The India National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team timeline is one of the richest rivalries in international cricket. From India’s first tour of Australia in 1947-48 to the modern Border-Gavaskar Trophy era, the two teams have produced legendary Test matches, memorable ODI contests, World Cup finals, and dramatic T20 encounters.
The rivalry features some of the greatest cricketers in history, including Don Bradman, Vinoo Mankad, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Jasprit Bumrah, and many others.
India and Australia have also become regular opponents in ICC tournaments. Australia defeated India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, while India defeated Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eight stage and again in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final.
The next major Test chapter is scheduled for January-March 2027, when Australia will tour India for a five-Test series.
India vs Australia Cricket Timeline
| Year | Format/Event | Major Moment |
|---|---|---|
| 1947-48 | Test | First India tour of Australia; Australia won 4-0 |
| 1956-57 | Test | Australia toured India |
| 1969-70 | Test | Australia won series in India |
| 1977-78 | Test | Australia won 3-2 in Australia |
| 1980-81 | Test | Series drawn 1-1 |
| 1985 | World Championship of Cricket | India defeated Australia in the final |
| 1991-92 | Test | Australia won 4-0 |
| 1996 | ODI World Cup | Australia defeated India |
| 1999 | ODI World Cup | Australia defeated India |
| 2001 | Test | India won famous Kolkata Test |
| 2003-04 | Test | Series drawn 1-1 |
| 2007 | ODI World Cup | Australia defeated India |
| 2007-08 | Test | Australia won 2-1 |
| 2010 | T20 World Cup | Australia defeated India |
| 2011 | ODI World Cup | India defeated Australia in quarter-final |
| 2013 | ODI | India won 7-match ODI series 3-2 |
| 2015 | ODI World Cup | Australia defeated India in semi-final |
| 2017 | Test | India won Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 |
| 2018-19 | Test | India won Test series in Australia 2-1 |
| 2020-21 | Test | India won Test series in Australia 2-1 |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | Australia defeated India in final |
| 2023-24 | Test | Australia won Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | India defeated Australia |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | India defeated Australia in semi-final |
| 2027 | Test | Five-Test series scheduled in India |
1947-48: India’s First Tour of Australia
The modern India-Australia Test rivalry began with India’s first tour of Australia in 1947-48.
The tour was historically significant because it was India’s first Test series in Australia.
Australia’s team was led by the legendary Don Bradman and was one of the strongest sides in world cricket.
Australia won the five-Test series 4-0, although the tour included several important performances from Indian players.
Vinoo Mankad scored India’s first Test century against Australia during the series, making 116 in Melbourne.
The tour also produced the famous Mankad run-out incident involving Bill Brown in Sydney. ICC describes the 1947-48 tour as the beginning of a long series of memorable India-Australia contests.
1950s and 1960s: Australia Establishes Its Dominance
During the 1950s and 1960s, Australia generally held the advantage in the rivalry.
Australia toured India several times, while India continued to gain experience against one of the world’s strongest Test teams.
The matches were important for India’s development as a Test nation.
Indian players such as Polly Umrigar, Vijay Hazare, and later Bishan Singh Bedi helped India become increasingly competitive.
However, Australia continued to possess a powerful combination of batting depth and high-quality pace and spin bowling.
1977-78: A Close Series in Australia
India’s 1977-78 tour of Australia became one of the closest series of the early rivalry.
Australia won the five-Test series 3-2.
India lost the first two Tests but fought back to win the next two, setting up a decisive fifth Test.
Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath were among India’s leading performers.
Bishan Singh Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar also played major roles with the ball.
ICC records the 1977-78 series as one of the periods when India came particularly close to winning a Test series in Australia during the early decades of the rivalry.
1980-81: Kapil Dev’s Famous Spell
The 1980-81 Australian tour produced another memorable moment.
The three-Test series ended 1-1.
The decisive third Test in Melbourne became famous for India’s fightback.
Australia needed only 143 runs to win, but Kapil Dev produced a remarkable bowling performance despite an injury.
He took five of Australia’s final six wickets as Australia collapsed for 83.
India secured a dramatic result and the series ended level.
1985: World Championship of Cricket
India and Australia met in the final of the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Melbourne.
India produced an impressive all-round performance and won the tournament.
The victory became an important limited-overs milestone for India against Australia.
The tournament also featured several outstanding Indian performances from players such as Ravi Shastri, who was named Player of the Series.
1991-92: Australia Win 4-0
India toured Australia again in 1991-92 for a five-Test series.
