Analysis
IND vs AUS: Top five all-time run-scorers in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The first match of the BGT 2023 is set to begin on February 9th.
The four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy Test series is all set to begin this Thursday, February 9th. The Aussies, led by Pat Cummins, will face Rohit Sharma’s men at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur for the first Test.
All eyes will be on India’s star batter Virat Kohli, who is eyeing a test hundred after announcing his arrival to form with impressive performances in the limited-overs game. As such, which players have the most runs in the coveted series? Here’s a list of the top-five all-time run-scorers in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
5. Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke, Border Gavaskar Trophy all-time highest run-scorers (Source: Twitter)
We kickstart this list with a former Aussie captain who still holds the record of being the only Australian player to have scored a triple-century against India. Michael Clarke makes it into the list with 2,049 runs at an average of 53.92 in 40 innings (22 matches).
The former Australian captain has 7 hundreds and 6 fifties in the Border Gavaskar Trophy and the highest score of 329* at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2011. Interestingly enough, this is also the highest score ever by any batter in an inning in the game’s longest format.
4. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid, Border Gavaskar Trophy all-time highest run-scorers (Source: Twitter)
On number 4, we have the wall, Rahul Dravid. Mr Dependable makes it into the list with 2143 runs at an average of just under 40 in 60 innings (32 matches). Analysing Dravid’s record is nothing short of paradise for a Cricket fan. Despite being the fourth-highest run-getter in the BGT, he has just 2 centuries in the coveted series, the lowest among the top 10 batters.
However, he was always a key campaigner in India’s face-offs against Australia, scoring 53 per cent of his runs (1143) against the Aussies away from home. His strike rate of 39.45 is the lowest among all batters to have scored more than 300 runs in the BGT.
3. VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman, Border Gavaskar Trophy all-time highest run-scorers (Source: Twitter)
VVS Laxman edges past Dravid to enter the top three on this list. Very, very, special Laxman registered a total run tally of 2434 at an average nearing 50 against the Aussies in 54 innings (29 matches). He has 12 fifties and 6 hundreds in the coveted test series alongside a highest score of 281 runs.
That heroic innings at Eden Gardens in 2001 is of the stuff that dreams are made of. Laxman’s heroics, alongside Dravid’s innings of 180, helped India overhaul Australia’s 274-run lead and script a 171-run win after following on.
2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting, Border Gavaskar Trophy all-time highest run-scorers (Source: Twitter)
On number two, we have the former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting. Ponting is probably a name as legendary as it gets in the BGT. He scored 2,555 runs in 51 innings (29 matches), with the second-best average of 54.36 among the top five batters in the coveted series.
He has the second most hundreds in the BGT (8) and 12 fifties to his credit, alongside the highest score of 257. His highest score was from a monumental game of the 2003-04 series when the Aussies thrashed the visitors by nine wickets to level the series one-all after three games.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, Border Gavaskar Trophy all-time highest run-scorers (Source: Twitter)
There is zero doubt about who sits atop this list; it is the undisputed Test king of India, Sachin Tendulkar. The master blaster tops this list with a comfortable margin of 707 runs. He scored 3,262 runs at an average of 56.24 in 65 innings (34 matches), the best by any batter in the BGT. He also has nine centuries, most by any batter and 16 fifty-plus scores.
His best score of 241 came in the Sydney Test of the 2003-04 series. The visiting Indian side forced a draw in the first game and took a 1-0 lead in the second Test. The Aussies fought back in the third Test with a thrashing nine-wicket victory. However, Tendulkar’s magical 241 in the first innings helped the visitors force a draw in the last game. In the process, drawing the four-test series, 1-1.
