Australia and India are set to meet in a five-match Test series starting November 22 in Perth’s Optus Stadium. It will be followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6-10. The 3rd clash is at Gabba (December 14-18), followed by MCG (December 26-30) and SCG (December 2-6).

India have won the series in their last two visits to the nation, winning 2-1 each time (4-match series). Notably, India have beaten the Aussies in four successive series home and away and would love to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

As per ESPNcricinfo, India and Australia have clashed on 107 occasions in the longest format. India have gone on to claim 32 wins with the Aussies winning 45 matches. Notably, 29 matches have been drawn, with a solitary contest ending in a tie. Down Under, India have won a total of nine matches from 52 attempts, losing 30 and drawing 13.

India are no longer poor tourists, having impressed in both England and South Africa. Amid all the chatter of Australia set to dominate the visitors this time, one expects to see a closely fought contest as both teams will need to be at their best to eke out favourable results and stake their claim as the supreme side. With several records on offer for both sets of individuals in these teams, we decode the milestones that can be breached.

Kohli can join Sachin with these dual milestones against Australia

Indian talisman Virat Kohli has enjoyed batting in Australia. He owns a tally of 1352 runs at 54.08 with the help of six tons and four fifties. Notably, Kohli is just 148 runs shy of becoming the 2nd Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar to score 1,500-plus on Aussie soil. Sachin managed 1809 runs Down Under at 58.98.

Overall, Kohli owns 2042 runs against the Aussies at 47.48 with the help of eight tons and five fifties. If Kohli can replicate his past form, he can breach the 2500-run mark and join Sachin in this regard as the 2nd Indian to do so. Sachin is the top scorer in India vs Australia matches with 3630 runs at 55.

Steve Smith can join Ponting as the 2nd Aussie with these feats against India

Smith has managed 2042 runs against India at a sensational 65.87. He is 458 runs shy of becoming just the 2nd Aussie batter after Ricky Ponting to slam 2500-plus runs against India. Ponting managed 2555 runs against India at 54.36.

Smith, who has the knack of scoring big runs, can become the 2nd Aussie after Ponting with 1500-plus runs in Australia against India. Smith owns 1082 runs versus India at home and is 418 shy of the 1500-run mark. Ponting scored 1893 runs against India at home.

10000 runs for Smith in Test cricket

Smith has accumulated a total of 9685 runs in the longest format for the Aussies at 56.97. He is 315 runs short of reaching the landmark of 10000 runs. He can become just the 4th Aussie with 10000-plus runs after Ponting (13378), Allan Border (11174) and Steve Waugh (10927).

Smith is also set to go past 5000 runs at home. He has amassed 4701 runs at home, averaging 62.68.

Steve Smith owns 3486 runs at 50.52 in the World Test Championship. He is 14 shy of the 3500-run mark. He will become only the third batter to do so.

Lastly, he is also eyeing 14500 runs in First-Class cricket, having scored 14310 runs at an impressive 54.30.

Marnus Labuschagne closing in on 4000 ICC World Test Championship runs

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne is the 2nd-highest scorer in the ICC World Test Championship after England’s Joe Root. Started in 2019, the ongoing 2023-25 cycle is the third edition of the tourney. Labuschagne owns 3904 runs and can become just the 2nd batter with 4000 runs in the tournament.

Labuschagne owns 11491 runs in FC cricket at 45.96. He is nine shy of 11500 runs in the format.

He can also race past 4500 runs in test cricket for Australia (4114) in addition to 3000 runs at home (2623).

ICC World Test Championship: Ashwin and Lyon on verge of making history

Premier spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon are the top two wicket-takers in ICC World Test Championship history. Ashwin has 194 scalps at 21.32. Lyon owns 187 scalps at 26.70. During the five-match series, both players can breach the 200-wicket mark and write their names in history books.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is three shy of 150 scalps in this global event, having taken 147 scalps.

Usman Khawaja set to complete 3000 runs at home

Veteran Aussie opener Usman Khawaja is eyeing a special milestone at home. He could get past 3000 runs. At the moment, he has 2855 runs at 52.87 with nine tons and 13 fifties. Meanwhile, Khawaja is also closing in on 5500 runs overall. He has 5451 runs at 45.80. Khawaja can also get past 14500 runs in FC cricket. He has a tally of 14337 runs at 44.52.

Rishabh Pant closing in on 3000 Test runs

India’s star batter, Rishabh Pant, can make a difference for his side. He has 2693 runs and is 207 shy of the 3,000-run mark. Pant averages 44.14 and owns 20 fifty-plus scores.

Pant has 879 runs versus pacers in SENA nations and is 121 shy of the 1000-run mark. Meanwhile, he has amassed 1426 runs in SENA overall from 21 matches (39 innings) at an average of 39.61. He is 74 shy of 1500 runs in SENA.

Pant (1997) is just three short of 2000 runs in the WTC.

KL Rahul can get to these triple milestones

KL Rahul is on the verge of completing 3000 runs in Tests. He is just 19 shy of the landmark. He averages 33.87 and owns 8 tons and 15 fifties with the best of 199.

1832 of Rahul’s runs have come in away matches (home of opposition) at 31.05. He is 168 shy of 2000 runs in away matches.

Meanwhile, Rahul is also closing in on 7000 runs in FC cricket. He has 6986 runs at 43.39.

Australia’s Head and Starc aren’t far away from these milestones

Australia’s Travis Head has 10829 runs in FC cricket. He is 171 shy of 11000 runs in FC cricket. Head, who owns 3173 runs in Tests, is closing in on 2000 runs at home. He owns 1922 runs and is 78 shy of the milestone.

Starc has 48 scalps versus India at 38.54 and is two shy of the 50-wicket mark. He is also nine shy of 550 FC scalps (541). He is also closing in on 3000 FC runs (2984).

Youngsters Jaiswal and Gill are looking for these feats

Yashasvi Jaiswal owns 1407 runs for India and 93 shy of the 1500-run mark. He can also breach 3500 runs in FC cricket. He has 3291 runs at 65.82.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has 1800 runs for India and is 200 shy of the 200-run mark. He is also closing in on 4500 runs in FC cricket. He owns 4388 runs at 48.75.