Shubman Gill, regarded as one of the most skilled young batters to emerge from India, has already captivated audiences in matches against Australia, a side known for its serious pace bowling and unrelenting strategic focus. Since his first appearance in 2020, Gill’s composure, balance, and technique have seen him compared with some of the best Indian openers in modern history.
For any Indian batter, playing against Australia is historically a barometer of sorts. The Australians test skill, temperament, and patience, and Gill has stepped up to all of those tests with distinction. His Test and ODI records have shown steady improvement while showing flashes of greatness.
Below is a full description of each year-by-year performance against Australia in both formats.
Test Batting Stats vs Australia (Year-wise)
| Year | Innings | Runs | Avg | SR | HS | 50 | 100 |
| 2020 | 2 | 80 | 80.0 | 79.2 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 179 | 44.8 | 54.9 | 91 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 60 | 20.0 | 71.4 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 41.8 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 352 | 35.2 | 59.7 | 91 | 2 | 0 |
Test Match Insights
Shubman Gill’s Test career against Australia began in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, impressing with his upper-crust style of play and composure under pressure in virtually all matches. His iconic innings at Melbourne in his debut Test and the significant 91 at Brisbane should be renowned for how well he managed to defend against a world-class attack led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
Through those matches, Gill was able to show everyone’s belief in his skills by demonstrating an effective method in doing what most believe cannot be done, responding to both pace and bounce. With a solid 35.2 batting average and nearly a 60 strike rate, he was able to combine defence and aggression in creating runs in pressure situations. His 2021 series of two half-centuries showed Gill starting to become comfortable with Australia’s conditions.
Then from 2024 to 2025, his numbers slipped slightly, but it is clear that the technical aspects of the previous two series have improved Gill’s game and led to much sharper innings and manoeuvres on the field. Gill provided momentum to India’s top order for most innings, another main component of the innings. If Gill’s innings did not provide momentum, he did create a sense of comfort with his shot selection and composure during his innings.
ODI Batting Stats vs Australia (Year-wise)
| Year | Innings | Runs | Avg | SR | HS | 50 | 100 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 84.6 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 239 | 39.8 | 95.6 | 104 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 51 | 12.8 | 79.7 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 323 | 29.4 | 91.5 | 104 | 1 | 1 |
ODI Match Insights
Shubman Gill’s ODI history against Australia shows a promising rise with moments of brilliance balanced with inconsistency, and this is best highlighted by his performance in 2023 when he scored a superb 104, his first ODI ton against Australia, demonstrating outstanding timing, placement, and maturity. During that series, Gill showed his ability to combat not only the new ball but also the pressure of spin through the middle overs. In 2023, he managed an outstanding strike rate and runs at just under a rate of almost 96, demonstrating a nice blend of traditional strokeplay with the fluency of scoring we expect in the modern age.
While all of Gill’s numbers took a small dip in 2025, they still demonstrated a period of transition while experimenting with their role at the top of the order. Perspective run rates for Gill, which have remained healthy with strike rates of just over 91.5, indicate there are other ways he can now accelerate. With each innings against Australia, he is learning how to adapt in the way their bowlers try to use the ball, adapting to tactical changes, an important trait in great one-day players.
Gill’s Growth Against Australia: A Journey of Maturity
Competing against Australia is always a difficult challenge, given their bowlers’ ability to exploit every possible weakness, while their field positions really test a batter’s mettle. However, Shubman Gill has impressed with his ability to remain calm and adaptable. His history against them is one of growing maturity, patience, and technique.
1. The First Impression (2020-21)
Gill’s first series will be one he will not forget. The sublime 91 at Brisbane set up India’s famous Test victory, which clearly showcased Gill’s ability to cope with significant pressure. Even bowlers with vast experience commented on his technique and calmness.
2. Building a Foundation (2023)
By 2023, Gill had become a key player for India in their limited-overs setup. His century in the ODIs demonstrated not only his talent but also his maturity, pacing the innings perfectly and providing interesting challenges to the much stronger bowlers, including Starc and Zampa.
3. Seeking Learning (2024-25)
Over the next couple of years, Gill was challenged in various ways. His shorter runs and low scores were evidence of drafts and weaknesses in his game, especially with respect to converting starts and rotating strikes in trying conditions. That said, at no instance did his technique fail him; few players can make the on-drive and the back foot punch look as easy and elegant as he.
Format-Wise Strengths
- Tests: solid defence, good backfoot play, and the capability to bat through layers of pressure.
- ODIs: Natural timing, hitting quick singles, and adjusting effectively to the match situation.
- Overall vs Australia: Composure can adapt to pace and bounce and has grown steadily every year.
His dot-ball percentage (just shy of 73% in Tests and in the ballpark of 50% in ODIs) showcases his ability to wait, and the number of boundaries he hits shows he capitalises effectively once he’s really set at the crease.
Why Gill’s Record Matters
Shubman Gill’s performances against Australia mean more than numbers – they represent the confidence of the next generation of Indian players. Against a team that has famously bullied India with pace and aggression, Gill has changed that narrative with confidence and class. His 91 in Brisbane is one of the many memories of one of the greatest Test victories for India outside of the subcontinent. His 104 in the ODIs in 2023 was evidence of his ability to anchor the innings and finish it as well. Even when things haven’t been perfect, he has still shown the ultra-important potential of technique and mental toughness. If Gill continues to grow, not only will his statistics against Australia bolster not just in numbers but also in impact.
Conclusion
Shubman Gill’s route against Australia is the saga of an adolescent turning into an established, dependable international player. In 2020, we saw an unrefined debut, and then we watched as he played in various formats and found his groove in 2023. In 2023 and in the years of learning 2024-25, he has laid the groundwork for what could be eminent – perhaps even greatness.
In Test matches, he has combined grace with grit – in ODIs, he has also blended aggression and calm. He is still early in his career, but within that, his temperament, technique, and drive to be better raise him to another level and potentially have him become a stalwart of Indian cricket in the near future.
Wherever and whenever India faces Australia, whether in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches or in a World Cup campaign, Shubman Gill is again one of India’s biggest hopes and, possibly, one of India’s most watchable talents.