Test cricket has produced many iconic series, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is one of the most famous. It is the bilateral Test series between India and Australia named after the legends Allan Border of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy is played every two years, once in India and once in Australia. Over the last few years, BGT’s popularity has grown to the next level, attracting fans to TV and stadiums. If you’re new to the format, it also helps to know how many overs are there in Test cricket before diving into BGT’s history.
Why Is the Australia vs India Test Series Called the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
India and Australia used to play a lot of cricket against each other. Later in the year 1996-97, both cricket boards, BCCI and ACB, decided to give this contest a permanent name and identity.
The trophy was named after cricket legends from both countries – Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border.
Who Were Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar?
Gavaskar and Border were the first two batters in Test history to cross 10,000 runs; Border went on to finish with over 11,000.
In the 1970s and 1980s Gavaskar was India’s premier opening batter, renowned for his technique against fast bowling and his world‑record tally of Test centuries during his era. Many fans still debate whether he ranks among the best cricketers in India of all time.
Allan Border was Australia’s gritty left‑handed middle‑order batter and long‑time captain who steadied Australian cricket in the 1980s and early 1990s.
When Was the Trophy Introduced?
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was formally introduced during Australia’s tour of India in 1996-97, marking the start of a new era in the India-Australia Test relationship. The first official BGT contest was a one‑off Test in Delhi in October 1996, which India won by seven wickets to take a 1-0 series result and lift the newly minted trophy. You can visit Indibet bet app and website and know about stats, players, records, venues, odds, predictions, and lot more.
How the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Is Played
BGT venue alternates between Australia and India. In recent years, it has also formed part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, which adds a global ranking context to the rivalry. Understanding how Net Run Rate is calculated can also help when tracking a team’s standing in this broader context.
Number of Test Matches
The number of matches depends on the scheduling and broadcasters. Historically, BGT series have varied in length: there have been one‑Test, two‑Test, three‑Test, four‑Test and five‑Test editions.
Points and Series Winner
Team who wins more number of matches wins the series. If the series is drawn, the trophy is retained by the winner of the last edition.
Here is the list of winners from all the BGT editions:
| Season / Year | Host Country | Series Winner | Series Score |
| 1996–97 | India | India | 1–0 |
| 1997–98 | India | India | 2–1 |
| 1999–00 | Australia | Australia | 3–0 |
| 2000–01 | India | India | 2–1 |
| 2003–04 | Australia | Drawn (India retained) | 1–1 |
| 2004–05 | India | Australia | 2–1 |
| 2007–08 | Australia | Australia | 2–1 |
| 2008–09 | India | India | 2–0 |
| 2010–11 | India | India | 2–0 |
| 2011–12 | Australia | Australia | 4–0 |
| 2012–13 | India | India | 4–0 |
| 2014–15 | Australia | Australia | 2–0 |
| 2016–17 | India | India | 2–1 |
| 2018–19 | Australia | India | 2–1 |
| 2020–21 | Australia | India | 2–1 |
| 2022–23 | India | India | 2–1 |
| 2024–25 | Australia | Australia | 3–1 |
Who Has Won the Most Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series?
As of now across 17 BGT series, India is way ahead of Aussies by winning it 10-6, while 1 series has been drawn. In last one decade, India dominated BGT in home and away both conditions. While last edition of BGT in Australia was won by Aussies after 10 years against India. This consistency has also strengthened India’s case as the No. 1 cricket team in the world in the longer format.
Most Memorable BGT Matches and Moments
There are few moments which are memorable in BGT history.
- The famous Eden Gardens Test in 2001 saw India turn a follow-on into an incredible victory.
- VVS Laxman’s 281 and Rahul Dravid’s 180 formed a record fourth-wicket partnership of 376 runs.
- Harbhajan Singh’s 13 wickets in the match, including a hat-trick, transformed a near‑certain defeat into a series‑leveling win.
- Another moment was India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, when Virat Kohli’s side clinched a 2-1 result to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
- After being bowled out for 36 in the pink-ball Test, India bounced back – winning the next Test, drawing the one after, and then, in January 2021, pulling off a famous win at the Gabba. A severely injury-hit Indian side chased down 328 to win the match and take the series 2–1.
Why BGT Is One of Cricket’s Biggest Rivalries
India and Australia are the two strong cricket teams, which attracts lot of viewers to the TV screen and the stadium across all formats of the game. BGT is one of the epic Test rivalries of the era, particularly because it has produced classic series in both countries within a relatively short span of time.
Where Does the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Stand Among Test Cricket Rivalries?
There are many famous rivalries in cricket and some have a very good potential to become. Ashes is the biggest name, as it is one of the oldest cricket rivalries between two countries. India vs Pakistan is also there but recently it loses the interest of many fans because of the level of competition between two teams. India vs Australia BGT has now frequently mentioned in the same breath for pure cricket quality. To know about the Test cricket rivalries, you can download Indibet apk, or login the platform for live scores, blogs, news, analysis, expert opinions, stats, records, predictions, odds, and much more.
FAQs
Why is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy important?
India and Australia are the powerhouses of cricket, contest in any format of the game between these two teams excites the fans across the globe. Both teams test each other in their home venues, from India’s spin‑heavy home pitches to Australia’s fast, bouncy tracks, each series has amazing competition between bat, and bowl.
How often is the BGT played?
BGT is scheduled for once in every two years, while the home venue alternates between the two teams.
Where is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy held?
Each Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is hosted by one country at a time. For example, the 2022–23 BGT was played in India, while the 2024–25 edition took place across multiple venues in Australia, maintaining the traditional home‑and‑away rhythm that helps balance conditions over the long term.
Who has scored the most runs in BGT history?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Border–Gavaskar Trophy history, with 3,262 Test runs in 65 innings against Australia in BGT games.
Who has taken the most wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket‑taker in Border–Gavaskar Trophy history, with 125 wickets in 54 innings against India in BGT Tests.
