Watch cricket video highlights of India tour of Australia 2024. 1st Test between Australia and India. Venue of the match will be Perth.
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India’s newest batting sensation, Yashasvi Jaiswal, delivered a masterclass of his own with a magnificent 161 to thrash a sluggish Australia in the opening Test at Optus Stadium, the same venue where Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli achieved historic hundreds. Then, late in the third day, Kohli added to his incredible century on the same field in 2018 by hammering home the lead with a drought-breaking century. His valiant efforts were in fruitless that time, but when India declared their second innings at 487 for 6, this time would most likely be different.
Australia collapsed to 12 for 3 in a thrilling 4.2 overs bowled in the shadows before stumps while chasing a record 534. A vicious ball from stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah snuck low and slammed into his pads, causing opener Nathan McSweeney to fall for a duck in the opening over, giving them a terrible start. McSweeney made 10 in the first innings, capping a difficult debut. Captain Pat Cummins entered the game as the nightwatchman with 20 minutes to go, but he was quickly defeated by Mohammed Siraj, leaving Australia at 9 for 2.
Despite his late appearance, Marnus Labuschagne was unable to stop the unplayable Bumrah from reviewing the lbw ruling with shoulder arms. Bumrah achieved the impressive numbers of 2 for 1 from 2.2 overs following a five-wicket haul in the first session. After their long-standing talisman and his apprentice crushed Australia’s morale on a stifling day in Perth with temperatures as high as 36 degrees Celsius, it concluded a day of full dominance for India. Australia went through the motions in a performance that was sure to draw a lot of attention, much like on day two.
Earlier in the day, the much-discussed pitch seemed innocuous, but it soon sprang to life with noticeable indications of uneven bounce that will help India even more. Jaiswal and KL Rahul had a fantastic opportunity to put India in an unbeatable position at the beginning of the day after they batted through the last two sessions of day two. They faced an onslaught from Australia that was eager to make up for a poor showing on the second day, when they seemed exhausted and uneasy due to the abrupt change in the pitch’s characteristics.
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood tried the old ball first, but Australia had their sights set on the second new ball. Starc and Hazlewood began with offensive lengths to get on the nerves of Jaiswal, who played and missed several times in the 1990s, after some cautious Australian tactics caught people’s attention on day two. Jaiswal, however, was unstoppable and celebrated his century in the most dramatic way possible, complementing his bold abilities.
He attempted to ramp a Hazlewood bouncer over the slip on number 95, but instead struck the fine leg, where the ball struck the boundary marker on the full. Jaiswal had to wait anxiously as the umpires checked after Starc, who was fielding close by, signaled a six. Jaiswal removed his helmet, raised his arms in the air, and punched the air, signaling the all-clear. When the openers made a mistake, there was a momentary lapse in focus. Jaiswal would have been run out by a long shot, but Cummins missed the direct hit from mid-off.
The openers had previously miscommunicated between the wickets, and a run-out seemed to be Australia’s best hope of breaking through. The 201-run partnership came to an end on the following delivery when Rahul, at 77, was caught behind pushing at a ball in the channel from Starc, making Jaiswal and Rahul the first Indian openers to compile a double century partnership in Australia. When Australia’s sixth-highest opening combination from overseas hitters came to an end, there were subdued celebrations and greater relief.
In the first innings, No. 3 Devdutt Padikkal, who got an opportunity when skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were not available, produced a painful 23-ball duck. However, with a huge platform constructed and improved batting conditions, his chances of success were significantly higher. With a push through gully on his fourth delivery, Padikkal got off to a good start and worked effectively with Jaiswal till lunchtime. Unstoppable, Jaiswal had a response for every Australian tactic. For a brief moment, Cummins tried a short-ball strategy without success.
Labuchagne was used, but he began with a wide, a wayward bouncer, and didn’t pose a danger enough to go back to legspin later in the day. Before lunch, the second new ball was taken, but Jaiswal and Padikkal scored easily and without any problems. But while a resolute Kohli emerged keen to break out of his form slump, Padikkal was bowled out on the first ball after the interval by Hazlewood, who was unquestionably Australia’s finest bowler of the session.
Kohli’s decision to bat well out of his crease demonstrated that he had learnt from his perplexing little stay at the crease in the first innings. He had spent a large portion of the first session armored up with his helmet on, underscoring his desire. Kohli changed his strategy this time and batted closer to the middle of his crease. Even though the situation was simpler, he appeared much more at ease and was happy to let Jaiswal steal the show. Jaiswal reached 150 once more, but he was given a reprieve as wicketkeeper Alex Carey missed a difficult leg-side opportunity.
In mid-off, Jaiswal crushed Cummins with contempt before unexpectedly carving a short and wide delivery from Mitchell Marsh straight to point, continuing Australia’s torment. When Jaiswal removed his helmet and glanced up into the sky as he left the field, the 26,000 spectators were equally astounded and gave him a well-earned standing ovation. After India lost 3 for 8, Australia enjoyed their greatest stretch of play since the middle of the first day when Lyon outwitted Rishabh Pant and had him stumped on 1.
Cummins then took a wicket by trapping Dhruv Jurel leg before wicket. However, Kohli was on a purpose and in a combative frame of mind when he struck Starc for six over the slip cordon, which regrettably struck a sitting security guard on the side of the head. Together with newcomer Nitish Kumar Reddy, who unleashed T20-style batting, he put his foot down with a declaration in their sights. With a boundary to deep fine leg, Kohli, who last achieved a Test century in July 2023, accomplished his 30th Test century in spectacular fashion.
In the midst of India’s announcement that a historic victory was imminent for the visitors, he removed his helmet, blew a kiss to his wife, and left the ground.
