The Indian cricket team scripted a historic victory in the first Test of the five-match series against Australia, defeating the hosts by 295 runs in Perth. Chasing a massive target of 534 runs, Australia folded for 238 on the fourth day, handing India an emphatic win.
Key Highlights of the Match:
- India’s First Innings:
India struggled in their first innings and were bundled out for 150 runs. However, the bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, responded brilliantly, dismissing Australia for just 104 runs, giving India a slim 46-run lead. - India’s Second Innings:
The Indian batting lineup shone in the second innings, declaring at 487/6. Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), Virat Kohli (100*), and KL Rahul (77) played key roles in building the mammoth target of 534 runs. - Australia’s Batting Collapse:
Australia’s chase began on a shaky note, losing their top four batters for just 17 runs. Despite a resilient 89 from Travis Head and 47 from Mitchell Marsh, the hosts couldn’t recover from the early damage. - Jasprit Bumrah Shines:
Jasprit Bumrah was the star performer, taking eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match. - Indian Bowling Masterclass:
Bumrah led the attack with 5 wickets in the first innings and 3 in the second. Mohammed Siraj also contributed with 3 wickets, while Washington Sundar picked 2, and Harshit Rana bagged 1 wicket.
Match Report:
- First Innings Battle:
- India opted to bat first but managed only 150 runs. Nitish Reddy top-scored with 41, followed by Rishabh Pant (37) and KL Rahul (26).
- For Australia, Josh Hazlewood took 4 wickets, while Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Marsh claimed 2 each.
- In response, Australia collapsed to 104, with Bumrah taking 5 wickets. Harshit Rana picked up 3, and Siraj claimed 2 wickets.
- Second Innings Brilliance:
- India turned the tide with stellar performances in their second innings. Jaiswal hit a magnificent 161, while Kohli reached his 30th Test century, scoring an unbeaten 100. KL Rahul added 77 to the tally.
- Australia’s Chase:
- The Australian batting lineup faltered early, losing Nathan McSweeney (0), Pat Cummins (2), Marnus Labuschagne (3), and Usman Khawaja (4) within 17 runs.
- Head and Marsh put up a fight with a 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but the Indian bowlers kept striking regularly.
This victory marks a remarkable achievement for India, as they became only the second team in history to win a Test match by a significant margin despite scoring 150 or fewer runs in the first innings, joining the West Indies’ feat from 1991.
With this emphatic win, India has set the tone for the rest of the series, showcasing their resilience and dominance on foreign soil.
