NEW DELHI: From a dramatic collapse to a remarkable recovery, India’s fortunes shifted dramatically on the second day of the first Test in Perth. After losing 10 wickets in two sessions on the opening day, India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul staged a stunning comeback in the second innings, putting up an unbeaten hundred-run partnership against Australia.
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah’s decision to bat first on a green-top pitch initially backfired as India’s top order crumbled against Australia’s formidable pace attack. However, lower-order resistance from Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) and Rishabh Pant (37) helped India scrape to 150.
Bumrah, continuing his standout performance, led India’s reply with a sensational five-wicket haul (5/30), bundling out Australia for just 104. It marked Australia’s lowest total against India at home since 1981, giving India a crucial 46-run first-innings lead.
Scorecard: India vs Australia, 1st Test
In the second innings, Jaiswal and Rahul turned the tide. Jaiswal, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, roared back to form with his ninth Test half-century. Together with Rahul, he steered India to a commanding position, extending the lead beyond 150 runs.
Their century partnership was particularly significant, marking the first hundred-run opening stand for India in Australia since January 2004, when Aakash Chopra and Virender Sehwag put on 123 in Sydney. This stand is also only the sixth century partnership for the opening wicket by Indian openers on Australian soil.
The highest opening partnership for India in Australia remains 191, set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in January 1986.
Highest opening stand vs Australia in Australia
191 - SM Gavaskar, K Srikkanth (1986)
165 - CPS Chauhan, SM Gavaskar (1981)
141 - A Chopra, V Sehwag (2003)
124 - MH Mankad, CT Sarwate (1948)
123 - A Chopra, V Sehwag (2004)
115* - YBK Jaiswal, KL Rahul (2024)
While Jaiswal and Rahul have a long way to go to surpass that record, their resilient partnership has set the stage for India to push for a dominant position in this opening Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With three days remaining, India will look to build on this solid foundation and put Australia under pressure in the series opener.
