Ranking the 3 best India-Australia Tests in Adelaide ft. 2003
Team India are preparing to take on Australia at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The visitors are 1-0 up in the series, having registered a comprehensive 295-run win in the first Test in Perth. They will be keen to carry on the good work in the pink-ball Test.
India have played 13 Test matches at the Adelaide Oval so far, winning only two and losing eight, while the three other games ended in a draw. As for Australia, they have never lost a day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval. When the two sides met during the 2020-21 tour, the Aussies crushed India by eight wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 36 in their second innings.
While India do not possess a great record in Test matches in Adelaide, there have been some close contests between them and the hosts at the venue. Ahead of the pink-ball Test, we rank the three best India-Australia Tests in Adelaide.
#3 1st Test - December 2014
The first Test of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide was closely contested. Set to chase a target of 364, India seemed to be cruising at 242-2. Murali Vijay (99) and skipper Virat Kohli (141) featured in a solid third-wicket stand of 185. Nathan Lyon trapped Vijay lbw one short of his ton and that opened the floodgates. India lost eight wickets for 73 runs, going down by 48 runs.
Following Vijay's dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane (0), Rohit Sharma (6) and Wriddhiman Saha (13) all perished cheaply. Kohli was the seventh wicket to fall with the score at 304, caught at deep midwicket off Lyon. India crumbled to 315 all-out as Australian off-spinner Lyon finished with 7-152.
Earlier, batting first, the Aussies put up 517-7 declared as David Warner (145), Michael Clarke (128) and Steve Smith (162*) struck hundreds. India responded with 444 as Kohli scored 115 and Rahane 62. Another ton from Warner (102) saw Australia declare on 290-5. India gave the Aussies a scare in their chase of 364 but eventually fell short.
#2 1st Test - December 2018
India registered their maiden Test series win Down Under during their 2018-19 tour. The foundation for the historic win was laid in Adelaide when they won the first Test of the four-match series by 31 runs.
India batted first in the match and put up 250 on the board. Cheteshwar Pujara anchored the innings, scoring 123 off 246 balls. In response, the Aussies were held to 235 despite Travis Head's 72 as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up three wickets each.
Pujara (71 off 204) again top-scored for the visitors in the second innings. Rahane also contributed a crucial 70 as India put up 307. Set to chase a target of 323, Australia were all-out for 291 as Bumrah, Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami claimed three wickets each.
#1 2nd Test - December 2003
India registered their first Test win in Australia after 22 years when they pulled off a famous four-wicket victory in Adelaide in December 2003. The Aussies batted first and posted a huge 556 on the board. Ricky Ponting scored 242, while Simon Katich contributed 75. Even Jason Gillespie (48*) chipped in.
At the end of Australia's innings, it seemed like the same old story for India. However, the script was different this time as Rahul Dravid (233) and VVS Laxman (148) again stood up to the Aussies. After India found themselves in trouble at 85-4, Dravid and Laxman added 303 for the fifth wicket as the visitors recovered to post a first-innings total of 523.
Pacer Ajit Agarkar, celebrating his 47th birthday today (December 4), then ran through the Australian batting line, registering career-best figures of 6-41 from 16.2 overs. Set to chase a tricky target of 230, Dravid (72*) played another defiant knock to guide India to a memorable win.