The Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline is among the most enthralling journeys in world cricket. What started as a standard competition in 1947 has turned into a global showcase, available to millions across continents. From red-ball eras across pitches to white-ball periods in ICC tournaments, this timeline showcases decades of extraordinary cricket drama, iconic individual performances, and historical milestones that have defined the rivalry of these two cricketing Titans.
Early Encounters (1947–1970s)
- The story began in 1947–48 when India first toured Australia. Led by Don Bradman, Australia won the five-Test series 4–0. Bradman made 715 runs, and Ray Lindwall took 18 wickets. After the series, India’s captain, Lala Amarnath, made gestures trying to help motivate his team, but Australia’s rank superiority showed.
- In the 1956–57 series, it was India’s first time hosting Australia. Richie Benaud and Neil Harvey played huge parts in Australia winning the series two to zero. As we drifted to the 1960s, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was the captain, and there was some competitiveness there, but that was gained from a very strong batting line-up and its depth in bowling attack.
- The 1970s was a different era. Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev brought truth and resilience to the game while Bob Simpson and Greg Chappell from Australia did their best to keep the contest fierce. The 1977–78 series in Australia was huge with Simpson amassing 539 runs in a Test match cricket series with Bedi’s brilliant spin keeping India competitive.
Expanding the Rivalry in ODIs (1980s)
- The rivalry grew as One Day Internationals were added to the dynamic. Their first stern challenge of an ODI came in 1980 at Melbourne when India won by 66 runs. By the 1980s matches in ODIs were attracting massive crowds with Kapil Dev spearheading India and Allan Border leading Australia.
- Then there was the 1983 World Cup, which was not exactly a knockout battle between the two teams, but it instilled a belief that India had the potential to take on Australia at the bigger stages. By the late 1980s the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin, Dean Jones and Steve Waugh were shaping the ODI landscape to be more competitive.
- In the group stage of the 1987 World Cup, we enjoyed two ODI classics where Australia won narrowly by a run in Chennai and then India came back with Azharuddin to win in Delhi. This balance of results in itself became what we came to understand as an ODI rivalry.
Test Cricket Intensifies (1990s)
- The 1990s produced a significant development in the Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team timeline. The Australian success continued with Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh while India emerged under Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble.
- Australia toured in 1991–92, which was one-sided being a 4–0 series win as David Boon and Craig McDermott led the team to success. However, the 1996–97 one-off Test in Delhi included a sensational Indian victory led by Nayan Mongia and Anil Kumble’s spin that undermined Australia’s dominant reign.
- In the late 1990s, Australia’s one day dominance was courtesy of Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, and Shane Warne, while the resiliency of India became highlighted when Sachin Tendulkar produced a range defining innings of 155 against Shane Warne in the Test match at Chennai in 1998.
The 2000s: Rivalry Reaches Its Peak
The new millennium transformed the rivalry into a global spectacle.
- 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy: This series is considered to be one of the best series of all time. India defeated Australia 2-1 after the now-famous Kolkata Test in which VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid staged an outstanding comeback. Harbhajan Singh made an important contribution with his 32 test wickets, and in so doing, ended Australia’s record run of winning 16 consecutive tests.
- 2003 World Cup Final: Australia dismissed India by 125 runs in Johannesburg, and Ricky Ponting (140*) had no mercy on India’s dreams.
- 2004-05 series in India: Australia won a very close series 2-1. An excellent batting performance from Damien Martyn (444 runs) meant Australia triumphed for the first time in a test series in India in 35 years.
- 2007-08 Sydney Test: A game that was changed with umpiring errors, and all the controversy over the “Monkeygate” scandal with Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds. The match was not without errors, but the quality of the cricket stayed high despite some of the tensions.
By the end of the decade, the rivalry over 14 years had grown into one of the most broadcast sporting events in the history of the game.
2010s: India Challenges Australia’s Supremacy
- Then there was that game, when India ended Australia’s possible streak with an astonishing total knock-out as Yuvraj Singh did it all, all-round possible. That denied Australia the World Cup for the first time in 12 years and two World Cup titles.
