India’s stand-in captain, Jasprit Bumrah, delivered a masterclass in fast bowling, leading his team’s stunning counterattack after Australia initially gained the upper hand on Day 1 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Despite India being bowled out for just 150, Bumrah’s fiery spells left Australia reeling at 67 for 7 by the close of play at Optus Stadium, putting India firmly in control.
The opening day was dominated by high-quality pace bowling from both sides. The pitch at Optus Stadium offered a typical mix of pace, seam, and bounce, which made life difficult for the batters. After a flurry of wickets, a remarkable 17 fell by the end of the day, with both teams struggling to make significant runs.
Bumrah’s Fiery Spell Turns the Tide
Bumrah was the star of the day, showing why he is widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world. The Indian pacer bowled three blistering spells, picking up four wickets, including two key scalps in an over—Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja—both of whom were dismissed in dramatic fashion. Bumrah’s unplayable deliveries, full of venom and precision, set the tone for India’s fightback. His performance was a crucial response after India’s own batting struggles earlier in the day.
Bumrah’s pivotal wicket of Steve Smith—who was playing in his preferred No. 4 position—came via a delivery that pitched outside the off-stump and jagged back to trap Smith in front of the stumps. Smith did not even consider reviewing the decision, a shocking moment for the Perth crowd as Australia lost two top-order batters in the space of a single over.
Labuschagne’s Strategy BackfiresAustralia’s Marnus Labuschagne attempted to emulate Cheteshwar Pujara’s patient approach but found it difficult to make an impact. Despite being dropped on 0 by Virat Kohli, Labuschagne could only muster 2 runs off 52 balls. His slow accumulation of runs failed to provide the momentum needed for Australia, and his strategy of grinding down the Indian bowlers backfired, leaving the hosts in a precarious position.
India’s Batting Struggles Continue
Earlier, India’s batting woes continued in challenging conditions. Despite Jasprit Bumrah winning the toss and choosing to bat, India’s top order struggled against the Australian pacers. Young debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, nicking an expansive drive off Mitchell Starc.
Devdutt Padikkal, also making a return to the Test side, looked overwhelmed and was dismissed for a duck after facing just 23 balls. Virat Kohli, batting outside his crease to combat the movement, fell to an extra-bouncy delivery from Josh Hazlewood, edging it to the slip cordon for just 5 runs.
Rishabh Pant showed some fight with a counterattacking 37, but he too fell victim to a poor shot selection, ending a crucial 48-run partnership with debutant Nitish Reddy. Pant’s dismissal was a moment of self-frustration, as he had been looking to accelerate India’s innings.
Nitish Reddy Shines on Debut
Despite the collapse, debutant Nitish Reddy impressed with a composed 41. The young batter looked confident in his first outing in whites, playing a series of flowing shots that showcased his natural game. Reddy’s resilience in the face of pressure was one of the few bright spots for India, as the team finished their innings on 150.
Bumrah Sets the Tone with Early Strikes
With the ball in hand, Bumrah wasted no time in making his presence felt. He struck early in Australia’s innings, dismissing debutant Nathan McSweeney LBW in just the third over. McSweeney, facing the relentless pace of Bumrah, was unable to adjust to the change of direction and fell for a duck.
As Australia’s top order crumbled, Bumrah was relentless, with excellent support from Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana. The Indian pace attack’s intensity was unyielding, and by the close of play, Australia found themselves in a dire position, still 83 runs behind India’s total.
With Australia at 67 for 7, India will be aiming to finish the job on Day 2 and capitalize on their dominant position. Meanwhile, Australia will need a remarkable fightback to avoid a collapse that would put India firmly in control of the first Test. Bumrah’s leadership with the ball has been nothing short of exceptional, and India’s pacers will be looking to finish what they started.
