IND vs AUS, 4th Test: What is India’s record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
IND vs AUS, 4th Test: What is India’s record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
India will return to the site of its remarkable 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy turnaround when it takes on Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the fourth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Boxing Day.
India has played at the MCG 14 times, with the last nine matches taking place on Boxing Day, and has a mixed record overall. Of these 14 games, India has won four, drawn two, and lost eight. Thus, the overall head-to-head at the MCG favours the host.
However, India’s recent record at the MCG is far better, having remained unbeaten in its last three visits. It famously won the 2021-22 Boxing Day Test without Virat Kohli, thanks to a captain’s knock of 112 from Ajinkya Rahane. In 2018-19, India secured another victory on the back of a 106 from Cheteshwar Pujara and a nine-wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah. India also held out for a draw in 2014-15, in what would become MS Dhoni’s final Test match for India.
India’s first Test at the MCG was in 1948, the third of a five-match series. The game’s highlight was twin centuries by Sir Don Bradman, while Vinoo Mankad also scored a century for India, though Australia won by 233 runs. India’s first win at the MCG came in 1977, by 222 runs, courtesy of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s 12-wicket haul and a third-innings century from Sunil Gavaskar.
Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs for India at the MCG, amassing 449 runs at an average of 44.9. Anil Kumble and Bumrah share the record for the most wickets, with 15 each at averages of 37 and 13.06, respectively. India’s highest score at the venue is 465, achieved in 2014-15, though it conceded a 65-run lead in that innings.
India will look to Virat Kohli and Bumrah for inspiration on Thursday. Kohli has scored 316 runs in three innings at an average of 52.66 at the MCG, the best among the current squad, while Bumrah holds the squad’s best bowling record at the ground.
