India will look to increase their 10-year unbeaten run on the Melbourne Cricket Floor once they tackle hosts Australia within the fourth Check of the continued Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting December 26.
The standard Boxing Day Check within the Australian summer time will probably be India’s fourth since 2014, and the guests have not been defeated within the earlier three matches.
In 2014, India drew the match underneath the captaincy of MS Dhoni, after which registered a 137-run win underneath Virat Kohli’s management in 2018. That victory additionally ended India’s 33-year winless run on the venue since 1985. The 2018-19 tour grew to become extra historic as India went on to win the collection — their first on Australian soil.
In 2020, when captain Kohli left the tour after the primary Check for the delivery of his youngster, Ajinkya Rahane stood in as skipper and led the crew to an eight-wicket win in Melbourne. India gained the collection on that tour as properly to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Total, India have performed 14 Checks thus far in Melbourne, ranging from 1948, and gained four of these matches whereas dropping 8. The remaining 2 matches ended as drawn affairs.
Solely two captains have led India twice on the venue: Lala Amarnath in opposition to Don Bradman’s crew through the 1948 tour and Dhoni through the 2011-12 and 2014-15 excursions.
For the reason that inception of the BGT in 1996, the 2 groups have contested in 7 Checks, with India profitable 2 and dropping four matches, whereas one sport led to a draw. It was additionally the 12 months that marked the start of drop-in pitches used on the venue.
Earlier than 1985, India performed 5 Checks in Melbourne however none of these started on Boxing Day.
From 1985 to now, all 9 Checks started on Boxing Day, with India profitable 2 and dropping 5. Two matches led to attracts.
There have been solely two situations when India have gained a Melbourne Check on two consecutive excursions – in 1977 and 1981 & in 2018 and 2020. If India win the upcoming fourth Check of the continued collection, it will likely be the primary occasion of victories in Melbourne on three consecutive excursions.
This is a take a look at all of these 14 matches and the end result:
| START DATE | RESULT |
| January 1 , 1948 | India misplaced by 233 runs |
| February 6, 1948 | India misplaced by an innings & 177 runs |
| December 30, 1967 | India misplaced by an innings and four runs |
| December.30, 1977 | India gained by 222 runs |
| February 7, 1981 | India gained by 59 runs |
| December 26, 1985 | Drawn |
| December 26, 1991 | India misplaced by Eight wickets |
| December 26, 1999 | India misplaced by 180 runs |
| December 26, 2003 | India misplaced by 9 wickets |
| December 26, 2007 | India misplaced by 337 runs |
| December 26, 2011 | India misplaced by 122 runs |
| December 26, 2014 | Drawn |
| December 26, 2018 | India gained by 137 runs |
| December 26, 2020 | India gained by Eight wickets |
Through the years, the 22-yard strip on the 95,000-seating-capacity MCG has had one thing in it for each bowlers and batters. The early freshness assists the quick bowlers, however batters come into play because the observe goes via put on and tear through the course of the match. The spinners have not had an enormous function to play on the MCG enjoying floor, which does not usually supply any considerable flip.
The 2 groups will enter the fourth Check of the five-Check collection locked at 1-1.
India gained the primary Check in Perth by 295 runs to take the lead, however Australia equalised with a 10-wicket win within the pink-ball match at Adelaide. The third Check in Brisbane led to a draw.
(Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar)
