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Former England captain Alastair Cook lavished praise on India's performance during the first Test match against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Men in Blue captained by Jasprit Bumrah defeated Pat Cummins & Co. by 295 runs after getting bundled out on 150 in the first inning to take 1-0 lead in the five Test match series.
Cook reckoned that India was so brave as they opted to bat considering the condition of Perth Pitch and they fought hard ever after getting all-out on just 150 runs in the first innings.
"I thought India was so brave. I thought that first, you know, they win the toss and bat on that wicket, you look there, even though there's only 150 they got, the thought process to say, 'we're going to take Australia on there. We know it's going to be hard, but we think it's going to be hard for both sides only, and then it'll be a one-innings game'," Cook said on TNT Sports.
He added, "I think most captains would have bowled first, certainly would have done and probably got the end of a bad result, like normally in Australia. But India took it on brilliantly. It was just an all-round fantastic performance.
"You think... bowled out for 150, you think we're struggling here, but to bounce back when you've got Boomer (Jasprit Bumrah) up with the new ball on those kinds of wickets, he's always going to be outstanding and backed up by team." Captaining the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma, pace spearhead Bumrah came up with a magnificent performance to grab eight wickets, including a first-innings five-for, to lead India to a memorable win.
Cook on Ashwin
Cook who is the first England batter to make 10,000 runs in Test cricket also reckoned that India's move to exclude the legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI was a brave move considering his performance in the longest format of the game.
"Just think of how brave they were? They didn't bother playing Ashwin who has got 500 Test wickets. They've kind of played a couple of like, not makes you spinners, but you know, I thought Ashwin would have been outstanding, but you know, great thinking by them.
After winning the opening Test, Team India are currently preparing for the second Test match which will be a pink ball day/night Test scheduled to start from December 6 in Adelaide. India captain Rohit Sharma who missed the first Test due to paternity leave is all set to feature in second Test along with young batter Shubman Gill who was injured during India's match simulation session at WACA in Perth.
