Jaiswal and Kohli Shine as India Dominate Australia in First Test

Australia 104 & 12/3 need 522 more runs to beat India 150 & 487/6 dec (Jaiswal 161, Kohli 100, Rahul 77)*

India produced a masterclass on Day 3 of the first Test at Optus Stadium, led by a scintillating 161 from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli’s drought-breaking 30th Test century. The tourists declared at 487/6, leaving Australia a near-impossible target of 534.

India’s Dominance with the Bat

Yashasvi Jaiswal: The young prodigy announced himself on the big stage with a majestic 161. Jaiswal reached his century in style, lofting a Josh Hazlewood bouncer to the boundary for a nervy six. His 201-run opening stand with KL Rahul (77) was the highest by Indian openers in Australia.
KL Rahul: Played the perfect foil to Jaiswal, showcasing defensive grit and occasional flair to frustrate the Aussie bowlers.
Virat Kohli: After a rare lean patch, Kohli roared back with an unbeaten 100. Adopting a more conservative setup, he struck his first Test ton since July 2023, ending the innings with flair before India’s declaration.

Australia Collapse Under Pressure

Chasing a mammoth 534, Australia crumbled to 12/3 in just 4.2 overs:

Jasprit Bumrah: Leading as stand-in captain, Bumrah trapped debutant Nathan McSweeney for a duck and removed Marnus Labuschagne for 0 with a stunning lbw dismissal.
Mohammed Siraj: Continued his fine form, dismissing nightwatchman Pat Cummins to leave Australia reeling.

Highlights of the Day

Jaiswal’s Mastery: Despite early nerves in the 90s, Jaiswal smashed his second Test score of 150+ and dominated every Australian strategy.
Kohli’s Milestone: Scored his 30th Test century in the same city where he previously produced a heroic yet losing effort in 2018.
Australia’s Struggles: Their bowlers, barring Hazlewood, looked ineffective as uneven bounce played into India’s hands.

Day 4 Preview

With Australia needing 522 runs and facing a fiery Indian attack on a deteriorating pitch, a historic win for India seems inevitable. Can Australia show resistance, or will India wrap up a memorable victory in Perth?

Stay tuned for more updates.