Australia won 4-0.
The series is remembered partly because of the emergence of a young Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar scored his second Test century in Sydney, making an unbeaten 148.
He then produced one of his most admired innings at Perth, scoring 114 on a fast and bouncy pitch.
ICC describes the Perth innings as one of the defining early performances of Tendulkar’s career.
1996 Cricket World Cup
India and Australia met in the 1996 Cricket World Cup in Mumbai.
Australia won the match by 16 runs.
The contest was one of the tournament’s important group-stage matches.
Australia eventually reached the final but lost to Sri Lanka.
1999 Cricket World Cup
The teams met again during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
Australia defeated India in the group stage.
Australia’s victory was part of a tournament campaign that eventually saw them win the World Cup.
The match contributed to Australia’s emergence as the dominant ODI team of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
2001: The Kolkata Test
The 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy produced one of the greatest Test matches in cricket history.
Australia entered the second Test in Kolkata on a long winning run.
After Australia posted a huge first-innings total and enforced the follow-on, India appeared to be in serious trouble.
Instead, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid produced a remarkable partnership.
Laxman scored 281, while Dravid made 180.
India eventually won the Test by 171 runs.
Harbhajan Singh also played a crucial role with the ball.
The victory changed the momentum of the series, and India went on to win the three-Test series 2-1.
The Kolkata Test remains one of the defining chapters of the India-Australia rivalry.
2003-04: A Classic Series in Australia
India toured Australia during the 2003-04 season.
The four-Test series ended 1-1, with two matches drawn.
The series featured outstanding batting from both sides.
Rahul Dravid produced a double century in Adelaide, while Ricky Ponting scored major hundreds for Australia.
VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and Ajit Agarkar were also important contributors for India.
India won the Adelaide Test, while Australia won in Melbourne.
The Sydney Test ended in a draw, allowing Australia to retain the series lead overall while India returned home without a series defeat. ICC describes the series as one of the classic India-Australia contests of the era.
2007: ODI World Cup
India and Australia met in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the semi-final.
Australia won the match by 10 wickets.
The Australian team, featuring players such as Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, eventually won the tournament.
The result continued Australia’s dominance in global ODI cricket.
2007-08: Another Test Series in Australia
India toured Australia for the 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia won the four-Test series 2-1.
The series included several controversial moments, but it also featured outstanding cricket.
India’s victory in Perth was particularly notable because it ended Australia’s long winning run at the venue.
The series helped intensify the rivalry between the two teams.
2011: India Defeat Australia in a World Cup Quarter-Final
The 2011 Cricket World Cup quarter-final between India and Australia was played in Ahmedabad.
Australia batted first and scored 260/6.
India chased the target successfully, reaching 261/5.
Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina played important roles.
India won by five wickets and advanced to the semi-final.
India eventually defeated Pakistan in the semi-final before beating Sri Lanka in the final to win the World Cup.
2013: India Win an ODI Series
Australia toured India in 2013 for a seven-match ODI series.
The series produced several high-scoring games.
India won the series 3-2, with two matches abandoned or otherwise producing no result.
The contest featured major batting performances from both sides and demonstrated the increasingly aggressive nature of ODI cricket.
2015 Cricket World Cup: Australia Win the Semi-Final
India and Australia met in the 2015 Cricket World Cup semi-final in Sydney.
Australia batted first and scored 328/7.
India were eventually bowled out for 233.
Australia won by 95 runs and progressed to the final.
Australia then defeated New Zealand in the final to win the World Cup on home soil.
2017: India Win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The 2016-17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was played in India.
Australia won the opening Test in Pune, but India responded strongly.
India won the Bengaluru Test and then dominated the final stages of the series.
The fourth Test in Dharamsala decided the series.
India won the match and secured a 2-1 series victory.
The result gave India another important home Test-series win over Australia.
2018-19: India Make History in Australia
The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy became one of the most important series in Indian cricket history.
India won the four-Test series 2-1, becoming the first Indian men’s team to win a Test series in Australia.
Virat Kohli captained India, while Cheteshwar Pujara was one of the leading performers with the bat.
India won in Adelaide and Melbourne, while Australia won the Perth Test.
The Sydney Test ended in a draw.
The series victory represented a major milestone in India’s Test history.
2020-21: The Gabba Miracle
The 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy became another legendary chapter.
Australia won the first Test in Adelaide after India were dismissed for 36 in their second innings.
India responded by winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
The Sydney Test ended in a dramatic draw after India’s batters resisted Australia’s bowling attack.
