AUS vs IND: 1st Test, Day 4 Review – India etches a historic win in Perth
Team India recorded their largest-ever Test victory by runs on Australian soil, crushing the hosts by 295 runs at Perth’s Optus Stadium. This historic win surpassed their previous best of 222 runs in Melbourne in 1977.
Led by stand-in-captain Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding bowling performance, India dominated the match despite an underwhelming first innings total of 150 as India’s bowlers dismantled Australia for just 104 runs, with Bumrah’s five-wicket haul being the highlight of the first innings.
The visitors then took control in their second innings, courtesy of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant 161 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century, giving a huge target of 534 by declaring at 487/6.
Australia in their second innings was led by Travis Head’s fighting 89, but the Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj (3 wickets each), proved too strong.
The hosts were eventually bowled out for 238, unable to withstand India’s relentless pressure. This victory is a remarkable turnaround for India, who entered the series following a challenging 3-0 defeat against New Zealand.
Top Performers of the Match
Best Batter – Yashasvi Jaiswal
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the best batter for the visiting team in the Perth Test. After recording a duck in his first innings on Australian soil, the southpaw came back strong in the second innings with a solid century. In his 297 balls stay, Jaiswal smashed 161, hitting his fourth Test hundred. His knock was laced with 15 boundaries and three sixes helped India to reach a score of 487 and extend their lead beyond 500 runs. His opening stand of 201 runs with KL Rahul set the platform for the batters to follow.
Best Bowler – Jasprit Bumrah
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah delivered an impactful performance in the series opener. With eight wickets across the match, Bumrah not only helped India win a Test match in Perth but also won the Player of the Match award. In the first innings, he ended with figures of 5/30, where he bagged the wickets of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Steven Smith, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins. In the second innings, after the hosts declared the score of 487/6, the speedster gave
India breakthroughs later in the day by dismissing Nathan McSweeney and Marcus Labuschagne. On Day 4 he sent the well-set batter Travis Head packing with a brilliant delivery and ended with figures of 3/42.
What’s next for both teams?
With this win, India goes 1-0 up in the five-match series. Both sides will now take on each other in the second Test at Adelaide Oval from December 6-10, 2024 in a Pink-ball Test.
