The Indian team will soon compete in a five-match Test series vs Australia on Australian soil. The series begins tomorrow morning at the Optus Stadium in Perth. This will be the first time Jasprit Bumrah will captain India in a Test match vs Australia on Australian soil.
Even regular captain Rohit Sharma has never led an Indian side in a Test vs Australia on Australian soil before. In the previous tour in 2020/21, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were the captains of India in the Tests, while in 2018/19, Virat alone led the team in four Tests.
Many fans would remember that Virat captained India vs Australia in Australia for the first time in 2014, where the Aussies won a thrilling game. So many Indian players have captained against Australia in Tests away from home, but only three did not lose their first game. Here’s a list of the three names.
1. Ajinkya Rahane is the only Indian captain to win his 1st Test vs Australia in Australia
Ajinkya Rahane stood up and led the team when Virat Kohli was on paternal leave during the last tour of Australia. Rahane captained India in the Boxing Day Test match of 2020, where the Indian team registered a historic win. This win helped Rahane become the first Indian to win his maiden Test on Australian soil as captain of the team.
2. Sourav Ganguly
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was the last Indian captain to draw his maiden Test as captain on Australian soil. It was in 2003 at the Gabba, where India pulled off a draw. That series ended in a 1-1 draw as well.
3. Kapil Dev
Indian Captains & their 1st Test in Australia
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) November 21, 2024
Lala Amarnath – Lost
Chandu Borde – Lost
MAK Pataudi – Lost
Bishan Bedi – Lost
Sunil Gavaskar – Lost
Kapil Dev – Draw
Azharuddin – Lost
Sachin Tendulkar – Lost
Sourav Ganguly – Draw
Anil Kumble – Lost
MS Dhoni – Lost
Virender Sehwag…
1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev was the first Indian to avoid a defeat in his first Test as captain against Australia away from home. Kapil captained India in a Test against the Aussies at the Adelaide Oval in 1985, and India drew that game.
