AUS vs IND: 1st Test, Day 3 Review – India add salt to Australia’s wounds

India got themselves into a position from where they could smell victory as Australia stared down the barrel at the end of Day 3 of the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, November 24.

Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed a century to start the day before Mitchell Starc gave Australia the first breakthrough at the score of 201 in the 63rd over. KL Rahul was the first Indian batter to be dismissed as he departed for 77. Devdutt Padikkal got himself set at the crease but perished for a 71-ball 25. From 313/2, India went down to 321/5 as Yashasvi departed for 161 and Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel scored one run apiece.

Washington Sundar gave good company to Virat Kohli as the duo put on 89 runs off 176 balls. After the all-rounder departed for 29, Nitish Reddy joined Kohli in the middle. The Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder slammed 38 off 27 balls and the former India captain also played his shots from the other end. Kohli registered his century off just 143 balls and India declared immediately with the score at 487/6. Australia were set an improbable target of 534 to chase down in the fourth innings. The hosts lost the wickets of Nathan McSweeney, Pat Cummins, and Marnus Labuschagne in the 4.2 overs that were played before Stumps. At 12/3, Australia need to pull off a miracle to get something out of this encounter.

Here are the talking points from Day 3:

3. Jasprit Bumrah wreaks havoc yet again

After his sensational five-for in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah took just four balls to give India the first breakthrough in the second. He got the better of McSweeney, who was out LBW. Bumrah also dismissed Marnus Labuschagne LBW for three on what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal scores fourth Test ton

Yashasvi notched up his fourth Test century on Sunday. All four of his centuries have been 150-plus scores. The southpaw finished on 161 off 297 deliveries and he hit 15 fours and three sixes. Yashasvi was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Marsh after playing a phenomenal knock.

1. Virat Kohli ends lean patch with a scintillating ton

Virat Kohli played some exquisite shots and ran swiftly between the wickets en route to a memorable century. His form in red-ball cricket was under the scanner for quite some time but this knock will give him loads of confidence going forward. Kohli hit eight fours and two sixes during his unbeaten innings.