Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was in his element as he walked out to bat on Day 2 at Perth Stadium. Jaiswal survived the new ball and then took the attack to Australian batters. He did not refrain from giving it back to the Australian batters. After telling Mitchell Starc that he is too slow, Jaiswal engaged in an epic banter with Marnus Labuschange.
In the 44th over of India's second innings, Labuschagne stopped Jaiswal from taking a single. The opener was standing right outside the crease. When Labuschagne first attempted to throw, Jaiswal lifted his right leg. He did it again when Labuschagne threatened to throw the ball. The Australian batter had a smile on his face as he did it for the third time and this time Jaiswal used his bat.
The commentators loved the banter between the two players. Earlier, the left-handed opener completed his half-century from 123 balls. This is the most deliveries taken by Jaiswal to reach fifty runs in Test cricket.
Jaiswal, Rahul dominate Australian bowlers
At the end of the day's play, he remained unbeaten for 90 off 193 balls. He hit seven fours and a couple of sixes. KL Rahul and Jaiswal shared an unbeaten 172-run partnership from 342 balls. India are in the driver's seat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener with a 218-run lead in the bag.
Jaiswal and Rahul became the fourth visiting opening pair to bat over 50 overs in an innings in Australia in 21st century. They became the third Indian pair to score fifty-plus runs in a Test in Australia.
Jaiswal to break McCullum's record
With his second six, Jaiswal also equalled former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's decade-old feat in Test cricket. McCullum holds the record for most sixes in a calendar year. The wicketkeeper-batter hit 33 sixes in 2014. Jaiswal is one six away from breaking McCullum's record.
Jaiswal, Rahul to achieve massive feat
Also, Jaiswal and Rahul can break the 38-year-old record for most runs by an Indian opening pair on Australian soil. The record belongs to Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth. They shared a 191-run stand in Sydney in 1986.
