Active Day 2 of the Perth TestThere was a dramatic turn in the Indian team’s fortunes as the opening duo Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul made a remarkable comeback in his second innings. India decided to capitalize on their first innings lead and the openers responded with maturity and aggressive batting.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are in charge
Jaiswal, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, bounced back strongly with an impressive 68* off 105 balls. His performance was particularly heartening as he found his rhythm and played a series of elegant shots, including boundaries that flowed off his bat with growing confidence.
Playing the role of anchor, Rahul on the other hand showed a calm and composed approach. He provided the perfect foil to Jaiswal’s aggression, scoring 50* off 98 balls. Together, the pair forged an unbeaten 100-run partnership that not only revived India’s fortunes but also put the team in a dominant position.
This partnership was significant on many levels as it marked the first hundred for India in Australia since January 2004. Akash Chopra and Virender Sehwag He had scored 123 runs at SCG. It was also the sixth instance of Indians achieving such a partnership on Australian soil, a record that adds to India’s growing legacy in Test cricket overseas.
A historic achievement in Australia
Rahul and Jaiswal’s partnership in Perth 2024 earned them a place in the elite list of Indian openers who both scored more than 50 runs in a Test match in Australia. Their partnership was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for India in the second innings and helped extend their lead over Australia.
This achievement is noteworthy for several reasons:
- This is the first time since 2004 that both Indian bowlers have crossed the 50-run mark in Australia.
- Their performance helped India get out of trouble and boosted their chances of a strong Test result.
Jaiswal showed impressive composure in his debut series in Australia, bouncing back from his first-innings ducks to score a fluent half-century. Rahul complemented Jaiswal perfectly with his calm and measured approach, with Jaiswal’s aggressive batting acting as an anchor as he set the tone. This partnership now joins an elite list that reflects their growing stature in Indian cricket. By adding their names to this prestigious list, Jaiswal and Rahul have left a significant mark on India’s Test history in Australia.
Elite list of Indians scoring 50+ in Australia
- Sunil Gavaskar (70) and Chetan Chauhan (85) – Melbourne 1981
- Sunil Gavaskar (166) and Chris Srikkanth (51)* – Adelaide 1985
- Sunil Gavaskar (172) and Chris Srikkanth (116) – Sydney 1986
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (68) and KL Rahul (50)** – Perth 2024
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India’s landmark comeback in Perth: From collapse to confidence
The first day of the opening Test in Perth got off to a disastrous start for India as they were bowled out for just 150 runs. Parking captain jasprit bumrah made a bold decision to bat first on the green, but it backfired as India’s top order crumbled against Australia’s relentless pace attack. Early wickets set the tone for a tough innings. At one stage India looked set for a very low overall but lower level of resistance Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) and Rishabh pants (37) Helped India break their path with a modest score.
Despite the top-order failure, India’s bowlers fought back strongly with Bumrah leading from the front. His fierce determination helped him claim five wickets for 30 runs in Australia’s innings. Bumrah’s performance was crucial as he dismantled Australia’s batting line-up and his five-wicket haul saw Australia bundle out for just 104 runs. It was Australia’s lowest home total against India since 1981 and gave India a crucial first innings lead of 46 runs, which was instrumental in changing the momentum of the match.
Jasprit Bumrah’s inspirational five-wicket haul
Bumrah’s brilliant bowling in Australia’s second innings was nothing short of exceptional. His five-wicket haul was a testament to his class and resilience as he made the most of the conditions. Led by Bumrah, the Indian bowlers took full advantage of the conditions which saw Australia struggle with disciplined fast bowling. The result was a crucial first innings for India, which not only put them in a commanding position but also set the stage for a dramatic recovery after the first innings.
