Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian cricket team created history by defeating Pat Cummins' Australia by 295 runs in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which was played at the Optus Stadium in Perth, on November 25 (Monday). They became the first team to beat the Aussies at the Optus. Aussies were 4-0 at this ground and had previously also defeated India here in 2018 but astonishing performance from both Indian batters and bowlers stunned the hosts.
Low-scoring first innings
India was coming into this match after suffering an embarrassing 0-3 loss at home against New Zealand. Entering the match, they were without their regular captain Rohit Sharma, who was on paternity leave and star batter Shubman Gill who suffered a thumb injury. They were facing a lot of backlash and needed to win this match to stay alive in the race for the World Test Championship final.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first but could only post 150 runs on the scoreboard. It also witnessed a controversial dismissal of KL Rahul but Pant and Reddy guided them to a fighting total. In the beginning, it appeared to be a low score but the Bumrah-led Indian pace attack made it seem like a mammoth target on the board to the hosts. 17 wickets fell on days 1 - 10 of India and 7 of Aussies.
Mitchell Starc showed some resilience and delayed their collapse but the Aussies got out on 104 runs and gave India a massive 46-run lead heading into the second innings. Bumrah picked a fifer in the first innings while debutant Harshit Rana took three and Siraj settled with two.
India batters turn the tables on Aussies
A pitch that saw two batting line-ups collapse on the first day was considered to be a threat again on Day 2 but Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul had something else in mind. Both of them joined a historic 201-run opening partnership, the highest ever by any Indian opening duo. They not only frustrated the Aussie pace attack but also ensured that India got the start that could ensure their victory.
KL Rahul silenced all his critics with a 77-run crucial knock. Young Yashasvi Jaiswal who got out on duck in the first innings smashed 161 runs in the second. The remaining of the work was done by Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli on their departure. Kohli smashed his much-awaited 81st Test ton and gave Aussies one last blow.
India declared their innings on 487/6 and with a lead of 46 their score added up to 533. Aussies had an impossible task up their hand as to win this they had to chase their highest-ever target on Australian soil.
India's historic win
Australian batter once again fell short in front of Indian pacers. No one apart from Travis Head, who scored 89 could put up a fight. Mitchell Marsh did score 47 but it was not enough for a target this big. The Aussies eventually collapsed and the visitors registered another iconic win. They now have won a Test match in each and every Australian ground they have played at.
