Picture : BCCI / X
Team India showed great grit and courage as they humbled Australia at their backyard in four days to win the first Test of the five- match BGT2025 at Perth by a massive 295 runs. India now take 1-0 lead in the series.
For India to win at Perth’s imposing Optus stadium was phenomenal since it was bowled out for mere 15o in the first innings after stand- in skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and opted to bat first. Where only KL Rahul ( 26 ) , Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy impressing with an aggressive 41 saved India from embarrassment, Before that the top order flopped – Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), Virat Kohli ( 5) , Devdutt Padikkal ( 0) , Dhruv Jurel ( 11) managed to rech double figures.
The Aussies were on top with their bowling . Josh Hazlewood was outstanding with 4/ 29, Mitchell Starc 2/ 14 , Skipper Pat Cummins 2/ 67 Mitchell Marsh 2/ 12 , Nathan Lyon 0/ 23
In reply , India needed early wickets to stay in the hunt and they did just that . Skipper Jasprit Bumrah led from the front . Aussies were rocked early with newcomer Nathan McSweeney trapped leg before to Bumrah for a tentative nervy ( 100, Usman Khwaja did not stay long out for ( 8), Steve Smith was dismissed first ball for ( 0). Marnus Labuschagne hung on for long but failed miserably to rotate strike . His 2 off 52 balls hurt Aussies big time. It added more pressure. Travis Head ( 11) Mitchell Marsh ( 6) meant theta the Aussie total was at one point a shocking 47/ 6 . Alex Carey ( 21) and some vital late order hitting by Mitchell Starc ( 26) saved Australia for being bowled out in double digits. Australia were eventually bowled out for below par 104 . Giving India stunning 46 run lead .
India were on fire with the ball – Skipper Jasprit Bumrah showing the way 5/ 30, Mohammed Siraj 2/ 20 , debutant paceman Harshit Rana 3/ 48.
In the second Innings , India came out with a mission to bat out Australia in the match and they did in superb fashion. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul put India on top with a sensational 201 run opening stand. K L Rahul stroked a fine 77. Jaiswal who was out for 0 in the first innings made amends with a brilliant ton a majestic ( 161) . Devdutt Padikkal ( 25 ).
Superstar Virat Kohli scored his 30th Test hundred, first in 16 months a fine 100 not out . His seventh in Australia. And King Kohli did not forget to dedicate hundred to his wife Anushka Sharma, who was in the stands cheering him on. Nitish Reddy played fine camo 38 not out as India posted an imposing 486/ 6 declared . Setting Australia a mammoth 534 runs to win in two days time.
Aussie bowlers had a tough day a rare sight that too in Australia and their figures said it all . Mitchell Starc 1/ 111, Josh Hazlewood 1/ 28, Pat Cummins 1/ 86 , Mitchell Marsh 1/ 65 , Nathan Lyon 2/ 96, Marnus Labuschagne 0/ 38. Travis Head 0/ 26
Chasing with barely 20 minutes left before close of play on the 3rd day the last thing Australia dreaded was loss of wickets . And their fears came true. Debutant Nathan McSweeney trapped leg before to Bumrah ( 0), Usman Khwaja followed soon for ( 4). Bold move by Skipper Pat Cummins to come in at three but he too with tired legs could not do much out for ( 2). Marnus Labuschagne ( 3) was dismissed on the last ball of the day for 0 by Bumrah . Australia on the rocks with 12/ 3.
📸 📸 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙝 🥳
Scorecard – https://t.co/gTqS3UPruo#TeamIndia | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/3ewM5O6DKs
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2024
The question was how long Aussies were going to delay the inevitable. Travis Head when the play resumed took charge and went on to score a fighting 89. Steve Smith’s poor run continued out for 17. Mitchell Marsh ( 47) , Alex Carey ( 36) , Mitchell Starc ( 12) were the other scorers as Aussies were bundled out 238 / 10 . The Aussie batting was a huge let down in this match. 104 and 238 is not rhw core that will please coach Andre Macdonald and Skipper Pat Cummins.
India were relentless and aggressive : Jasprit Bumrah 3/ 42 , Mohammed Siraj 3/ 51, Harshit Rana 2/ 69 , Washington Sundar 2/ 48 , Nitish Reddy 1/ 22. Helping India romp home . A sight not many had visualised after 3-o loss at home to New Zealand. proving why cricket is game of glorious uncertainties.
As Cummins ponders over batting failure, India are boosted with the return of skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the second test as he joined the team at Perth.
