India will face hosts Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, starting November 22, 2024. The five-match series is scheduled to end on January 7, 2025.The first test match between them was played back in 1947, and since then numerous records have been broken by these two cricketing giants.
In this article, we will see which batsman has made the highest score in Test match cricket between these two teams.
Highest Individual Score in India vs Australia Tests
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke tops the list with his unbeaten 329 off 468 balls against India. He scored these runs in Sydney in 2012. Clarke averaged close to 54 and registered seven centuries against the Indians during his playing career.
He is followed by Indian batsman VVS Laxman, who scored 281 runs off 452 balls in the memorable Kolkata Test match of 2001.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting comes third on the list with 257 runs, followed by Indian legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s inning of 241* runs.
In this list, seven batsmen in the first 15 positions are Indians, with the last position being occupied by Cheteshwar Pujara who scored 204 runs in 341 balls in the 2013 Hyderabad Test.
The surprising thing is that Virat Kohli, who has seven double hundreds, has not scored a single double century against Australia to date (Nov 20, 2024).
Here is a list of the top 15 highest individual scores in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests:
| Position | Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s |
| 1 | Michael Clarke | 2004-2014 | 22 | 40 | 2049 | 329* | 53.92 | 7 | 6 |
| 2 | VVS Laxman | 1998-2012 | 29 | 54 | 2434 | 281 | 49.67 | 6 | 12 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | 1996-2012 | 29 | 51 | 2555 | 257 | 54.36 | 8 | 12 |
| 4 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1991-2013 | 39 | 74 | 3630 | 241* | 55 | 11 | 16 |
| 5 | Rahul Dravid | 1996-2012 | 32 | 60 | 2143 | 233 | 39.68 | 2 | 13 |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | 2007-2014 | 19 | 33 | 990 | 224 | 35.35 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | Justin Langer | 1999-2004 | 14 | 26 | 1047 | 223 | 40.26 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Kim Hughes | 1977-1981 | 11 | 21 | 988 | 213 | 52 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Dean Jones | 1986-1992 | 8 | 13 | 681 | 210 | 61.9 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | Gautam Gambhir | 2004-2012 | 9 | 18 | 673 | 206 | 37.38 | 2 | 2 |
| 11 | Ravi Shastri | 1985-1992 | 9 | 10 | 622 | 206 | 77.75 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Gregg Chappell | 1981-1981 | 3 | 5 | 368 | 204 | 73.6 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Cheteshwar Pujara | 2010-2021 | 20 | 37 | 1893 | 204 | 54.08 | 5 | 10 |
| 14 | Matthew Hayden | 2001-2008 | 18 | 35 | 1888 | 203 | 59 | 6 | 8 |
| 15 | Don Bradman | 1947-1948 | 5 | 6 | 715 | 201 | 178.75 | 4 | 1 |
FAQs on Highest Individual Score in India vs Australia Tests
A. The highest score in the history of Test cricket between India and Australia is in the name of former Australian captain Michael Clarke who scored 329 runs off 468 balls against India in 2012 at Sydney ground.
The innings of 281 runs opened by VVS Laxman against Australia in 2001 is considered memorable because he scored the runs while India were under follow-on. Laxman staying not out throughout Day 4 not only saved the test but also won the game for India.
A. Virat Kohli has not scored a single double-century against Australia in Test cricket to date (Nov 20, 2024).
The Indian team has won two, with Australia winning one of the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches.
Sachin Tendulkar has scored 3630 runs in 74 innings from 39 matches in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, making him the highest run-getter in the series.
