India’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, etched their names into the history books as they recorded a century partnership on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia in Perth. This marked the first 100-plus opening stand for India on Australian soil since Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra’s memorable 123-run partnership at Sydney in 2004.
A rare feat Down Under
The Jaiswal-Rahul duo became only the sixth Indian opening pair to achieve this milestone in Australia. Their unbeaten stand further solidified India’s dominance, with the team ending the day with a significant lead of over 140 runs.
List of 100+ Opening Stands for India in Australia (Tests):
| Partners | Runs | Innings | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Gavaskar, K. Srikkanth | 191 | 1 | Sydney | 1986 |
| C.P.S. Chauhan, Sunil Gavaskar | 165 | 3 | Melbourne | 1981 |
| Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag | 141 | 1 | Melbourne | 2003 |
| M.H. Mankad, C.T. Sarwate | 124 | 2 | Melbourne | 1948 |
| Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag | 123 | 1 | Sydney | 2004 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul | 100* | 3 | Perth | 2024 |
Jaiswal bounces back
Jaiswal, playing only his second overseas Test, made amends for his first-innings duck with a composed 51* off 88 balls. Combining caution with aggression, the southpaw played some exquisite strokes, including a ramp shot off Mitchell Starc and a powerful flick over midwicket. His confidence was evident not just in his shot-making but also in his cheeky banter with Starc, to whom he quipped, “You are slow.”
Rahul’s solid anchor
At the other end, KL Rahul played a steady hand, reaching 41* with calculated precision. His on-drive off Pat Cummins was hailed as the shot of the day, showcasing his technical brilliance and composure. Rahul’s controlled approach complemented Jaiswal’s flair, with the duo laying a strong foundation for India’s second innings.
India in command
This partnership came on the back of a dominant bowling performance led by skipper Jasprit Bumrah, whose fiery spell (5-30) dismantled Australia for just 104. Debutant Harshit Rana provided excellent support, picking up three crucial wickets. Despite a resilient 25-run final-wicket stand between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia fell 46 runs short of India’s first-innings total.
With a solid lead and a century opening stand, India looks poised to push for a commanding total on Day 3. Meanwhile, Australia will need their bowlers to find breakthroughs early to stay alive in the contest.
Brief Scores:
India 150 & 100/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51*, KL Rahul 41*) lead Australia 104 (Mitchell Starc 26*; Jasprit Bumrah 5-30, Harshit Rana 3-48) by 146 runs.