Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018: Records of the current members of the Indian Test squad in Australia
The much-awaited Test series between India and Australia gets underway in Adelaide from 6th December 2018. It is a golden opportunity for team India to create history by winning their first ever Test series down under.
In the last 71 years, India has lost 8 Test series down under out of 11 and 3 have ended in draws. Out of 44 Test matches played down under, Team India has won just 5, lost 28 Tests and drawn 11. From the current Indian squad of 18 players, only Parthiv Patel and Ishant Sharma have been a part of the Indian team which has won a Test match in Australia.
Here is a look at how each member of the Indian squad has fared down under:
#1. Virat Kohli:
Virat Kohli just loves batting in Australia. Having toured Australia on two occasions, the Indian skipper averages 62 in 8 Test matches in Australia. In 16 innings down under, Virat has scored 992 runs with 5 centuries and 2 half-centuries to his credit.
Out of the 5 centuries, 4 were scored when India toured Australia in 2014-2015. Virat completely dominated the Australian bowlers and scored 692 runs in 8 innings at an impressive average of 86.50.
Virat has tasted success with the bat in overseas tours of South Africa and England earlier this year and will look to replicate his success with the bat down under. The chances of team India winning a Test series in Australia will depend a lot on the Indian skipper.
#2. Murali Vijay:
Murali Vijay had a successful tour of Australia with the bat in the year 2014. In 8 innings, the Indian opener scored 482 runs at an average of 60.25 with 1 century and 4 half centuries.
However, this time around, Vijay is making a comeback to the Indian team after being left out of the team in the last 3 Tests against England and the home series against West Indies.
The opener impressed one and all by scoring runs for his county Essex which earned him a place in the Indian squad.
Vijay's experience of batting against the new ball in Australia will be the key for team India's success in Australia.
#3. K.L. Rahul:
Rahul will have fond memories of India's tour to Australia in the year 2014 where he scored his maiden Test century in only his second Test.
Rahul scored a brilliant 110 in the Test at Sydney and justified his selection in the Indian team after scoring just 4 runs in the Melbourne Test.
Since then, the opener has struggled to get going in Test matches outside the sub continent. Time is running out for Rahul as he has failed to impress with the bat in India's last two assignments overseas. A dismal average of 7.50 against South Africa followed by an average of 29.90 against England has put Rahul's place in playing XI in a spot of bother.
The Test series against Australia will be a final chance for Rahul to make his presence felt in Test matches overseas.