The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is currently underway at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Coming into the series as hot favourites, Team India had a shaky start to the match, being bowled out for mere 150 runs on the first day. However, the Indian bowlers staged a stunning comeback to give it back to Australia as they folded the hosts for a lowly 104 runs, taking a crucial 46-run lead.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul create history with 172-run partnership in Perth
They didn't stop there as in their second innings, India's opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul displayed aggressive intent to put team on a driver's seat. As of the end of Day 2, Australia has failed to take a wicket, and both Jaiswal and Rahul combined to create history.
At the end of Day 2 of the first Test in Perth, the Indian opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul remained unbeaten, having put on a 172-run partnership. This marks a historic achievement, as it is the first time an Indian opening pair has scored a century partnership in Perth, considering both the WACA and Optus Stadium. The previous highest opening partnership for India in Perth was an 82-run stand by Navjot Singh Sidhu and Kris Srikkanth in 1992.
The 172-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul is also the highest opening stand by a visiting pair of batters at the Optus Stadium in Perth. This partnership is the second-highest opening stand for India in Australia in Test cricket. If they can add 20 more runs to their partnership, they will surpass the 191-run stand by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986, becoming the highest-scoring Indian opening pair in Australia. Jaiswal and Rahul's partnership was also first instance 38 years, where both Indian openers have scored half-centuries in a Test innings in Australia. The last time this feat was achieved was in 1986 in Sydney, by Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Let's have a look at the highest Indian opening partnerships in Australia:
Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth- 191
Yashavi Jaiswal, KL Rahul- 172*
Chetan Chauhan, Sunil Gavaskar- 165
Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag- 141
Vinoo Mankad, Chandu Sarwate- 124
Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag- 123
