India's 5 highest Test run-scorers in Australia ft. Cheteshwar Pujara 

Anticipation is at an all-time high with less than 48 hours remaining until India and Australia clash in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin on Friday, November 22 in Perth. Although India have won their last two Test series in Australia, they were recently blanked 3-0 by New Zealand at home.

India will be without their captain Rohit Sharma for the first Test. The ace batter has taken time off to be with his family after the birth of his son on November 15. Jasprit Bumrah will step in as the stand-in captain. In the meantime, KL Rahul is expected to partner with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening slot.

Over the years, numerous Indian batters have delivered memorable performances in Australia. On that note, we look at India’s five highest run-scorers in Tests played on Australian soil.

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#5 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is fifth on the list. The Saurashtra batter played a key role in India’s last two series victories in Australia. In 11 Tests in Australia, the 36-year-old has scored 993 runs at an average of 47.28, including three centuries and five fifties.

Pujara was the highest run-scorer in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, amassing 521 runs in seven innings at an average of 74.42, with three centuries and a top score of 193.

Across 25 Tests against Australia, he has accumulated 2,074 runs at an average of 49.38, with 11 fifties and five hundreds.

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#4 Rahul Dravid

Former Indian batter and head coach Rahul Dravid ranks fourth among India’s all-time highest Test run-scorers in Australia. Dravid played 16 Tests in Australia, scoring 1,166 runs at an average of 41.64, including six fifties and a century.

His standout performance came during the 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he accumulated 619 runs in four matches, highlighted by a brilliant 233-run knock in Adelaide.

Overall, Dravid played 33 Tests against Australia, scoring 2,166 runs at an average of 38.67, with 13 fifties and two centuries. At 51, he remains India's second-highest run-scorer in Tests with 13,288 runs in 164 matches, including 63 fifties and 36 centuries.

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#3 VVS Laxman

Former Indian batter and NCA chief VVS Laxman had a solid Test record in Australia. He played 15 Tests Down Under, scoring 1,236 runs at an average of 44.14, including four centuries.

Laxman was India’s second-highest run scorer in the 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, amassing 494 runs in seven innings, with two centuries.

Throughout his career, Laxman played several memorable knocks against Australia. He featured in 29 Tests against the Aussies, accumulating 2,434 runs at an average of 49.67, with 12 fifties and six centuries.

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#2 Virat Kohli

Second on the list is former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who is set for his fifth tour of Australia. The Delhi-born cricketer scored his first-ever Test century in Australia, achieving the milestone in Adelaide, and was India’s highest run-scorer in the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, amassing 300 runs.

Kohli was exceptional during his second tour Down Under, scoring 692 runs in four Tests at an average of 86.50, including four centuries. He also led India to victory in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

The seasoned batter has played 13 Tests in Australia, accumulating 1,352 runs at an average of 54.08, with four fifties and six centuries.

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#1 Sachin Tendulkar

At the top of the list is the all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster played 20 Tests in Australia, scoring 1,809 runs at an average of 53.20, with seven half-centuries and six centuries.

Overall, in his career, Sachin featured in 39 Tests against Australia, amassing 3,630 runs at an average of 55, including 16 fifties and 11 centuries.

The 51-year-old remains the highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, with 15,921 runs from 200 matches, including 68 fifties and 51 centuries - the most by any player in the format.