India showcased a commanding performance against Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 at the Optus Stadium, Perth. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India struggled initially, bowled out for just 150 runs. Australia, however, faced a more devastating collapse as Indian pacers dismantled their batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 104 runs in their first innings.
India capitalized on better batting conditions in their second innings. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge with a superb maiden Test century in Australia, scoring 161 off 297 balls. KL Rahul contributed a solid 77 off 176, laying a strong foundation. The highlight of the innings was Virat Kohli’s 81st international century, his first in Tests in six years. India declared their innings at an imposing 487/6, setting Australia a daunting target of 534 runs.
India’s pace attack continued its dominance as Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah rattled the Australian top order on Day 3, leaving the hosts three down at stumps. Day 4 saw a brief fightback from Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47), who put together an 82-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, the Indian bowling attack proved relentless. Bumrah and Siraj took three wickets each, while Washington Sundar and Harshith Rana chipped in to dismiss Australia for 239, securing a massive 295-run victory for India.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah was instrumental in India’s win. His first-innings five-wicket haul (5/30 in 18 overs) set the tone for Australia’s downfall. This stellar effort earned India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with the second Test—a pink-ball affair—scheduled in Adelaide.
