What is the name of the India vs Australia Test series?

If you've ever tuned into a India-Australia Test match and heard commentators mention a "trophy" being fought for, you've probably wondered what it's actually called and why it matters so much. It's not just another cricket series — it carries a name, a history, and a rivalry that has grown into one of the most talked-about contests in the sport. Let's break it down in plain terms.

The Series Is Called the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Whenever India and Australia face off in a Test series, they're playing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. You'll often see it shortened to BGT in headlines and social media posts, so if you've come across that abbreviation and wondered what it stood for, now you know. It's exclusively a Test cricket contest — this name doesn't apply to the ODIs or T20Is the two teams play against each other, only the long-format matches.

Where the Name Comes From

The trophy is named after two legendary batters — Allan Border of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India. Both men were among the first players in the world to cross 10,000 Test runs, and both captained their national sides during eras that shaped how each country approached the game. Naming the series after them wasn't just a nod to their batting numbers; it was a recognition of what they represented as leaders and as symbols of a growing mutual respect between the two cricketing nations. The trophy itself was introduced to formalize and celebrate that connection every time the teams meet.

When It All Began

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy dates back to the 1996-97 season, when India hosted Australia for the very first edition under this name. Before that, the two teams had certainly played Test cricket against each other for decades, but it wasn't branded with this particular identity. Since that first series, the trophy has been contested whenever the two nations meet in a Test series, whether that's in India or in Australia.

How the Rivalry Has Evolved Over Time

Out of the seventeen series played under the Border-Gavaskar name so far, India has come out on top ten times, Australia has won six, and one series ended in a draw. That record might make it sound one-sided in India's favor, but the story is a little more layered than a simple tally. A lot of India's success has come on home soil, where conditions typically favor their spin-heavy attacks and Australia has historically struggled to adapt. Away from home, the contest has often been much closer, and Australia has had periods of real dominance, particularly in the mid-2000s and again more recently.

The most recent edition of the series was played in Australia during the 2024-25 season, and it turned out to be a tightly fought affair. Australia edged the series 3-1, which meant they reclaimed the trophy for the first time in a decade. That result mattered a great deal because it snapped a long stretch during which India had held onto the trophy through multiple consecutive series wins, including two famous away triumphs in Australia in 2018-19 and again in 2020-21 — series that are still talked about for their dramatic finishes and India's ability to win without several of their first-choice players.

Why the Series Carries So Much Weight

Part of what makes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy special is that it consistently produces some of the most competitive Test cricket you'll find anywhere. Both teams bring aggressive, high-quality bowling attacks and batting lineups capable of dominating on their day, which tends to make for tense, unpredictable matches rather than one-sided blowouts. Over the years, it's earned comparisons to the Ashes, the historic rivalry between England and Australia, simply because of how consistently high the stakes and quality of cricket have been.

There's also a broader context that raises the importance of each series even further. Since 2019, the International Cricket Council has run the World Test Championship, a two-year cycle where results from bilateral Test series contribute points toward qualifying for a championship final. Because India and Australia are two of the strongest Test-playing nations in the world, their meetings under the Border-Gavaskar banner tend to carry heavy weight in these standings, sometimes deciding who reaches the final and who misses out entirely.

A Bigger Series Than It Used to Be

For a long time, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was contested over four Test matches per series. That changed as both cricket boards recognized just how much interest and revenue this rivalry generates. Starting with the 2024-25 series in Australia, the format expanded to five Tests per series, the first time since the early 1990s that the two countries have played a five-match series against each other. This shift reflects just how much this fixture has grown in stature — it's now treated with the same scale and significance as some of the sport's oldest and most storied series.

What's Coming Next

Looking ahead, the next edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to be played in India in early 2027, when Australia will travel to defend the title they won in the previous series. This one carries extra intrigue too, since it will mark the first time a five-Test series of this rivalry is hosted on Indian soil. The schedule spreads matches across five different venues, including a city that has never hosted a Test in this fixture before, which adds a fresh dimension to a rivalry that already has plenty of history behind it. With both teams looking to strengthen their position in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, this next series is shaping up to be another closely watched chapter in a rivalry that keeps raising its own bar.

The Bottom Line

So the next time someone mentions the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, you'll know exactly what they're talking about — the Test series between India and Australia, named after two batting greats, and one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in modern cricket. It's more than just a name on a trophy; it represents decades of closely fought battles, career-defining performances, and a rivalry that continues to shape the landscape of Test cricket today.