Greatest all-time Indian Test 11 on Australian soil ft. Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli

India went down to Australia 3-1 in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). With the impressive triumph, Australia ended India's decade of dominance in the series ranked by many experts on par with the Ashes and the India vs Pakistan rivalry.

The visitors got off to an impressive start in the five-match Test series, winning the opening game in Perth by 295 runs. However, things went downhill for them from that point as they lost three of the next five Tests, while The Gabba Test, which was marred by rain, ended in a draw.

India have played a total of 57 Tests in Australia of which they have won 10 and lost 33, while 14 games have ended in a draw. While India have not had a great record in Tests Down Under, there have been some fantastic individual performances from players over the years. On that note, we try and put together the greatest all-time Indian Test XI on Australian soil.

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Top-order: Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara has played some fine Test knocks Down Under. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag would be the openers in the greatest all-time Indian Test XI on Australian soil. With completely contrasting styles of play, the two would complement each other perfectly. While Gavaskar could wear down bowling attacks with his defense, Sehwag was known for taking on the bowlers and putting the opposition on the back foot.

Gavaskar played 11 Test matches in Australia, scoring 920 runs at an average of 51.11, with five hundreds and one fifty and a best of 172. As for Sehwag, he featured in 10 Tests Down Under, scoring 948 runs at an average of 47.40, with the aid of two tons and four half-centuries. His best of 195 came in the Boxing Day Test during the 2003-04 series.

It was an extremely tough choice between Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid for the pivotal No. 3 slot. Eventually, Pujara got the nod for playing stellar roles in India's back-to-back triumphs in 2018-19 and 2020-21. In 11 Tests, the defiant right-handed batter scored 993 runs at an average of 47.28, with the aid of three hundreds and five fifties. While he was outstanding in 2018-19, Pujara frustrated Australia with his resilience in 2020-21.

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Middle-order: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli (c), VVS Laxman and Rishabh Pant (wk)

VVS Laxman enjoyed his battles against the Aussies. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-getter for India in Tests in Australia. In 20 matches, the batting legend scored 1,809 runs at an average of 53.20, with the aid of six hundreds and seven fifties. His best of 241* came in Sydney when he famously shut out the cover drive as it was leading to his dismissals.

Virat Kohli had a forgettable tour of Australia in 2024-25. However, his overall record in Tests Down Under is highly impressive. In 18 matches, he has notched up 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72, with seven tons, four fifties, and a best of 169. Kohli smashed 692 runs in four Tests, with the aid of four hundreds, during the 2014-15 series.

It is no secret that VVS Laxman loved batting against Australia. In 15 Tests Down Under, he scored 1,236 runs at an average of 44.14, with four hundreds and four half-centuries. Laxman totaled 494 runs in four Tests during the 2003-04 series. The elegant batter scored 148 in Adelaide and 178 in Sydney.

Rishabh Pant had a disappointing tour of Australia recently by his standards. However, he has done enough on previous tours to find a place in the greatest all-time Indian Test XI on Australian soil. The southpaw has played 12 Test matches in Australia and has scored 879 runs at an average of 46.26, with one hundred and three fifties. His best of 159* came in Sydney in 2019.

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Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kapil Dev, Bishan Bedi and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar

Former India captain Kapil Dev (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Jasprit Bumrah and Kapil Dev would be the frontline pacers in India's greatest all-time Indian Test XI on Australian soil, while the legendary spin duo of Bishan Bedi and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar would be the slow bowlers.

Bumrah had a sensational 2024-25 BGT, claiming 32 scalps at an average of 13.06. Following the stellar series, he now holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in Tests Down Under. In 12 matches, he has picked up 64 wickets at an average of 17.15, with four five-fers.

Kapil is only second in the list of Indian bowlers with most Test wickets in Australia. In 11 Tests, he picked up 51 wickets at an average of 24.58, with the aid of five five-fers. He claimed 8-106 in Adelaide in December 1985 and famously bowled India to victory despite a hamstring injury, registering figures of 5-28 at the MCG in 1981.

Former left-arm spinner Bedi played seven Tests Down Under, claiming 35 scalps at an average of 27.51, with three five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. He claimed five-fers in both innings of the Perth Test in 1977.

Former leg-spinner Chandrasekhar played seven Tests in Australia and claimed 29 wickets at an average of 30.27, with three five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. Chandrasekhar registered identical figures of 6-52 in both innings of the 1977 MCG Test, which India won by 222 runs, thus registering their maiden triumph in a Test Down Under.