5 Indians with the most Test centuries vs Australia ft. Cheteshwar Pujara
India take on Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), starting with the first Test in Perth on November 22. The Indians have won the last four BGTs, and will be keen on usurping the title this time around as well.
For India to do well on Australian shores, they need to bat deep, and one or two of their batters need to take up the responsibility of guiding them towards a big score. Only if they bat well can India put up a challenge to the Aussies.
While it is an accepted fact that India need to pick up 20 wickets in every Test that they play to dominate the proceedings, their performances with the bat have to improve from their recent showings against New Zealand at home.
Only if they bat well will India be able to punish the Australians for their mistakes on the field and dictate how they wish to play the game. They can take inspiration from the five Indians who have scored the most Test tons against the Aussies.
In this listicle, we take a look at them:
#5 Cheteshwar Pujara (5)
Discarded Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who was, for long, seen as the ideal replacement to Rahul Dravid, comes fifth on this list owing to the five centuries he scored against Australia in his career.
The Saurashtra grafter has averaged an impressive 49.38 against the Aussies, and has piled up 2074 runs in 25 Tests. Along with his five centuries, the 36-year-old has also bagged 11 half-centuries against the men from Down Under.
The highest Pujara scored against Australia was 204 in the second Test of the 2013 series in Hyderabad. He was critical in helping India do well with the bat in a series they whitewashed their visitors 4-0.
#4 VVS Laxman (6)
VVS Laxman, who was known to reserve his best performances for his foes Down Under, comes fourth on this list thanks to the six centuries that he scored against them. Which cricket fan in India can forget the epic 281 he scored alongside his good friend Rahul Dravid while battling to save the Calcutta Test in 2001?
The wristy player was known for his gritty knocks, especially in the fourth innings of Test matches when India's backs were to the wall. The Hyderabadi maestro often played his best cricket against the Aussies, and it is no surprise that he amassed a total of 2434 runs between 1998 and 2012.
Laxman's elegance was hardly surpassed in the world when he was in his prime, and top Australian bowlers Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee were known to have tipped their hats to him whenever he played against them. Laxman also scored 12 half-centuries against Australia, to go with his six tons.
#3 Virat Kohli (8)
The iconic Virat Kohli, who has redefined the way batting is viewed in the world, comes third on this list thanks to the eight centuries he has scored against Australia in his career. The Delhi and Royal Challengers Bengaluru player has a total of 2042 runs against Australia in 25 Tests.
Kohli, who is known for his strong on-side play, also has five half-centuries to his credit to go with his eight tons. His highest score against the Aussies is 186 which came in the Ahmedabad Test of the 2023 home series, where he was finally dismissed as caught by Marnus Labuschagne by off-spinner Todd Murphy.
#2 Sunil Gavaskar (8)
Sunil Gavaskar, who was among the first Indian batters to show to the world that players from the subcontinent too can stand up for their rights and hold their own against the best in the business, comes second on this list with eight centuries.
The 'Little Master' averaged a kingly 51.66 against Australia, and aggregated a total of 1550 runs in 20 matches between 1977 and 1986. The former Mumbai batter was renowned for his copybook technique and watertight defense.
Along with his eight centuries, Gavaskar also scored four half-centuries against Australia, with his highest score being 172 in the Sydney Test of the 1985-86 tour in which all three matches were played out as drawn encounters by both teams.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar (11)
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who is referred to as the 'God of cricket' by many of his supporters, comes on top of this list with a whopping 11 tons to his name. The former Mumbai batter amassed a total of 3630 runs in the 39 Tests he played against Australia between 1991 and 2013.
Tendulkar, who also hung up his boots in 2013, averaged 55 against the Aussies, with his highest of 241* coming against them at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 2003-04 series. The highlight of this double-century was that Tendulkar did not play a single cover drive in it.
Having become aware of a flaw in his game that was being exacerbated while driving through the off side, Tendulkar decided not to play the shot at all in Sydney and reaped rich dividends for it. This discipline paid off for Tendulkar throughout his career, and he bagged 11 tons and 16 half-tons against the Aussies.