This esteemed Test series between Australia and India was first played in 1996–1997 and is named for two cricketing greats: Allan Border of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India. The BGT has become one of the most anticipated matches in international cricket, reflecting intense rivalry and respect for one another.
1996–97: The Beginning
- Host: India
- Result: India won 1–0 (single Test)
- Winning Captain: Sachin Tendulkar
- Losing Captain: Mark Taylor
- Player of the Series: Nayan Mongia
1997–98: India Defends at Home
- Venue: India
- Result: India triumphed 2–1 (3 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Mohammad Azharuddin
- Losing Captain: Mark Taylor
- Star Performance: Sachin Tendulkar earned Player of the Series
1999–00: Australia Sweeps in Oz
- Host: Australia
- Result: Australia 3–0 (3 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Steve Waugh
- Losing Captain: Sachin Tendulkar
- Sabre Performer: Tendulkar was Player of the Series
2000–01: India Breakthrough in Australia
- Host: India
- Result: India won 2–1 (3 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Sourav Ganguly
- Losing Captain: Steve Waugh
- Player of the Series: Harbhajan Singh
2003–04: Series Drawn; Trophy Retained
- Venue: Australia
- Result: Draw 1–1 over 4 Tests
- No trophy change
- Player of the Series: Rahul Dravid
2004–05: Australia Achieves First Series Win in India
- Host: India
- Result: Australia won 2–1 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captains: Adam Gilchrist / Ricky Ponting
- Losing Captains: Sourav Ganguly / Rahul Dravid
- Series MVP: Damien Martyn
2007–08: Ponting Leads Mixed Emotions
- Host: Australia
- Result: Australia won 2–1 over 4 Tests
- Winning Captain: Ricky Ponting
- Losing Captain: Anil Kumble
- Player of the Series: Brett Lee
2008–09: India Dominates at Home
- Venue: India
- Result: India won 2–0 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captains: Anil Kumble / MS Dhoni
- Losing Captain: Ricky Ponting
- Series MVP: Ishant Sharma
2010–11: Dhoni’s Home Sweep
- Host: India
- Result: India won 2–0 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: MS Dhoni
- Losing Captain: Ricky Ponting
- Player of the Series: Sachin Tendulkar
2011–12: Australia Clean-Sweep in Oz
- Venue: Australia
- Result: Australia won 4–0 over 4 Tests
- Winning Captain: Michael Clarke
- Losing Captain: MS Dhoni
- Series MVP: Michael Clarke
2012–13: India’s Historic Whitewash
- Host: India
- Result: India won 4–0 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: MS Dhoni
- Losing Captain: Michael Clarke
- Player of the Series: Ravichandran Ashwin
2014–15: Clarke Returns with Aussie Win
- Venue: Australia
- Result: Australia won 2–0 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Michael Clarke
- Losing Captain: MS Dhoni
- Series MVP: Steve Smith
2016–17: India Reclaim on Home Soil
- Host: India
- Result: India won 2–1 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Virat Kohli
- Losing Captain: Steve Smith
- Player of the Series: Ravindra Jadeja
2018–19: India Triumph in Australia
- Venue: Australia
- Result: India won 2–1 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Virat Kohli
- Losing Captain: Tim Paine
- Series MVP: Cheteshwar Pujara
2020–21: Historic Gabba Win
- Host: Australia
- Result: India won 2–1 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captains: Virat Kohli (1st Test) / Ajinkya Rahane (rest)
- Losing Captain: Tim Paine
- Player of the Series: Pat Cummins
2022–23: India Edge It at Home
- Venue: India
- Result: India won 2–1 (4 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Rohit Sharma
- Losing Captain: Pat Cummins
- Player of the Series: Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja
2024–25: Australia Reclaim with 5-Test Series
- Host: Australia
- Result: Australia won 3–1 (5 Tests)
- Winning Captain: Pat Cummins
- Losing Captains: Jasprit Bumrah / Rohit Sharma / Virat Kohli
- Series MVP: Jasprit Bumrah
- Final Test: Australia sealed the series at the SCG on January 5, 2025
- Series Summary: Australia ended India’s four-series win streak in the BGT. Cummins recovered from a 0–1 deficit, becoming the first Aussie captain since Mark Taylor in 1997 to achieve such a comeback
Captaincy Across the Years
A look at the captains with the most BGT matches:
- MS Dhoni (IND): 13 Tests (2008–2014), most in trophy history
- Ricky Ponting (AUS): 11 Tests (2004–2010)
- Virat Kohli (IND): 10 Tests (2014–2020)
Why the BGT Stands Out
- Home-and-away epic battles: Australia’s historic performances, particularly during the 2004–05 and 2011–12 tours, stand in stark contrast to India’s supremacy at home.
- Game-changing events: BGT legend is defined by wild performances such as the 2000–01 Ganguly-led victory, the 2012–13 whitewash, the 2018–19 Australian series, and the 2020–21 Gabba breakthrough.
- The story is written by legendary captains like Kohli, Tendulkar, Ganguly, and Dhoni, as well as Australian greats Waugh, Ponting, Clarke, and Cummins.
- Test cricket’s legacy and glory. Moments that transcend national boundaries have been held at iconic locations like Eden Gardens, Wankhede, Gabba, and SCG.
Final Thoughts
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy traces a 28-year cricket story that is full of perseverance, comebacks, and generational changes, from Sachin’s first leadership to Cummins’ victory. Both teams keep raising the standard for Test cricket brilliance, whether it’s on bounce-laden decks in Australia or spin-friendly grounds in India.
Cricket fans everywhere hope for another legendary chapter when the calendar shifts to 2026–2027 because, if there’s one thing that is certain, it’s that this rivalry will always be captivating.
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