The Australian cricket team has finally ended their Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) drought. After a decade of defeat, they have beaten the India cricket team in the Test series, home or away. And the Australian captain couldn’t be happier. Having won the World Test Championship, T20 and ODI World Cup in the last four years, a BGT victory was the one thing that evaded the current Australian team.
Virat Kohli’s Test legacy in Australia
At last, they accomplished it. And one of the reasons why they were able to do so was the silent bat of Virat Kohli. Team India won just one match in the series, and that one was where Kohli hit a hundred. One of the greatest batters of his generation, Kohli dominated Australia in Australia. Before the BGT 2024-25, he was one of two Asian batters (Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli) who averaged over 50 in Test cricket in Australia. After the conclusion of the 5-match series, the number has decreased to one.
Virat Kohli’s Test record in Australia
| Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2025 | 18 | 1542 | 46.72 | 7 | 4 |
| BGT 2024-25 | 5 | 190 | 23.75 | 1 | 0 |
It seems like the Sydney Test was Kohli’s last. If it indeed was, Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain, has nothing but good to say about the former Indian captain. Kohli had many moments in Australia; apart from his seven fabulous hundreds, there have been controversial moments like him showing the middle finger to the Sydney crowd in 2012.
Pat Cummins has nothing but respect for Virat Kohli
His fights with David Warner or Mitchell Johnson. The Australian media vilified him, then made him a hero, and then turned on him once again. And Cummins enjoyed the ‘theatre’ that Kohli brought more than his performance. “It’s always been a wonderful contest. More than runs, it’s the theater. Sometimes good, sometimes not (so much) as an opposition,” he told reporters in Sydney.
Cummins had battles with Kohli, both home and away. Often, he came out on top, but he won’t forget the legend and will always appreciate that he went toe-to-toe against one of the greats of the game. “If Kohli has had his (last) series (in Australia), it’s been a pleasure,” Cummins added.
Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins in Test cricket
| Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 136 | 256 | 5 | 27.20 |
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