The first session of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener at Perth has belonged entirely to Australia. After opting to bat, India struggled against a fiery pace attack led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, reaching lunch at 51/4. The pitch offered plenty of movement, challenging the Indian top order from the outset.
Key Moments from the Session:
- Early Dismissals:
- Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal fell for ducks, unable to negotiate the seam movement generated by the Australian pacers.
- Virat Kohli tried to counter by playing forward but fell victim to the extra bounce and pace, leaving India in further trouble.
- KL Rahul Shows Resistance:
- KL Rahul appeared composed at the crease and looked set to anchor the innings. However, he was undone by a sensational delivery from Mitchell Starc just before the break.
- Starc and Hazlewood Shine:
- Both bowlers shared the wickets equally, exploiting the conditions brilliantly. Starc’s pace and Hazlewood’s precision kept the Indian batters under constant pressure.
- Current Batters at the Crease:
- Rishabh Pant (10*) and debutant Dhruv Jurel (4*) are at the crease, looking to rebuild after the early carnage.
Pitch Report:
The Perth pitch lived up to its reputation, providing movement for the pacers while offering steep bounce. The stormy conditions in the first session showed no signs of subsiding, making the task ahead even more challenging for the Indian batters.
India will need a significant partnership in the post-lunch session to stabilize their innings and prevent Australia from gaining complete control of the match. All eyes will be on Pant and Jurel to navigate the relentless Australian attack.