India stormed to victory in the opening Test in Perth with a commanding 295-run win on Monday, leaving Australia reeling and searching for answers.
Set a daunting target of 534 for victory, the world’s top-ranked Test side collapsed to 238 all out in the final session of day four.
A gritty Travis Head resisted with a counter-attacking 89, while Mitchell Marsh contributed 47, but it was never going to suffice against an inspired Indian bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah, irrepressible throughout, took 3-42 to finish with eight wickets in the match, ably supported by Mohammed Siraj, who claimed 3-51.
The result marked a remarkable turnaround for India, who arrived in Australia off the back of a humiliating 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand. Few gave them much chance of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they have held since 2017. Now, with a psychological edge and the return of captain Rohit Sharma for the second day-night Test in Adelaide next week, they look reinvigorated.
The triumph was only India’s second in Perth and their first since their memorable victory at the WACA Ground in 2008. Under Bumrah’s temporary captaincy, they thoroughly outclassed an ageing Australian side now under the microscope for its inability to perform.
After a dismal 104 in reply to India’s first-innings 150, Australia’s bowlers were powerless to stop an outstanding 161 from rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal and an unbeaten century from the legendary Virat Kohli.
Australia’s batting line-up, long reliant on one major score or partnership to dig them out of trouble, was comprehensively outwitted. Their highest stand across both innings was just 82, and on Monday, they again crumbled under pressure.
Resuming on 12-3 after a late collapse on Sunday, Usman Khawaja (3*) and Steve Smith (0*) were at the crease. Khawaja added just one before mistiming a pull shot off Siraj, resulting in a top edge caught by a backtracking Rishabh Pant. Pant, fresh off becoming the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history at Sunday’s auction, delivered another exceptional performance behind the stumps.
Travis Head, though fortunate to survive an lbw review on seven, battled valiantly, striking seven boundaries en route to his 17th Test fifty. At the other end, Smith endured a punishing bouncer from Harshit Rana that struck him in the midriff, requiring a moment to recover. He too survived an lbw review on 12 but was undone by Siraj, edging a delivery to Pant for 17.
Head and Marsh added 82 to provide a glimmer of hope, but Bumrah once again proved decisive. Head, seemingly on course for a century, feathered a catch to Pant, prompting an exuberant double fist-pump from Bumrah.
Marsh kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Alex Carey but dragged a wide delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy onto his stumps for 47. Mitchell Starc, Australia’s top-scorer in the first innings, fell for 12 just before tea, and the tail was swiftly cleaned up in the final session.
India’s emphatic victory not only set the tone for the series but also underscored their determination to silence doubters and extend their dominance in Test cricket.
