Yashasvi Jaiswal’s gritty knock powered the Indian cricket team to a strong position in the first Test against Australia of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series at the Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Jaiswal’s unbeaten 90 off 193 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes, took India to a commanding 172/0 in the second innings, an overall lead of 218 runs, at the end of the second day’s play.
KL Rahul gave him company at the other end with a patient 62 off 153 balls. This was also the first century partnership for the opening wicket for India in Australia after Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra added 123 runs during the Sydney Test in January 2004.
The 172-run partnership for the first wicket is the second highest for India against Australia Down Under, only behind Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s 191-run stand in Sydney in 1986.
With a lead of 46 at the end of the first innings, Jaiswal and his opening partner KL Rahul started their second essay cautiously. Jaiswal flicked pacer Mitchell Starc in the third over for his first boundary of the match.
The 22-year-old Jaiswal, who was retained by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025 season, showed immense patience, leaving a lot of balls and playing close to his body during the initial phase of the innings. The pair however kept the scoreboard ticking with their deft running between the wickets.
Enjoying watching Jaiswal bat. He is showing a delightful facet to his cricket; the ability to move from flamboyance to doggedness because the situation demands it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2024
Whenever the bowlers erred slightly in their line and length, Jaiswal pounced on the opportunity with his cuts and drives. The southpaw displayed his wide range of shots with a late cut off Pat Cummins and a cover drive off Starc.
The left-handed opener reached his fifty in 123 balls and gradually shifted gears scoring two fours and two sixes to reach 90 at the end of the day’s play.
In the process, he also scripted a record for most sixes in Tests in a calendar year (34) going past Brendon McCullum’s tally of 33 sixes.
Meanwhile, Rahul hit four fours and completed his half-century off 124 balls with the pair putting India in the driving seat with India ahead of Australia by 218 runs with all ten wickets in hand.
