India-Australia Tests bring in remarkable TV audiences

Star India is celebrating a record-breaking TV audience from the Border-Gavaskar Test series, revealing the fiercely fought contest was the highest-rating Test series ever on Indian television.

The series, which India claimed 2-1 when they triumphed in the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala, saw a total of 1.1 billion gross impressions across the four matches – more than any other Test series in the history of India’s Broadcast Audience Research Council – including 383 million for the enthralling third Test in Ranchi, where a gritty batting performance from Australia on the final day secured a draw.

Overall, each match averaged 282 million gross impressions, up from the 245 million for India’s one-off Test against Bangladesh the previous month.

Quick single: Warner reveals Rashid due diligence

Earlier in the summer, India’s five-match series against England, which the hosts won 4-0, averaged 243 million.

“The Indian cricket team continued their high levels of performance as they reclaimed the No.1 Test team title, beating opponents like New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia,” a Star India spokesperson said.

“With success across all the formats, the fans were delighted to witness such an action-packed home season of cricket with every session being exciting and unpredictable.

“For the advertisers, it reinforces the belief that nothing cuts across like cricket in India.

“At Star Sports, we understand the pulse of the fans, and that helped us carry out inspiring integrated marketing campaigns that made this home season a memorable one.”

The classic Border-Gavaskar battle captured the attention of not only Australian and Indian cricket fans, but people around the world.

When Australia arrived in India they were expected to lose 4-0, with India having won eight of nine Tests during their home season and had not lost a Test in their own backyard for some 20 matches, while Australia hadn’t won a single Test in India since the triumphant 2004 series.

Quick single: Kolkata upbeat about Lynn injury

Then, to the shock of the hosts, Australia not only beat India in the series opener in Pune but completely annihilated them.

Australia had the upper hand in the second Test in Bengaluru after Nathan Lyon captured eight wickets on the opening day, but India hit back to secure a series-levelling 75-run win.

In Ranchi, Australia dug deep. Faced with 100 overs to negotiate a draw, Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh refused to budge and batted for four hours to see the tourists draw the match and set up a series decider in Dharamsala.

There, Smith’s men fought back to restrict India to a 32-run lead after both sides had batted once, but a horror afternoon session on day three saw them lose 5-92 and surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.