Steve Smith of Australia has maintained his impressive form, following his century in Brisbane with another remarkable three-figure score, marking his 34th Test century during the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne. This century at the MCG is particularly noteworthy as it represents his 11th against India, setting a new record for the most Test centuries scored against this team.

His outstanding performance has played a crucial role in establishing Australia’s strong position on the second day of the ongoing Test, as the hosts have applied pressure on India with their aggressive strategy during the morning session.

With this 34th Test century, Smith now ranks tied for seventh place on the all-time list for the most Test centuries, sharing this honor with cricket icons such as Younis Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, and Brian Lara, all of whom have left a lasting legacy in the sport.

Currently, the only active player ahead of Smith on this prestigious list is England's Joe Root, who has 36 centuries. Smith is now focused on breaking into the top five. Notably, his journey has been characterized by remarkable consistency, achieving this milestone more swiftly than any former player who concluded their careers with 34 centuries in the format.

Most centuries vs India

Smith's century against India has established him as the most prolific batter in Test matches against the formidable subcontinent team. With 11 centuries to his name, he surpasses England's Joe Root, who has achieved 10 centuries in Test cricket.

The following is a list of players with the highest number of centuries against India in Test matches:

Steve Smith (Australia) - 11  

Joe Root (England) - 10  

Gary Sobers (West Indies) - 8  

Vivian Richards (West Indies) - 8  

Ricky Ponting (Australia) - 8  

Additionally, Smith has matched the legendary records of Donald Bradman, Matthew Hayden, and Jack Hobbs for the most Test centuries at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, each with 5 centuries.

With this recent achievement, Smith has narrowed the distance to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who holds the record for the most Test centuries for Australia with 41.