India is on brink of victory against Australia on the Day 4 of first Test at Perth as the host are in great trouble in chasing the mammoth target set by the visitors.
Australia were at 187 for the loss of 7 wickets at the time of reporting the article. The host need more 345 to avoid the defeat as three wickets are remaining in the five-day match.
Australia face a monumental challenge as it starts Day 4 of the first Test at the Optus Stadium, chasing a massive target of 534 runs set by India.
At the end of Day 3, Australia was reeling at 12 for three in their second innings, with Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj delivering crucial early blows. Bumrah removed Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne, while Siraj dismissed skipper Pat Cummins, leaving the hosts in dire straits.
The day had begun with India in a commanding position, powered by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sensational knock. Batting under sunny skies, Jaiswal showcased his class with a century that drew comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 1992 innings at WACA. His flamboyant upper-cut six off Josh Hazlewood highlighted his confidence as he stitched a 201-run opening partnership with K.L. Rahul. Rahul’s composed 77 anchored the innings before he fell to Hazlewood after the new ball was taken.
Following Rahul’s dismissal, Devdutt Padikkal provided steady support, while Jaiswal continued to dominate. However, a misjudged shot against Mitchell Marsh ended Jaiswal’s innings at 162. The middle order stumbled briefly, with Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel departing cheaply, but Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar steadied the ship with an 89-run partnership. Kohli, blending finesse and aggression, reached his 30th Test century, with Nitish Kumar providing late fireworks.
India declared their innings at 487 for six, leaving Australia a daunting target on a pitch showing signs of variable bounce.
The match also witnessed the arrival of India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, who returned from paternity leave. Rohit, set to lead the team in the second Test at Adelaide, joined the squad ahead of the conclusion of this match.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal credited his opening partner Rahul for providing him with invaluable guidance during their marathon stand. “He kept me calm and focused,” Jaiswal remarked, reflecting on their partnership that dealt a psychological blow to Australia.
