The undeniable numbers that prove India has Australia’s number – and why worst is still to come

In their past nine Test on Australian shores, India have lost just twice. Their Perth demolition was not an outlier – it’s the new norm. And it’s only going to get worse for the home side.

India’s demolition of Australia in Perth was no outlier, but simply an extreme example of the dominance the subcontinental giants have enjoyed down under for seven years.

The Indians have won three of their past four Tests in Australia, drawing the other.

Further, they have only lost two of their past nine on these shores, winning five and drawing two.

Going back to the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when India won in Australia for the first time, the touring batters have comfortably had their hosts covered, averaging 31.31 against just 25.

Logically, it’s similar dominance on the bowling front – India’s attack averaging 26.01 to Australia’s 33.27.

Virat Kohli celebrates reaching his century – just one area that highlights India’s dominance. Picture: Getty

Remarkably, they’ve scored eight centuries across those nine games, to just two from the Australians – one to each of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the 2020/21 series.

Unsurprisingly, Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout bowler in that period, taking 40 wickets at 18.80.

Pat Cummins is the next highest wicket-taker with 38, but with an average of 25.34.

Among bowlers with more than 10 wickets in Australia in Border-Gavaskar Test since India began its winning run, Ravindra Jadeja boasts the next best average – 21.78.

The fact Jadeja didn’t even play in Perth epitomises one of Australia’s biggest worries heading into the second Test.

Ravindra Jadeja (L) talks with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Picture: Getty

India won in Perth by 295 runs and that was without either of Rohit Sharma or Shubman Gill.

Sharma was back home for the birth of his second child, but was in the nets in Perth on Monday, while Gill is expected to return for the second Test.

They’re two instant upgrades on rookie duo Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel.

All-time greats Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will also be pushing for selection after a so-so game from Washington Sundar (4 and 29, 0-1 and 2-48).

“I think there will be two changes for sure, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill coming back into the 11,” Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar told Channel 7.

“My feeling is that the batting order will change – where Rohit Sharma will replace Rahul, Shubman Gill will bat at three, Padikkal and Jurel will go out of the team, Rahul will bat at six.

“One other change that could happen is that Jadeja comes in in place of Washington Sundar.”

Stand-in captain Bumrah also hinted Mohammed Shami could be back in time for the Adelaide Test.

If fit, Shami will take India’s attack to the next level, forming a daunting pace triumvirate with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Originally published as The undeniable numbers that prove India has Australia’s number – and why worst is still to come