Perth, Nov 24 (UNI) India continued to assert their dominance over Australia on Day 3 of the first Test at the Optus Stadium, reaching lunch at 275/1 with a commanding lead of 321 runs on Sunday.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul laid a strong foundation with a record-breaking 201-run partnership. After Rahul’s dismissal, Devdutt Padikkal kept up the charge, further frustrating the Australian bowlers.
Jaiswal played a sublime knock of 141* from 264 balls, becoming just the third Indian to score a century on his Test debut in Australia. His innings included 12 fours and 3 sixes, showcasing his dominance against the formidable Australian attack. This century also saw Jaiswal match the record for most Test centuries in a calendar year (3) by an Indian under 23, joining cricketing legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
Padikkal supported brilliantly with an unbeaten 25 from 70 balls, including two boundaries. Together, they added an unbroken 74-run partnership after Rahul’s departure, continuing to frustrate the Australian attack with their disciplined approach.
Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (1/82), struggled to make inroads. Starc finally broke through in the 63rd over, dismissing Rahul for 77 with a superb delivery. Josh Hazlewood was unfortunate, generating swing and variable bounce but lacking support. Nathan Lyon and Marnus Labuschagne, both ineffective, added to the hosts’ woes.
Rahul, who played a patient knock of 77 off 176 balls, helped blunt the Australian new-ball attack. After his departure, Jaiswal took control, smashing Hazlewood for a towering six to bring up his maiden Test century in Australia, visibly celebrating the achievement. Padikkal, meanwhile, played with precision, capitalising on loose deliveries, including a one-handed off-drive and a cracking cut shot.
The 201-run partnership between Jaiswal and Rahul now stands as India’s highest opening stand in Australia since Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth’s 191 in Sydney in 1986. It also ranks among the top five opening stands by visiting teams in Australia.
Jaiswal’s achievement of scoring a century in his first Test innings in Australia places him in elite company, joining the ranks of ML Jaisimha and Sunil Gavaskar. At just 23, Jaiswal has already scored four Test centuries, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri among India’s youngest prolific run-scorers.
India will aim to extend their lead further in the second session, already in a commanding position. The pitch has shown signs of variable bounce, which could pose challenges for Australia’s batsmen in their second innings. As it stands, India remains firmly in control of the Test.
Brief Scores:
India First Innings: 150; India Second Innings: 275/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 141*; KL Rahul 77, Devdutt Padikkal 25*), Mitchell Starc 1/82; Australia First Innings: 104
