India completed one of the most heroic Test victories on Australian soil when they won the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth by 295 runs on Monday. After India were bowled out for 150 on the opening day, this victory was not only far-fetched but a mere mention of a win would have been ridiculed.
But Indian cricket teams have been known to bounce back with their backs against the wall. In Perth, the resurgence was led by skipper Jasprit Bumrah, whose five-wicket haul in the first innings, will become part of cricketing folklore. That spell, combined with fine efforts from Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana, knocked Australia over for 104, giving India a lead worth its weight in gold.
If you did not follow proceedings in Perth, it’s okay to shake your head in disbelief. Rarely have Australia been floored that way in Australia. Unless they run into an Indian team. The batting unit needed to produce a stellar show this time and Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the foundation with a record-breaking hundred. His 161 was sublime to watch, not least because it even overshadowed an unbeaten 100 from the master Virat Kohli. KL Rahul, criticised for his poor run of form this year, produced an equally enthralling 77 while another Indian debutant, Nitish Reddy capped off a memorable debut with scores of 41 and 38 not out.
Faced with a daunting 534-run target, Australia imploded once again, losing three wickets before close of play on Sunday to the blistering pace of Bumrah and Siraj. Travis Head and Steve Smith showed some defiance on the fourth morning on a pitch which had become increasingly easier to bat on but they stood no chance against the expertise and skills of India’s feared bowling pair. While Siraj took Smith out with a peach, Bumrah ended Head’s entertaining knock for 89 to bring India on the cusp of victory.
Nitish Reddy added another feather to his debutant’s crown with the wicket of Mitchell Marsh as Australia hurtled towards another Test defeat against India.
India have been invincible on Australian soil for the better part of the last decade. After a 0-2 defeat in 2014 when MS Dhoni passed the baton on to Virat Kohli, India won back-to-back series and strengthened their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Now, they need to beat Australia soundly to stand a chance of making it to their third successive final of the World Test Championship.
A job well begun is half done and India would be thrilled with this cliché right now. India fired on all cylinders and their regular captain Rohit Sharma is now back with the team. Virat Kohli’s return-to-form hundred would also hold him in good stead as India and Australia shift their focus to Adelaide, the venue of the Pink Ball Test from December 6.
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