The fourth Test was played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Australia had not lost a Test at the venue in 32 years.
India were missing several regular players because of injuries.
Yet India chased 328 in the final innings and won by three wickets.
Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 89.
India won the four-Test series 2-1.
ICC’s account of the series highlights Pant’s decisive unbeaten innings and India’s remarkable victory at the Gabba.
2023: Australia Win the ODI World Cup Final
India and Australia met in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
India batted first and were bowled out for 240.
Australia’s chase initially suffered early setbacks, but Travis Head produced a brilliant century.
Head scored 137 and guided Australia to the target.
Australia won by six wickets and secured their sixth men’s ODI World Cup title.
It was India’s first defeat of the tournament after a perfect run through the league stage and knockout matches before the final.
2023-24: Australia Win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australia returned to India in late 2023 and early 2024 for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia won the first Test in Perth.
India responded by winning the second Test in Adelaide.
The remaining matches produced a highly competitive series.
Australia eventually won the series 3-1.
The result meant Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
2024: India Defeat Australia at the T20 World Cup
India and Australia met in the Super Eight stage of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
India scored 205/5, with Rohit Sharma producing a spectacular innings.
Rohit made 92 from 41 balls.
Australia attempted to chase the target but finished on 181/7.
India won by 24 runs.
The victory helped India progress toward the semi-finals.
India ultimately won the tournament by defeating South Africa in the final.
2025: Champions Trophy Semi-Final
India and Australia met again in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai.
Australia scored 264 after being sent in to bat.
India successfully chased the target, reaching 267/6.
KL Rahul finished the chase with an unbeaten 42, while Hardik Pandya provided late momentum.
India won by four wickets and advanced to the final.
ICC noted that this was the first ODI meeting between the teams since Australia’s victory in the 2023 World Cup final.
India then defeated New Zealand in the final to win the Champions Trophy.
2025-26: White-Ball Cricket Continues
Cricket Australia’s announced 2025-26 schedule included three ODIs and five T20Is between Australia and India.
The ODI matches were scheduled for October 19, 23 and 25, 2025, followed by five T20Is between October 29 and November 8.
These white-ball meetings added another chapter to the rivalry outside the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The expanded five-match T20I series was particularly significant because it was the first five-match T20I series between the two men’s teams.
2027: Five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy Scheduled in India
The next major Test chapter is scheduled for early 2027.
Australia are scheduled to tour India for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
The announced schedule is:
- 1st Test: January 21-25, 2027 — Nagpur
- 2nd Test: January 29-February 2 — Chennai
- 3rd Test: February 11-15 — Guwahati
- 4th Test: February 19-23 — Ranchi
- 5th Test: February 27-March 3 — Ahmedabad
The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Because these matches are scheduled for the future as of September 2026, they should not be included as completed results.
India vs Australia: Major Test Timeline
The Test rivalry has produced several defining eras.
1947-48
Australia win India’s first Test tour of Australia 4-0.
1977-78
Australia win a close five-Test series 3-2.
1980-81
India and Australia draw the series 1-1, with Kapil Dev producing a famous spell in Melbourne.
1991-92
Australia win 4-0, while Sachin Tendulkar emerges as a major young batting star.
2001
India win the famous Kolkata Test after following on and eventually take the series 2-1.
2003-04
The four-Test series in Australia ends 1-1.
2007-08
Australia win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
2016-17
India win the series 2-1 in India.
2018-19
India win a Test series in Australia for the first time, taking the series 2-1.
2020-21
India again win in Australia, coming from behind to claim the series 2-1.
2023-24
Australia win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1.
India vs Australia in World Cups
India and Australia have met repeatedly at the Cricket World Cup.
Some of the most significant encounters include:
- 1996: Australia defeated India in Mumbai.
- 1999: Australia defeated India.
- 2003: Australia defeated India in the World Cup final.
- 2007: Australia defeated India in the semi-final.
- 2011: India defeated Australia in the quarter-final.
- 2015: Australia defeated India in the semi-final.
- 2023: Australia defeated India in the final.
The 2003 and 2023 finals are particularly important because both resulted in Australia winning the World Cup.
The 2011 quarter-final and 2015 semi-final demonstrate how the rivalry has repeatedly produced knockout-stage matches.
Key Players in the India-Australia Rivalry
Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar produced some of his most admired overseas innings against Australia, including his 114 at Perth during the 1991-92 tour.
Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh led Australia during one of its strongest periods and was involved in several important Test series against India.
