1947 To 2021: Looking Back At India's Previous Tours To Australia

India gear up to face Australia in a marathon five-match Test series Down Under, aiming to script a historic fifth Test consecutive series win against Australia. India have won each of the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series by a margin of 2-1, including two Down Under. This series holds high importance, as it will play a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. India's cricketing trips to Australia, dating back to 1947, have always produced fascinating contests.

Here's a glance at India's Test outings in Australia.

1. 1947-48: Winner: Australia: 4-0 (5)

India toured Australia nearly four months after gaining Independence but were overwhelmed by two legends: Sir Donald Bradman (715 runs; Avg: 178.75) and pacer Ray Lindwall (18 wickets). Vijay Hazare was India's top-scorer with 429 runs).

2. 1967-68: Winner: Australia: 4-0 (5)

Fuelled by a stylish 101 by ML Jaisimha India made a heroic chase of 394 at Brisbane, before losing by a mere 35 runs. But apart from that, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's side was mediocre. India took solace from off-spinner EAS Prasanna emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 25 scalps.

3. 1977-78: Winner: Australia: 3-2 (5)

India had a great chance of claiming the series after winning the third and fourth Test at Melbourne and Sydney. At Adelaide, India chased 493 with gusto as Mohinder Amarnath, GR Viswanath, Dilip Vengsarkar and Syed Kirmani made fifties, but they fell short by 47 runs. Left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi topped the chart with 31 wickets.

4. 1980-81: Draw: 1-1 (3)

Led by Kapil Dev's five-wicket haul and Viswanath's hundred, India defeated Australia in the third Test at Melbourne by 59 runs to draw the