1st Test: Virat Kohli 100, Yashasvi Jaiswal 161 deflate Australia as India smell victory

Virat Kohli marked a return to form with a morale-boosting century, following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s masterful hundred, as India declared their second innings at 487 for six, setting Australia a daunting target of 534 runs to chase on Day 3 of the opening Test on Sunday. Captain Jasprit Bumrah then took two took quick wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 12 for 3 at the end of play on the third day at Optus Stadium.

Kohli struck eight fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 100 off 143 balls, sharing an 89-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Washington Sundar (29) and an unbroken 77 off 54 balls with Nitesh Reddy (38*) to bat Australia out of the match. This came after Jaiswal’s impressive 161 at the top of the order. India lost only Washington in the third session after Australia picked up four wickets post-lunch, but Kohli’s efforts put India firmly in control.

Jaiswal, who scored his fourth Test century in the morning, hit 15 boundaries and three sixes in his 297-ball innings before being dismissed by Mitchell Marsh, caught by Steven Smith. Devdutt Padikkal (25), Rishabh Pant (1), and Dhruv Jurel (1) were the other Indian batters to fall in the post-lunch session.

Having scored just 150 in their first innings, India had earlier bowled Australia out for 104 in their first innings.

In their second innings, Jaiswal and KL Rahul (77) shared a record-breaking 201-run opening stand, the highest by an Indian pair on Australian soil, putting India in a commanding posi

If India goes on to win the Test, Jaiswal’s partnership with KL Rahul, which yielded 201 runs for the opening wicket, will be just as pivotal as Bumrah’s five-wicket haul in the first innings.

JAISWAL’s CAREER-DEFINING 161

Jaiswal’s 161 was a career-defining moment, and his contribution was reminiscent of a milestone set 32 years ago by a young Sachin Tendulkar, who made his own global mark at the WACA ground. Jaiswal, at 22, has now become the second-youngest Indian batter after Tendulkar to score a century at Perth. His 15 fours and three sixes, combined with his calm and assured batting, demonstrated his promise as a long-term prospect for Indian cricket.

One of the highlights of Jaiswal’s innings was his ramp shot off a bouncer from Josh Hazlewood, which helped him reach his fourth Test century and his first in a SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) country. The celebration was a proud moment for the young batter, acknowledging his hard work and the significance of his achievement.

Jaiswal and Rahul’s 201-run opening partnership surpassed the previous record of 191 runs, set by Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986. Jaiswal’s confidence was evident throughout the innings, as he played some exquisite shots, including a beautiful off-drive off Mitchell Starc after the second new ball was taken.

Though Padikkal showed some promise with a 74-run partnership with Jaiswal, he was unable to convert his start into a big score. Nevertheless, Jaiswal’s dominance at the other end ensured India’s advantage continued to grow.

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