One team that always gives Australia a headache is India. Though known for its inconsistency, India always raises its game several notches when facing the World champions.
India are able to trouble the all-conquering Aussies because of the world class batsmen it has produced over the years.
A look at India's best players against Australia over the years reveals interesting details.
It is not Sachin Tendulkar who emerges the best batsman against Australia, but charimastic all-rounder Ravi Shastri.
Among the current lot, only VVS Laxman makes it to the all-time top 10.
| Overall Test Career | Record vs Australia | Difference in Avg | |||||||
| Player | Mts | Runs | Hs | Avg | Mts | Runs | HS | Avg | |
| RJ Shastri | 80 | 3830 | 206 | 35.79 | 9 | 622 | 206 | 77.75 | +41.96 |
| NR Mongia | 44 | 1442 | 152 | 24.03 | 6 | 348 | 152 | 43.50 | +19.47 |
| DG Phadkar | 31 | 1229 | 123 | 32.34 | 5 | 318 | 123 | 45.43 | +13.09 |
| ML Jaisimha | 39 | 2056 | 129 | 30.69 | 6 | 434 | 101 | 43.40 | +12.71 |
| GR Viswanath | 91 | 6080 | 222 | 41.93 | 18 | 1538 | 161* | 53.03 | +11.10 |
| S Abid Ali | 29 | 1018 | 81 | 20.36 | 5 | 304 | 81 | 30.40 | +10.04 |
| SMH Kirmani | 88 | 2759 | 102 | 27.05 | 17 | 756 | 101* | 36.00 | +8.95 |
| Nawab of Pataudi Jr. | 46 | 2793 | 203* | 34.91 | 11 | 829 | 128* | 43.63 | +8.72 |
| NJ Contractor | 31 | 1611 | 108 | 31.59 | 6 | 480 | 108 | 40.00 | +8.41 |
| VVS Laxman | 96 | 6000 | 281 | 43.80 | 20 | 1823 | 281 | 50.64 | +6.84 |
The table below shows how batsmen from the current squad have performed against Australia. While VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag raised their level, others like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly failed to live upto expectations.
| Overall Test Career | Record against Australia | Difference in Avg | |||||||
| Player | Mts | Runs | Hs | Avg | Mts | Runs | HS | Avg | |
| VVS Laxman | 96 | 6000 | 281 | 43.80 | 20 | 1823 | 281 | 50.64 | +6.84 |
| V Sehwag | 59 | 5074 | 319 | 52.85 | 10 | 1049 | 195 | 55.21 | +2.36 |
| SR Tendulkar | 150 | 11877 | 248* | 54.23 | 25 | 2352 | 241* | 56.00 | +1.77 |
| R Dravid | 124 | 10223 | 270 | 54.38 | 22 | 1717 | 233 | 47.69 | -6.68 |
| SC Ganguly | 109 | 6888 | 239 | 41.75 | 20 | 1079 | 144 | 31.74 | -10.01 |
| MS Dhoni | 29 | 1418 | 148 | 33.76 | 4 | 141 | 38 | 17.63 | -16.14 |
| G Gambhir | 17 | 1002 | 139 | 37.11 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2.00 | -35.11 |