Rahul Dravid
Dravid played several memorable innings against Australia, particularly during the 2001 and 2003-04 Test series.
Ricky Ponting
Ponting was one of Australia’s most successful batsmen and captains during the peak of Australia’s international dominance.
Virat Kohli
Kohli became a central figure in the modern rivalry and played a major role in India’s Test successes in Australia.
Steve Smith
Smith has been one of Australia’s most productive Test batters against India, particularly during the 2014-15 and subsequent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Rishabh Pant
Pant became one of the defining players of India’s modern Test victories in Australia, particularly after his match-winning 89* at the Gabba in 2021.
Why India vs Australia Is Such an Important Rivalry
The India-Australia rivalry has developed far beyond a conventional bilateral contest.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become one of Test cricket’s most closely followed series.
Several factors have contributed to its importance:
Long history: The teams first met in Test cricket in 1947-48.
Different cricketing traditions: Australia historically developed a fast, aggressive style, while India became particularly strong in batting, spin bowling and home conditions.
Great players: Bradman, Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Ponting, Dravid, Kohli, Smith and Pant have all played major roles.
Major ICC meetings: The teams have repeatedly faced each other in World Cup and Champions Trophy knockout matches.
Dramatic Test cricket: Kolkata in 2001 and Brisbane in 2021 are two of the best-known examples.
Changing balance: Australia dominated several earlier periods, while India achieved historic Test-series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
India vs Australia Timeline: Quick Summary
- 1947-48: Australia win India’s first Test tour of Australia 4-0.
- 1977-78: Australia win a close series 3-2.
- 1980-81: Test series drawn 1-1.
- 1985: India win the World Championship of Cricket.
- 1991-92: Australia win 4-0.
- 1996: Australia defeat India in the World Cup.
- 2001: India win the famous Kolkata Test and the series 2-1.
- 2003-04: Test series drawn 1-1.
- 2007: Australia defeat India in the World Cup semi-final.
- 2007-08: Australia win the Test series 2-1.
- 2011: India defeat Australia in the World Cup quarter-final.
- 2015: Australia defeat India in the World Cup semi-final.
- 2017: India win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
- 2018-19: India win their first Test series in Australia, 2-1.
- 2020-21: India win another Test series in Australia, 2-1.
- 2023: Australia defeat India in the ODI World Cup final.
- 2023-24: Australia win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1.
- 2024: India defeat Australia in the T20 World Cup.
- 2025: India defeat Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final.
- 2027: Australia are scheduled to tour India for a five-Test series.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did India and Australia first play Test cricket?
India and Australia first played Test cricket during India’s 1947-48 tour of Australia. Australia won the five-Test series 4-0.
When did India first win a Test series against Australia?
India first won a Test series against Australia in 1979-80 in India, when they took a six-Test series 2-0.
What is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the Test series trophy contested between India and Australia. It is named after former captains Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border.
When did India first win a Test series in Australia?
India first won a Test series in Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning the four-Test series 2-1.
What happened in the 2001 Kolkata Test?
India defeated Australia in Kolkata after following on. VVS Laxman scored 281 and Rahul Dravid made 180 as India turned the match around and won by 171 runs.
What happened in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
India lost the opening Test in Adelaide but recovered to win the series 2-1. The decisive moment came at the Gabba, where India chased 328 and won by three wickets.
Who won the 2023 Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia?
Australia defeated India by six wickets in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Who won the 2024 T20 World Cup match between India and Australia?
India defeated Australia by 24 runs in the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Who won the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final between India and Australia?
India defeated Australia by four wickets in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai. India chased 265 and reached 267/6.
When is the next India vs Australia Test series?
Australia are scheduled to tour India for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series beginning January 21, 2027. The five Tests are scheduled for Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.
How many Test matches will be played in the 2027 Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The 2027 series is scheduled to consist of five Test matches.
Conclusion
The India National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team timeline spans almost eight decades and includes some of the most memorable matches in international cricket.
From India’s first tour of Australia in 1947-48 to the historic Kolkata Test, India’s first Test-series victory in Australia in 2018-19, the Gabba triumph in 2021, Australia’s 2023 World Cup final victory, and India’s 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final win, the rivalry has continually produced major moments.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become the central part of the Test rivalry, while World Cups, T20 World Cups and Champions Trophy matches have added a major white-ball dimension.
With Australia scheduled to tour India for five Tests in early 2027, another major chapter of this historic cricket rivalry is already scheduled.
