Border-Gavaskar Trophy
A fiercely contested Test rivalry where India holds the edge.
The Border–Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is a Test cricket series played between India and Australia, named after distinguished former captains Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. Inception occurred in 1996. The series typically takes place twice every four years, once in each country, consisting of four or five matches scheduled for up to five days each. If the series is drawn, the current holder retains the trophy. Considered one of the two most-valued bilateral trophies in Test cricket due to the rivalry's competitiveness and both teams' high standing, India has been the more successful side since 1996. Out of 17 series played, India won 10, Australia won 5, and two were drawn. As of January 2025, India holds the trophy after defeating Australia 3–1 in the 2024–25 series. In BGT history, Sachin Tendulkar is the most successful batsman with 3262 runs from 65 innings, while Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 125 wickets from 54 innings.
- Named After
- Allan Border (Australia) and Sunil Gavaskar (India)
- First Series
- 1996-97
- Format
- Test Cricket
- Status
- Active
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The rivalry intensified when India began challenging Australia's dominance on Australian soil. In the 2000–01 series, Australia won the first Test in Mumbai by 10 wickets after dismissing India for just 176 runs. However, the second Test at Eden Gardens became one of the most exciting games ever played. After enforcing the follow-on with India trailing by 274 runs, captain Steve Waugh called on nine different bowlers as V.V.S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted the entire day without offering a chance. They added 376 runs, taking India to 589/4. Laxman set a new individual high score record for India with 281, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar's 236. With Australia needing 384 runs to win, they collapsed from 161/3 to 212 all out in the final session, losing their last 7 wickets for 73 runs. Harbhajan Singh took six of those wickets, including a hat-trick that was the first by an Indian bowler in 69 years. This stunning 171-run victory leveled the series 1–1 and marked only the third time in history a team won a Test after following on.
In Their Own Story
The final Test of the 2000–01 series at Chennai saw Australia win the toss again and elect to bat. Matthew Hayden batted through the first day for an eventual total of 203, but the rest of the team contributed little to the total of 391. Harbhajan Singh was the destroyer, taking 7–133. India pushed to 501 on the back of Sachin Tendulkar's 126. Australia ended day four at 241/7, holding a precarious lead of 131 runs. Early on day five, Harbhajan ran through the Australian tail, taking 8–84 and his series tally to an astounding 32 wickets, leaving Australia all out for 264. India needed 155 runs to win with plenty of time. In 42 nail-biting overs, India steadily lost wickets, sinking to 135/7. They were left a tantalising 20 runs short as the match ended in a draw, preserving the series for India at 2–1.
Reader's Guide
The first Test under the trophy was played in Delhi from October 10 to 14, 1996. It lasted just over four days with Australia winning the toss and electing to bat. Indian spinners led by Anil Kumble bowled them out for 182, with Michael Slater top-scoring with 44 runs. India replied with 361, riding on Nayan Mongia's career-best 152. In the second innings, Steve Waugh scored 67 to get Australia to 234. This left India with 56 runs in the fourth innings, which they achieved for the loss of three wickets to win by seven wickets. The series also marked Sachin Tendulkar's first as captain. Later, in the 1997–98 series in India, Australia sought their first win since 1969–70. In Chennai, Tendulkar scored 155 from 191 balls to give India a 179-run win as Australia crumbled under spinners Kumble, Venkatapathy Raju, and Rajesh Chauhan for 168. At Kolkata, Mohammad Azharuddin scored 163 runs in India's only innings, winning by an innings. The final Test at Bangalore saw Mark Waugh score a century (153*) and Mark Taylor help chase down the target of 194 runs to end the series 2–1 in favour of India.
Did You Know?
- Harbhajan Singh took the first Test hat-trick by an Indian bowler in 69 years during the 2000–01 series.
- India is only the third team in history to win a Test match after following on, achieved against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001.
- As of January 2025, India has won 10 of the 17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series played since 1996.
- V.V.S. Laxman's score of 281 in the 2001 Kolkata Test surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's previous Indian record of 236.
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