Rohit Sharma & Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: Getty Images)
India are set to take on Australia in the highly-anticipated Boxing Day Test at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is intriguingly poised at 1-1 after three games in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane.
The Asian giants do not have a great overall record in Melbourne as they have four wins, two draws, and eight losses to show for their efforts after playing 14 matches. However, their recent history at the picturesque MCG will give them a lot of hope as they have remained unbeaten for over a decade since 2014 across three appearances. On their previous tour in 2020-2021, India won the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by eight wickets.
Talking about India’s record in Boxing Day Tests, the two-time World Test Championship (WTC) finalists have four wins, 11 losses, and three draws after playing 18 matches. Their most recent result in a Boxing Day Test match was a defeat to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion in 2023.
Also Check: Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: AUS vs IND Match Preview, 4th Test
India Boxing Day Results
Versus
Result
Venue
1985
Australia
Draw
Melbourne
1987
West Indies
Draw
Kolkata
1991
Australia
Lost by 8 wickets
Melbourne
1992
South Africa
Lost by 9 wickets
Gqeberha
1996
South Africa
Lost by 328 runs
Durban
1998
New Zealand
Lost by 4 wickets
Wellington
1999
Australia
Lost by 180 runs
Melbourne
2003
Australia
Lost by 9 wickets
Melbourne
2006
South Africa
Lost by 174 runs
Durban
2007
Australia
Lost by 337 runs
Melbourne
2009
South Africa
Won by 87 runs
Durban
2011
Australia
Lost by 122 runs
Melbourne
2013
South Africa
Lost by 10 wickets
Durban
2014
Australia
Draw
Melbourne
2018
Australia
Won by 137 runs
Melbourne
2020
Australia
Won by 8 wickets
Melbourne
2021
South Africa
Won by 113 runs
Centurion
2023
South Africa
Lost by an innings and 32 runs
Centurion
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian player in a Boxing Day Test. The former opener slammed a 223-ball 195 against Australia in 2003. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s 169 off 272 deliveries in 2014 is the second-highest.
Highest individual scores by Indians in Boxing Day Tests
Score
Opponent
Venue
Year
Virender Sehwag
195 (223)
Australia
Melbourne
2003
Virat Kohli
169 (272)
Australia
Melbourne
2014
Ajinkya Rahane
147 (171)
Australia
Melbourne
2014
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has the best figures in Boxing Day Tests by an Indian bowler. He achieved this feat in Melbourne in 2018 when he bagged 6/33 in Australia’s first innings. Ravindra Jadeja and Anil Kumble are behind him on this list.
Best bowling spells by Indians in Boxing Day Tests
Best Figures
Opponent
Venue
Year
Jasprit Bumrah
6/33
Australia
Melbourne
2018
Anil Kumble
6/138
South Africa
Durban
2013
Ravindra Jadeja
6/176
Australia
Melbourne
2003