Most runs for India vs Australia in Tests: Sachin Tendulkar leads chart, Cheteshwar Pujara makes top five

The India vs Australia Test series, known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has witnessed a plethora of talented batters over the years. The Indian cricket team has always been competitive in this fixture in Tests. Fans have seen a few exceptional players mesmerise once they take the crease against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Cricket, has scored the most runs for India vs Australia in Test cricket. The Master Blaster has registered 3,630 runs in 39 matches for India against Australia in the longest format of the game.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara has scored the most runs by an Indian batter against Australia in Tests among current players. Pujara, the backbone of India’s BGT successes in 2016-17 and 2018-19, has smashed 1893 runs, including five centuries, in only 20 Tests against the Australian cricket team.

Let’s glance through the Indian players with most runs vs Australia in Test matches.

Most runs for India vs Australia in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar - 3630 runs for India vs Australia in Tests

Sachin Tendulkar was one of Australia’s nemesis in Test match cricket. Not only was he India’s top run-scorer against Australia, but he was only seven runs shy of being the top run-getter from any nation against the Aussies in Tests.

Tendulkar amassed 3,630 runs against Australia in this format. The Master Blaster boasts an incredible average of 55 across 39 matches. He registered 11 Test hundreds against the Aussies, the second-most by any batter in this format, along with 16 fifties.

Sachin Tendulkar’s mammoth 241* at Sydney in January 2004 was his highest individual score in this head-to-head. India posted a gigantic score of 705/7d on the back of his magnificent knock as the game ended in a draw.

VVS Laxman - 2434 runs for India vs Australia in Tests

Between 1998 and 2012, VVS Laxman played 29 Test matches for India against Australia. The Hyderabad-born batter scored 2,434 runs, including 12 fifties and six centuries. While he hit 338 fours against the Aussies in Tests, he interestingly failed to smash a single maximum.

Laxman’s flamboyant 281 against Australia in March 2001 was one for the history books. Along with Rahul Dravid, Laxman batted all day, incredibly turning around the Kolkata Test from following-on to winning on the final day.

Meanwhile, Laxman's magic in this fixture also helped India prevail in a fifth-day thriller in Mohali in October 2010. His 79-ball unbeaten 73 helped the hosts chase down a target of 216 runs after an Indian batting collapse early on.

Rahul Dravid - 2143 runs for India vs Australia in Tests

Rahul Dravid, the current Indian cricket team head coach, completes the top three run-getters in Tests for India against the Aussies. Known as the ‘Wall of Cricket’ for his rock-solid and gritty batting style, Dravid accumulated 2,143 runs at an average of 39.68 in this fixture.

Dravid only slammed two centuries versus Australia in Test cricket - both match-winning ones. His double-ton at Adelaide in December 2003 was his second and arguably most special one. 

Hunting down Australia’s massive total of 556, India were reeling at 85/4. However, Dravid stitched a triple-century stand with Laxman on Day 3 before scoring his maiden 200 in Australia. His 233 off 446 guided India near the Australian total, helping set up a memorable victory on the final day.

Photo credit: Alamy