With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at an end, here is Wisden’s team of the India-Australia Test series, a combined XI of the best players on both sides
Usman Khawaja
4 matches, 333 runs at 47.57, HS: 180
The series leading run-scorer, and Australia’s best bat on the turning tracks in the first three Tests and the flat pitch of the fourth. How did they go so long without picking him?
Rohit Sharma (c)
4 matches, 242 runs at 40.33, HS: 120
Half Rohit’s runs came in his first knock, but he also made two valuable contributions on tricky wickets in Delhi and managed his bowlers well. He now has a second chance of winning a World Test Championship final, this time as India’s captain.
Marnus Labuschagne
4 matches, 244 runs at 40.66, HS: 63*
No breakthrough series for Labuschagne in India but he consistently steadied Australia with the bat. He missed out on a half-century in Nagpur by one run and was there at the end to seal a memorable victory in Indore.
Virat Kohli
4 matches, 297 runs at 49.50, HS: 186
Finally, an India Test series finishes with a Virat Kohli century once again. The 186 he scored in Ahmedabad was his highest Test score since October 2019 and gave a glimpse of the kind of innings the Kolhi of old produced. Hopefully it’s the start of a renaissance for an all-time great.
Travis Head
3 matches, 235 runs at 47.00, HS: 90
Quite a turn around for Head after puzzlingly being left out of Australia’s lineup for the first Test. His 49* in the final innings in Indore guided Australia home before he missed out on a maiden Test century overseas on the final day in Ahmedabad.
Axar Patel
4 matches, 3 wickets at 62.00, BBI: 1-6
264 runs at 88.00, HS: 84
Patel edges out Green for the all-rounder spot in the middle order. He was India’s third most effective spinner but had an excellent series with the bat, racking up three scores of over 70.
KS Bharat (wk)
4 matches, 101 runs at 20.20, HS: 44
7 catches, 1 stumping
While neither keeper enjoyed a great series with the bat, Bharat takes the spot with the gloved over Alex Carey. Bharat played a couple of decent hands with the bat for India, whereas Carey registered two ducks and failed to reach double figures in any innings after the first Test. He wasn’t flawless behind the stumps, and had a difficult task stepping into Rishabh Pant’s shoes.
R Ashwin
4 matches, 25 wicket at 17.28, BBI: 6-91
86 runs at 17.20, HS: 37
Joint Player of the Series, more wickets than anyone else and once again living up to the hype, Ashwin was all but guaranteed a spot in this XI before he bowled his first ball.
Ravindra Jadeja
4 matches, 22 wickets at 18.86, BBI: 7-42
135 runs at 27.00, HS: 70
The other half of the most fearsome spin duo in Test cricket and arguably just as good as Ashwin throughout the series, Jadeja reasserted his position as India’s second spinner in his first series back from injury. His 7-42 in Delhi was his best returns in the second innings of a Test match, and he also drew level with Sachin Tendulkar – behind only Anil Kumble – as receiving the most Player of the Match awards for India in home Tests.
Nathan Lyon
4 matches, 22 wickets at 22.36, BBI: 8-64
Lyon became the first visiting spinner to take two eight-fors in India when he recorded his second in Indore. While he found support from Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, he reminded Australia exactly what they will miss when his career comes to an end.
Mohammed Shami
3 matches, 9 wickets at 31.11, BBI: 2-78
Shami wins the battle of the quicks for this series. He picked up nine wickets in the three Tests he played and recorded the best figures of any quick bowler in the series. David Warner was unable to deal with Shami’s length and served up a couple of satisfying stump cartwheels during the series.
