BGT 2024 1st Test: Jaiswal-Kohli hit centuries on Day 3
The first match of the India vs Australia 5-match Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is being played in Perth. On Sunday, on the third day of the match, Team India reached the driving seat. India has set a huge target of 534 runs. Australia lost 3 wickets by adding 12 runs in 4.5 overs in the second innings till stumps today. Jaspreet Bumrah who is leading the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma and fellow new ball bowler Mohammad Siraj picked up 2 and 1 wicket respectively to rattle the Australia at the end of day 3. Nathan McSweeney (0), Pat Cummins (c) and Marnus Labuschagne (3) have returned to the pavilion. Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on 3 runs.
Earlier, after Virat Kohli’s century, India declared their second innings at 487 runs. Apart from Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century for India. He played a brilliant innings of 161 runs. At the same time, KL Rahul scored 77 runs. The duo stitched together a 201 run partnership for the first wicket. If Australia has to win the Perth Test, history will be created. In fact, the highest target chase in the history of Test cricket is 418 runs. Till date, a target of 500 or more runs has not been chased in Test cricket. India had put 150 runs on the board in the first innings, in response to which the Australian team was reduced to just 104 runs. India had a lead of 46 runs after the first innings.
Jaiswal and Rahul, who started on the third day at 172 runs, initially ensured that the pace of runs should not stop before the second new ball came. Jaiswal was playing freely. He was rampaging on bouncers and was easily cutting the good length balls of the fifth stump and getting boundaries. Jaiswal soon reached his fourth century, becoming the third Indian player to make a century on his debut game down under. However, after some time Mitchell Starc broke Rahul’s defense and the ball took the edge of his bat and went into the keeper’s hands. But by then the Jaiswal-Rahul pair had become the first opening Indian pair to make a partnership of 200 runs in Australia.
Later in the day Virat Kohli notched up his 30th Test century and 81st International ton to take India to a commanding position in the first test. Kohli brough up his century in an uncharacteristic sweep shot boundary.
India has won the last two series in Australia. India created history by winning the Test series on the Australian tour of 2018-19 and 2020-21. India defeated the Aussies 2-1 on both occasions. So far 16 Test series have been played between India and Australia under the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India has won 10 of these Test series. At the same time, Australia has won 5 Test series. Apart from this, one Test series between India and Australia has ended in a draw. To play the final of the World Test Championship 2025, India will have to win this Test series against Australia 4-0. The final of the World Test Championship will be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to June 15 next year.
