Melbourne is India’s favorite ground in Australia, as they have maintained an impressive 10-year unbeaten streak at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India will aim to extend this record as they face Australia in the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting December 26. This will be India’s fourth Boxing Day Test in Australia since 2014, and they have remained undefeated in the previous three encounters.
What happened last time India faced Australia at MCG?
In 2020, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah absent, Ajinkya Rahane stepped in as captain. Under his leadership, India secured an impressive eight-wicket victory in Melbourne. Following the win, India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India drew the match in 2014 when MS Dhoni was captain, but under Virat Kohli’s leadership, they won by 137 runs in 2018. Additionally, that victory put a stop to India’s 33-year losing run in the stadium, which began in 1985. When India won their first series in Australia, the 2018–19 tour became even more historic.
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India’s Test record at Melbourne
India has played 14 Test matches in Melbourne since 1948, winning four, losing eight, and drawing two. At this location, only two captains have led India twice: MS Dhoni in 2011–12 and 2014–15, and Lala Amarnath in 1948 when he played Don Bradman’s team. In seven Test matches since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) began in 1996, India has defeated Australia twice, lost four, and drawn one. At this time, drop-in pitches were also introduced. India played five Test matches in Melbourne before 1985, but none of them began on Boxing Day.
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