When it came to facing Australia in ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar was nothing short of a magician with the bat, a master who turned pressure into poetry and pace into perfection. Against one of the most dominant sides in world cricket, Tendulkar consistently rose above the challenge.
With his elegant drives, fierce pulls, and match-winning brilliance, he scored a record 3,077 runs in 71 ODIs, a true testament to his genius. The “Master Blaster” averaged an impressive 44 against Australia, with 9 centuries and 15 half-centuries to his name. For over two decades, Sachin remained Australia’s biggest nemesis and India’s ultimate hope.
From his iconic 143 “Desert Storm” in Sharjah in 1998 to the sublime 117* in Sydney during the CB Series final, from his commanding 139 in Indore (2001) to the heroic 175 in Hyderabad (2009) while chasing a mammoth total, Tendulkar produced countless unforgettable knocks against the world’s best team. He repeatedly shredded world-class bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Shane Warne with precision, timing, and grace, demonstrating time and again why he was called the Master Blaster.
Besides Sachin, no other batsman in the world has scored more than 3,000 runs in a single format against the mighty Australians. However, two Indian greats, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are the closest to reaching that milestone.
Both have been phenomenal against Australia, scoring over 2,000 runs each in ODIs. The seven-match ODI series between India and Australia in 2013 is often remembered as the beginning of the Kohli-Rohit era, where both took charge and carried forward Sachin’s legacy most elegantly and dominantly as possible.
How Prominent Was Sachin Tendulkar’s Domination Against Australia?
Sachin Tendulkar mastered an era dominated by Australia through a rare blend of skill, adaptability, and mental toughness. During the 1990s and early 2000s, when Australia ruled world cricket as the most dominant side, Sachin stood out as their fiercest challenger. India was a strong team during that period, yet it often struggled to overcome the Australians. The only constant who stood tall against them was Sachin.
For over two decades, he remained Australia’s greatest nemesis and India’s ultimate hope. He didn’t just survive their aggression; he thrived on it. Facing legends like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, and Jason Gillespie, Tendulkar combined flawless technique with fearless intent. Even though India ended up on the losing side many times, for the Australians, victory often felt complete only after they had dismissed Sachin.
Sachin Tendulkar’s control over the Australian bowlers became one of the most defining parts of his career and earned him respect even from his toughest opponents. Many of his best innings came under extreme pressure, often turning games in India’s favor at critical moments. His dominance over Australia showed why he was called the Master Blaster, a player who loved a challenge and raised the bar of excellence every time he stepped out to bat against the best in the world.
Top 5 Highest Run-Scorers in India vs. Australia ODIs
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 3077 runs
- Sachin Tendulkar represented India from 1989 to 2013.
- He was absolutely magnificent against the mighty Australians, scoring 3,077 runs in 71 matches at an impressive average of 44.
- Sachin recorded 9 centuries and 15 half-centuries against them, with his highest score being 175 in the series decider at Hyderabad in 2009. Over his career against Australia, he also hit 330 fours and 35 sixes, consistently dominating one of the world’s strongest bowling attacks.
2. Rohit Sharma – 2488
- Rohit Sharma has been representing India since 2007.
- He has scored 2,488 runs against Australia in 48 matches at an impressive average of 56.54, including 8 centuries and 10 half-centuries. Recently, he became the only Indian to score over 1,000 runs in ODIs against Australia in Australia.
- Sharma was also part of the historic CB Series in 2008 when India beat Australia in Australia for the very first time in ODIs.
- Rohit Sharma scored 209 in the 7th ODI of the Australia tour of India in 2013 at Bengaluru, which remains by far the highest individual score against Australia in ODIs.
3. Virat Kohli – 2451 runs
- Virat Kohli has been representing India since 2008.
- He has scored 2,451 runs in 52 matches against Australia, with an average of over 52, including 8 centuries and 15 half-centuries.
- Kohli earned the tag of “Chase Master” during the 2013 series against Australia, where he successfully chased targets above 350 twice and scored centuries in both matches, including a 100 off just 52 balls, which remains the fastest century by an Indian in ODIs.
4. Ricky Pointing – 2164 runs
- Ricky Ponting represented Australia from 1995 to 2012 and went on to become one of the most successful captains in cricket history, winning two World Cups and two Champions Trophies under his leadership.
- Ponting was absolutely magnificent against India, scoring 2,164 runs in 59 matches at an average of 40.07.
- He played many brilliant innings against India, including 6 centuries. His most famous performance came in the 2003 ICC World Cup final, where he scored 140 runs, a masterclass inning that completely outplayed India and helped Australia secure a commanding victory.
5. MS Dhoni – 1660 runs
- MS Dhoni represented India from 2004 to 2019 and became the most successful Indian captain, leading the team to victories in all three ICC trophies during his captaincy.
- Dhoni scored 1,660 runs against Australia in 55 matches at an average of 44.86, including 2 centuries and 11 half-centuries.
- Dhoni also became the first Indian captain to win a Tri-Nation ODI series in Australia, clinching the CB Series in 2007–08 and ending Australia’s long-standing dominance in world cricket.