The India Cricket Team made a sensational comeback after their batting failure on Day 1 of the IND vs AUS 1st Test in Perth. Since then, the visitors have shown immense character and grit in staging a sensational comeback to script a memorable win on Day 4 in Perth.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj stepped up when the team needed them to perform. India turned the scales of the game by 180 degrees to script a sensational comeback and win at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
150 All Out on Day 1
Jasprit Bumrah surprised everyone when he won the toss and opted to bat first. The green pitch and the decision to bat first surprised everyone. And the Australian pacers ran riot. India headed into the Lunch on Day 1 with a score of 51/4 with Yashasvi Jasiwal (0) and Virat Kohli (5) dismissed.
KL Rahul’s valiant defiance was cut end prematurely after a controversial dismissal. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy showed class with the bat. He lapped a well-stitched innings of 41 runs as India were bowled out for a score of 150 runs.
Bumrah rattles Australia with Fifer
Come Australia’s turn to bat, it was India who emerged on top. The hosts were completely blown apart by some devilish bowling from Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian pacers led by Bumrah ran riot as Australia were reduced to 67/7 at stumps on Day 1.
With the pitch becoming hard, Bumrah unleashed his fury to crumble Australia’s top order. He struck McSweeney and Khawaja early and then dispatched Steve Smith on a golden duck with relative ease. His last wicket of the day came in the form of Aussie skipper Pat Cummins as Bumrah ended Day 1 with a 4-wicket haul. Early on Day 2, he struck again to dispatch Alex Carey and complete his 11th Test fifer – 9th away from home.
Harshit Rana shines on Test Debut
A lot of hopes were pinned on Harshit Rana to perform well. The Young KKR pacer stole the headlines after his impressive performances in the last edition of the IPL. He went on to bag 3-crucial wickets in his first innings. On Day 1 with an absolute Jaffer, he bamboozled the dangerman Travis Head. The next day he went on to strike twice he dismissed Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
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Forged by Fire – KL & Jaiswal stands Tall
On Day 2, the Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal took the crease, determined to perform well and set the record straight. They initially proceeded with caution but as the pitch improved, went on to lap shots with relative ease. Both the batters reached their fifties and ended Day 2 with a score of 171 runs.
On Day 3 morning, the duo continued to parry hard and went on to script history. They registered a 201-run opening stand. The highest opening stand by Indians in Australia. They went on to overtake Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikanth’s 191-run record set in 1986 in Sydney.
Jaisball hits Australian shores
Day 3 of the Perth Test was everything about the Indian batters. And if one batter who shone the brightest was Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young southpaw hammered a sensational knock of 161 runs to victimize the Australians. He latched on to his debut Test hundred against Australia in style, claiming redemption of his 1st innings duck, he went on to hammer a sensation knock of 161 runs.
Return of the King
Virat Kohli had been under a huge scanner after his poor form in Test cricket. He went on to slam an International ton after 374 days. Virat Kohli stepped up when the team needed him to fire on all cylinders. King Kohli showcased his class and grit with an unbeaten century in Down Under.
This was Kohli’s 9th Test century. And with his latest century, his 7th Test ton in Down Under where he surpassed his Idol Sachin Tendulkar.
KL Rahul Solidifies His Spot
Ahead of the Perth Test, there was a lot of dilemma about KL Rahul’s place in the team. KL got his place as an opener in the team as Rohit Sharma missed the game for the birth of his second child. But when it mattered the most, KL Rahul showcased his class. In the first Test, he braved the initial storm, playing a solid 27-run knock before being controversially dismissed.
But in the second innings, he showcased his temperament with a brilliant 77-run knock. Taking the task to the opposition, he slammed 5 fours to compliment the young Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Nitish Kumar Reddy with a Memorable Debut
Nitish Kumar Reddy had a debut to remember. He scored runs on both the innings, yet again proving the point that India needs a strong batting all-rounder. In the first innings, he carried the charge tonking shots over the park to reach 41 runs, India’s highest score in the first innings.
In the second innings, he switched gears. Batting with a strike rate of 140.74, he slammed a fine 38 unbeaten knock from 27 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes. Reddy even had a wicket to his name when he scalped Mitchell Marsh who was looking deadly at 47.
Bumrah & Siraj breathes fire in Day 3
After India piled up a massive total of 487/6 Dec, India came out to bowl for the last 15 minutes on Day 3. And that was a masterstroke from the Indian side. The Aussies tired from fielding for over a day were tasked to bat. And India’s premium pacers Bumrah and Siraj jumped on the opportunity.
Australia went on to lose wickets in a spree. Bumrah dispatched McSweeney for a duck and Siraj struck. He scalped Pat Cummins who came to the crease as a night watchman. And the Bumrah with his usual magic, dispatched Marnus Labuschagne with a gem of delivery as stumps were called with Australia left reeling at 12-3.
