one end as the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly perished. But his historical 378-run partnership with Rahul Dravid changed the game on its head. Laxman made 281 runs as India declared at 657/7, setting Australia a 384-run target. The rest is the history as India won the match by 171 runs.

2. 1977 Melbourne Test- Bhagwath Chandrasekhar – 12/104

Whether you are a child or a grown up man, your first experience is memorable. You don’t forget it. Before travelling down under for the five-match test series, India had played a total of 27 matches in Australia and never tasted a win in the country.

This series was heading towards the familiar shores for Team India who lost the first two test matches. Trailing 0-2 and fighting to remain relevant in the series, India, somehow, managed to produce an unthinkable display, of bowling and batting.

India made 256 runs in the first innings and Australia posted 213 in response. Visitors did better with the bat in their 2nd innings, making 343 runs. Chasing 386 runs to win the match, Australia buckled under pressure and were bundled out for just 164 runs in the fourth innings.

The bowler who broke Australia’s backbone was Bhagwath Chandrasekhar. The legendary leg spinner took six wickets in each of the two innings and ended with a combined figure of 12/104. Truly masterclass of a performance.

3. 2001 Kolkata Test- Harbhajan Singh – 13/196

Beating the Australia side of early 2000, led by Steve Waugh, was a herculean task. Any opponent aiming to beat the Aussie side that had legendary figures such as Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, had to be perfect. It was not just VVS Laxman’s historic 281-run innings that helped India snapped Australia’s 16-game winning run, but a certain Harbhajan Singh also played a huge role.

Harbhajan Singh was only 20 at that time and was still trying to carve out a name for himself. Aussies had the knack of destroying bowlers and ended career of some young players. But Harbhajan was a different gravy. He was the chief architect of Australia’s batting collapse, picking up a combined 13 wickets in the match.

4. 2003 Melbourne Test- Virender Sehwag – 195

Although India lost the Boxing day test during their 2003-04 tour of Australia, the test is still remembered by Indian cricket fans because of Virender Sehwag’s brutal batting. The mercurial batter produced a brilliant batting display which is still considered as one of the best ever by a foreign player on Australia’s soil.

Sehwag was facing a prime Brett Lee, but he didn’t bother and hit him all around the park. The likes of Nathan Bracken, Stuart McGill and Brad Williams looked ordinary against the dynamic Indian batter. Sehwag missed out on a deserved double-hundred after getting out on 195 runs off 233 balls. He hit 25 fours and five massive sixes during that innngs.

Who took his wicket? It was part-time bowler Simon Katich. And the ball was the ordinary as it can be, a full toss. Sehwag was trying to clear the fence but failed to connect properly.

Video Courtesy – Cricket Australia Youtube Channel

5. Ravi Shastri – 206 and 4/45 at Sydney, 1991

India toured Australia in 1991-92 for the five-match test series. It was the time when Indian cricket didn’t fancy travelling to countries such as England, Australia or South Africa. The series reflected that nation as India lost 4-0. The only game Indian team managed to draw was the 3rd test at Sydney. It was the match which is remembered for Ravi Shastri’s magnificent all-round display.

Australia were bowled out for 313 runs in the first innings. Then came India’s chance to bat and the visitors posted 483 runs in their first innings. The highlight was Ravi Shastri’s double-century, 206 runs which he scored in 477 balls. The mercurial all-rounder also took four wickets in Australia’s 2nd innings and was given the man-of-the-match award.

6. 1981 Melbourne Test- Gundappa Vishwanath – 114

Gundappa Viswanath was a special batsman who had an impeccable technique, and a remarkable ability to perform under pressure. He was famous for playing square cuts and late flicks. Amongst his many match winnings innings, one was special.

India lost the opening game of the series by an innings and four runs, but managed to draw the next game. India needed to win the third match to save the series and that’s what happened. The hero of the match for Team India was Gundappa Vishwanath who scored a magnificent 114 runs in the first innings. What makes this innings super special was that no other Indian batsman could even touch the 30-run mark. Out of India’s 237-run total in the first innings, 114 were scored by Gundappa Vishwanath. The Karnataka-born batter also scored 30 runs in the 2nd innings and won the man-of-the-match award as India won the match by 59 runs.

7. Rishabh Pant – 89* at Brisbane, 2021

It was the fourth test of India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia. The series was tied at 1-1 going into the final match of the series. India were the clear underdogs, not because they were the away team, but because of many key players such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were all missing due to various reasons.

Australia made 369 runs in the first innings and India almost equaled the tally after making 336 runs in the first innings. The real battle started in the 2nd innings as Australia were bowled out for 294 runs, setting India a target of 327 runs.

Shubman Gill (91) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) scored vital half centuries but it was Rishabh Pant who held the innings together and took India home after scoring an unbeaten 89 runs. Pant was given the man-of-the-match award as well for his match-winning innings.

8. Ajinkya Rahane – 112 at Melbourne, 2020

Ahead of the 2nd test during India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia, the visitors had everything going against them. Virat Kohli left the tour due to personal reasons, and the team suffered a huge 8-wicket defeat in the first test match. The worst part was that India was bundled out for just 36 runs in one of the innings.

The responsibility fell on the shoulders of Ajinkya Rahane, and the Maharashtra batter passed the test with flying colors. His decision making as a captain was right on the money, but he impressed the most as a batter. As a captain, the hardest job is to perform under pressure and Rahane smashed a superb hundred in the first innings. He led the foundation for India’s 8-wicket win and the momentum also shifted towards the visitors who went on to win the series as well.

9. Rahul Dravid – 233 & 72 at Adelaide, 2003

Sourav Ganguly changed the whole perception around Team India. The magnificent win at the Lord’s and the appearances in the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup and the 2001 ICC Champions Trophy filled the team with the confidence that they are no longer poor travellers. That, they can win win any country and under any circumstances.

The first test in India’s 2003-04 tour of Australia ended in a draw as both teams piled up runs. In the next match at Adelaide, Team India defied odds and scripted a magnificent victory.

But Australia were in a strong position after posting 556 runs in the first innings. India needed a big score in their first innings and that’s what they got thanks to Rahul Dravid’s magnificent double-hundred. The Wall scored 233 runs and VVS Laxman also contributed with a sublime 148-run innings.

Dravid scored another 72 runs in the 2nd innings as India chased down 233 runs to win the Adelaide test.

10. Jasprit Bumrah, Perth Test 2024 – 5/30 & 3/42

India headed to Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series in the worst possible mindset. They lost 0-3 at home against New Zealand which put their position at the ICC Test Championship table in grave danger. Expectations were low heading to the Perth test, and when India managed only 150 runs in the first innings, it all seemed true.

But India are blessed to have Jasprit Bumrah, the generational player. The Mumbai Indians star made India’s 150-run total look like a big score as Australia were bundled out for just 104 runs, giving India an important 46-run lead. At the heart of India’s unlikely win was Jasprit Bumrah who took a fifer in the first innings and a three-wicket haul in the 2nd innings.

Worth Mentioning

There are many other moments when certain players played out of their skins and won games for India in the Border-Gavaskar series. Shubman Gill’s 91 runs in the Brisbane test deserves more recognition, as does Sachin Tendulkar’s 241-run innings in the 4th test of India’s 2003-04 tour of Australia. As highlighted above, it’s hard to prefer a certain match over other when the rivalry between India and Australia is full of memorable moments.