- An in-home series in 2014-15 was dominated by Steve Smith’s batting masterclass (769 runs), but Virat Kohli batting and captaincy (he was standing in for MS Dhoni for the 4th Test with the latter suspended for a slow over rate) showed that India were finally taking the field thinking aggressive cricket in Australia.
- While there had been series victories here or there, Indian put up their name in spectacular style with a Test series win, a 2-1 result in the 2018-19 series. Cheteshwar Pujara scored heavily (521 runs) and Jasprit Bumrah express pace was mesmerising.
- There have been two ODI contests between the two sides in the World Cups – 2015 semi-final and 2019 group stage – and while Australia edged India out in 2015 and sent them packing, India bounced back post the loss (in 2015) to get the better of Australia in 2019, in Dunedin primarily courtesy Shikhar Dhawan’s century.
2020s: Modern Battles and Global Stage
- The 2020–21 Series in Australia was a different golden chapter. The Indian team was skittled out for 36 — one fewer run than the number of overs bowled in the innings — in the test in Adelaide before rallying, under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, to win the series 2-1 and seal it with a memorable innings by Rishabh Pant at the Gabba.
- World Cup 2023: Travis Head’s century breaks Indian fans’ hearts and left them in tears, as Australia clinched their Sixth WC crown in the world cup final of 2023.
- India triumphed over Australia in the Super 8s of the 2024 T20 World Cup and maintained supremacy in the shortest format. They won the T20 trophy once more with a win over South Africa in the final.
- The 2024-25 test series in Australia stretched both sides. Australia went on to win the series 3-1 primarily due to efforts of Travis Head (448 runs) and Jasprit Bumrah (32 runs).
ICC Tournament Timeline
- World Cup Clashes: Australia won 9 and India won 5 games
- T20 World Cup: India leads by 4–2, including 2007 semi-final victory.
- Champions Trophy: India lead 3–1, one no result.
- World Test Championship: Australia defeat India in 2023 Final by a whisker.
These tournament meetings increased the stakes, helping to push the rivalry further onto a global stage.
Legendary Performances
- Sachin Tendulkar vs Australia: The story of over 3,000 ODI runs, including tons in Sharjah 1998.
- Ricky Ponting 2003 WC Final: His unbeaten 140 is among the greatest innings played in the history of the World Cup.
- VVS Laxman’s 281, 2001 (Kolkata Test): Altered the course of the rivalry.
- Virat Kohli’s Adelaide centuries (2014): He was among the first of a fearless new India.
- Rishabh Pant at Gabba (2021): Embodied India’s never-say-die spirit.
Upcoming Tour Australia vs India 2025 Series Schedule
Cricket enthusiasts are in for a real treat with India touring Australia in October-November 2025, featuring an exciting limited-overs series. Not one, not two, but 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is will give fans ample opportunity to see thrilling contests between two of the best cricketing nations in the world. The three ODIs will kick off the tour, while the five-match T20I series will provide a perfect lead-in for the next ICC events.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (GMT) | Time (Local) | Time (IST) |
| Oct 19, Sun | 1st ODI | Perth Stadium, Perth | 03:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 09:00 AM |
| Oct 23, Thu | 2nd ODI | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 03:30 AM | 02:00 PM | 09:00 AM |
| Oct 25, Sat | 3rd ODI | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 03:30 AM | 02:30 PM | 09:00 AM |
| Oct 29, Wed | 1st T20I | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 08:15 AM | 07:15 PM | 01:45 PM |
| Oct 31, Fri | 2nd T20I | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | 08:15 AM | 07:15 PM | 01:45 PM |
| Nov 02, Sun | 3rd T20I | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 08:15 AM | 07:15 PM | 01:45 PM |
| Nov 06, Thu | 4th T20I | Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast | 08:15 AM | 06:15 PM | 01:45 PM |
| Nov 08, Sat | 5th T20I | The Gabba, Brisbane | 08:15 AM | 06:15 PM | 01:45 PM |
