India vs Australia this century: one classic after the other
Dramatic, unpredictable, controversial - for over two decades now, the Border-Gavaskar trophy has been one of cricket's great rivalries

Balle ballet: Harbhajan Singh's 32 wickets in the 2000-01 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is still the most taken by a bowler in any one India-Australia Test series • Hamish Blair/Getty Images
India vs Australia 2000-01
India won 2-1Though the two sides have had history before, this series took the rivalry up several notches and featured one of the greatest comebacks. Australia had built a formidable side - perhaps their best ever - under Steve Waugh, and their victory in the opening Test made it a record 16 wins in a row.
Australia vs India, 2003-04
series drawn 1-1This series featured a truly epic encounter in Adelaide. Ricky Ponting's 242 had led Australia to a seemingly impregnable 556, but once again Dravid and Laxman had other ideas. This time they added 303 for the fifth wicket, Dravid going on to post 233, as India almost drew level, to make it a one-innings contest. Then Ajit Agarkar had his finest hour, taking 6 for 41 to leave a tantalising target of 230. Again it was Dravid who led the chase, an unbeaten 72 securing another place in the game's folklore.
India vs Australia, 2004-05
Australia won 2-1Captained by Adam Gilchrist in the absence of an injured Ponting, Australia secured one of their finest overseas series wins. Gilchrist himself was key in the opening Test, in Bangalore, with a rapid century, alongside a majestic 151 on debut by Michael Clarke. A three-pronged pace attack, supplemented by Shane Warne, then worked through India's batting with efficiency and precision.
Australia vs India, 2007-08
Australia won 2-1A series that began with a comfortable Australia win at the MCG took a controversial, ill-tempered twist in Sydney, where a racism controversy involving Harbhajan and Andrew Symonds overshadowed the match. Harbhajan was initially banned for three Tests before the ban was overturned on appeal. Symonds dominated the early stages of that game with a career-best 162 not out, having survived an edge behind on 30 that umpire Steve Bucknor did not spot. There was more umpiring controversy on the final day when Dravid was given caught behind and Clarke secured a victory in the dying moments - equalling Australia's previous 16-match winning run. The post-match conversation was fractious, with Kumble channelling talk from the days of Bodyline: "Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game." Briefly, India threatened to quit the tour.
India vs Australia, 2008-09
India won 2-0Australia failed to repeat their triumph of four years earlier, the weakness of their spin attack proving telling. They showed promising signs in the opening Test, with Ponting and Mike Hussey's centuries dominating a drawn game, but India were far too good in Mohali, where the differences started to show.
India vs Australia, 2010-11
India won 2-0This short two-match series began with a classic in Mohali. Australia were given a strong base: Shane Watson's century and Tim Paine's 92 carried them over 400. No one passed three figures for India - Tendulkar fell lbw to Marcus North on 98 - with Mitchell Johnson taking five wickets to leave things almost all square. From 87 for 0, Australia then lost all ten wickets for 105 runs to leave a target of 216. At 124 for 8, the visitors were comfortable favourites but their arch nemesis, Laxman, found an ally in Ishant to get within 11 runs of the target. Amid late drama, Pragyan Ojha helped India scramble over the line.
Australia vs India, 2011-12
Australia won 4-0After a hard-fought opening game in Melbourne, it became a one-sided series with the home side far too strong, although Australia did get their first glimpse in Test cricket of a certain Virat Kohli. At the MCG, India let a strong position slip when they were 214 for 2 in reply to 333, but they then had Australia rocking at 27 for 4. A stand of 115 between Ponting and Clarke - former and current captains - got the home side back on track and in the end 292 proved well out of reach for India.
India vs Australia, 2012-13
India won 4-0As the previous series had been one-sided in favour of the hosts, so was this. For Australia it would forever be known for the "Homeworkgate" saga that led to four players - Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja - being dropped for the third Test, having failed to follow team orders.
Australia vs India, 2014-15
Australia won 2-0This series was overshadowed by the death of Phil Hughes just days before the start. It was a remarkable effort from the players, particularly the Australians, to play such exhilarating cricket in Adelaide as they did to secure victory late on the final day to honour Hughes.
India vs Australia, 2016-17
India won 2-1The most recent meeting in India, and one that Australia probably look back on as a missed opportunity after they took the opening Test in Pune on a surface that became increasingly challenging against spin. Steve O'Keefe had a remarkable match with figures of 12 for 70; India managed just 105 and 107. Smith (109) made one of his finest hundreds in the second innings, while Starc's first-innings 61 proved vital.
Australia vs India, 2018-19
India won 2-1A landmark moment for India. It started with a gripping victory for them in Adelaide and would likely have finished with a 3-1 scoreline if not for rain in Sydney. The opening match, where the bowlers held sway, was an outstanding contest, decided by the brilliance of Pujara. Australia's batting line-up was a patchwork affair - Warner and Smith were away serving out their bans after the Newlands ball-tampering scandal - but the lower order got them within range of a challenging target.
Australia vs India, 2020-21
India won 2-1This series in the middle of the Covid pandemic became an instant classic that ended with India's greatest ever victory, with which they ended Australia's formidable run at the Gabba.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo