The Australian cricket team stands as the most successful side in Test cricket history. Renowned for their dominance on home soil, the Aussies have also etched their legacy with numerous memorable away Test victories.
Among their many rivalries, the one with India is particularly intense and closely contested. While Australian batsmen have often been the backbone of their success against the Indian team, cricket is as much a bowler’s game as it is a batsman’s. Despite their formidable batting lineup, there have been occasions when the Australian batsmen faltered under the relentless pressure of India’s bowling attack.
1. 107 runs – Delhi, 1969 & Sydney, 1947
The third Test of Australia’s 1969 tour of India in Delhi witnessed one of cricket’s most stunning batting collapses. Australia, holding a 73-run lead after the first innings, appeared poised for a commanding total in their second innings. However, from a steady 61/3, the visitors spectacularly folded to 107 all out. India’s legendary spin duo, Bishan Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna, claimed all ten wickets, spinning a web around the Australian batters. Chasing 181 on the final day, India calmly secured a memorable victory.
Flashback to the Sydney Test of 1947, another moment of Indian brilliance unfolded. In a rain-affected game, India struggled to 188 in their first innings. But it was Vijay Hazare’s all-round heroics (4/29) that brought Australia to its knees, skittling them out for just 107. Despite finishing at 61/7 in their second innings, India displayed grit in a match that ended in a hard-fought draw. These two Tests remain enduring examples of India’s ability to shine under pressure, etching their mark in cricketing history.
4. 104 runs – Perth, 2024
The Perth Test in the 2024/25 series delivered a thrilling display of bowling dominance. Both teams’ attacks wreaked havoc, with all four innings wrapped up within the first two days. India, batting first, managed only 150 runs, but Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded an incredible comeback. His five-wicket haul dismantled the hosts for just 104 runs, giving India a vital 46-run lead.
3. 93 runs, Wankhede, 2004
Considered one of the most iconic matches in Border-Gavaskar Trophy history, the third Test of the 2004 series at Wankhede Stadium saw India pull off a historic victory. Trailing 0-2 in the three-match series, India faced the prospect of a humiliating home whitewash.
Defending a modest target of 107 runs in the fourth innings, India’s spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik rose to the occasion, taking eight wickets between them. Their exceptional bowling effort skittled Australia for just 93 runs, sealing a dramatic 13-run win for India.
2. 91 runs, Nagpur, 2023
Australia’s second-lowest Test total against India unfolded during the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in Nagpur. After surrendering a daunting 223-run deficit in the first innings, the Australian batting lineup collapsed under the pressure of India’s spinners.
Ravichandran Ashwin spearheaded India’s bowling attack with a remarkable five-wicket haul, dismissing crucial players like Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb. Ravindra Jadeja, who delivered an all-round masterclass with seven wickets and a vital 70 runs, was deservedly named Player of the Match.
1. 83 runs, Melbourne, 1981
Australia’s lowest total against India in Test cricket occurred during the third Test of India’s 1981 tour of Australia in Melbourne. Chasing a modest target of 143 runs, the Australian batting lineup crumbled under Kapil Dev’s exceptional bowling performance. Kapil delivered a masterclass, claiming 5 wickets for just 28 runs in 17 overs.
Doug Walters was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal batting display, top-scoring with 18 runs. This remarkable victory allowed India to level the three-match series at 1-1.
