IND vs AUS: Boxing Day Test Record Of India

IND vs AUS: Thrilling encounters between India and Australia have always been delivered by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and this year is no different. The fourth Test match, which is scheduled to start on December 26, will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground-the Mecca of Test cricket-and has already witnessed so many memorable moments in cricketing history.

This will also be the traditional Boxing Day Test fixture known to have drama and excitement written all over it and more so when these two cricketing titans collide. As we head to this historic match, the focus is on India’s record at the MCG on Boxing Day, and whether they can get a hat-trick of victories.

The History of the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test

The history of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia dates back a long time, with the very first clash occurring in 1985. Kapil Dev was the captain at that time, and under his leadership, the match between the two teams was drawn. However, the fate of India changed immediately after that. India had a long period of defeat under Australia’s dominance. Australia started winning five consecutive matches since the 1985 Boxing Day Tests.

The Boxing Day Test at the MCG long appeared to be one fixture India struggled to win through, with the team itself seemingly unable to make enough of an impact in the country.

Despite these early setbacks, the tide began to turn in 2014 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. That year, India managed to draw the Boxing Day Test, breaking the streak of Australian victories. While it wasn’t a win, the draw marked an important step in India’s growth and ability to compete on Australian soil.

India’s First Victory at the MCG

After years of disappointment, India could finally turn the table with Australia during the Boxing Day Test in 2018. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, India won at MCG for the first time. They defeated Australia by a margin of 137 runs. This was their maiden victory in a Boxing Day Test in Australia. With bats as well as the ball, brilliant performances led to the result and marked India’s increase in dominance over overseas conditions.

Back-to-Back Victories: 2020 Boxing Day Test

The 2020 Boxing Day Test was the latest milestone in India’s long run of success down under. With Ajinkya Rahane, who took over as India’s captain, India produced its second successive win on Aussie soil, defeating Australia by 8 wickets.

This victory was more significant since India had gone through the historically worst defeat in the initial Test of the series, and now Rahane went on to be very mature in leadership along with helping from some other big fish, like Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant, and Ravichandran Ashwin. So winning back to back in the years 2018 and 2020 gave a powerful stance of the team towards gaining supremacy over the Aussies.

A Golden Opportunity for a Hat-Trick of Wins

As the 2024 Boxing Day Test approaches, India has the chance to make history by completing a hat-trick of wins at the MCG. If they succeed, this would be an extraordinary achievement, given the challenges that the team faced in earlier years when they struggled to win in Australia. The perfect challenge for India to test on Australian soil is the 2024 Test, whereby a further consolidation of a leadership position as one of the top teams in World Cricket can be secured further.

It would be memorable for its own significance this will be the 10th Boxing Day Test by India and Australia. But so far, this team combination has played against each other only on nine occasions in the historical contest, and with every match, India seeks success to make it third back-to-back. Currently winning streaks for India can have hat tricks too.

India’s Strengths Ahead of the 2024 Boxing Day Test

The Indians, heading into the 2024 Boxing Day Test, will be quite buoyed by their last few performances in Australia. The team has developed a deep and balanced squad, with players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill stabilizing the top order. With the ball, India also has a very strong bowling attack, which includes some of the finest bowlers in the game, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, who have delivered on challenging Australian pitches.

Along with this experience of the seasoned players, India’s younger crop of talent, including Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, will play a significant role in ensuring that India remains competitive in the toughest of conditions. The team will also feel rejuvenated with a new sense of belief, having already achieved two significant wins in the previous Boxing Day Tests.

Can India achieve a hat-trick of wins at the MCG?

India’s record in Australia on Boxing Day has actually changed from frustration to celebration. After years of strife, India finally managed successive victories in 2018 and 2020 when they proved to the rest of the world that India is more than capable of competing and winning in Australian conditions. As the two sides prepare for the 2024 Boxing Day Test, it is a golden opportunity that India to complete a hat-trick of victories in the MCG.

This match is going to be an integral part of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy and also a significant point in Indian cricketing history. With a great team, a winning mindset, and the confidence earned through previous victories, India is going to look forward to making another mark on the sacred turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, adding another chapter to their growing legacy in Australian cricket.

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