Finally, the wait is over. The victory that had been looming since yesterday afternoon was achieved in the third session of the fourth day today. Team India has finally broken its 16-year wait for a Test win in Perth, defeating Australia by a massive margin of 295 runs in the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With this win, India takes a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The victory was secured in the third session of Day 4 after Australia was bowled out for just 238 runs in their second innings.

India set a target of 534 runs for Australia, following Virat Kohli’s century and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant 161 runs. The Australian team struggled against India’s bowlers and could not chase down the target. Jasprit Bumrah became the Man of the match, taking 8 wickets in total, which helped India clinch their first-ever Test win at Optus Stadium since 2008.

Head is No more a ‘headache’

One of the highlights of India’s victory was Bumrah’s success against Australia’s Travis Head, who had been a thorn in India’s side during the 2023 World Cup final. Head was troubled by Bumrah’s tactical approach, which targeted his weakness outside the off-stump. Bumrah set a perfect trap, using a short ball to push Head back into the crease, making it too late for him to cover the off-stump line. Bumrah’s well-executed strategy led to Head’s dismissal, marking a turning point in the match.

Bumrah used a short ball to force Head into a mistake, leading to his dismissal
Bumrah used a short ball to force Head into a mistake, leading to his dismissal ( Image source -BCCI Twitter)

Key Contributors to India’s Victory

Jasprit Bumrah’s Excellent Bowling: Bumrah was the star of the match, taking 5 wickets in Australia’s first innings and 3 more in the second. His performance was crucial in breaking Australia’s batting lineup, earning him the ‘Man of the Match’ title.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Big Knock: After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal made a strong comeback, scoring 161 runs in India’s second innings. His innings was key to India’s big total.

Virat Kohli’s Century: Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 runs in the second innings, ending his long wait for a century in Tests. His form was a big boost for India.

India’s Opening Partnership: The opening pair of Jaiswal and KL Rahul put on 201 runs for the first wicket, setting a new record for India’s highest opening partnership in Australia.

Bumrah’s Captaincy Shines

Despite an early setback in the first innings, where India was dismissed for just 150 runs, Bumrah’s leadership stood out. He made a brave decision to bat first, which raised eyebrows initially, but his faith in the team was rewarded. Bumrah’s tactical brilliance as a captain was evident, as he made crucial decisions that led to India’s dominant performance. His captaincy was key in maintaining India’s momentum, especially when he led from the front with the ball.

Bumrah’s performance earned him the title of 'Man of the Match.'
Bumrah’s performance earned him the title of ‘Man of the Match.’

India’s Biggest Win in Australia

This 295-run victory is India’s largest win by runs in Australia. It’s a huge achievement for Indian cricket and sets up an exciting contest for the rest of the Border-Gavaskar series.

With a 1-0 lead in the series, India will aim to build on this victory in the upcoming Tests. The win in Perth has boosted India’s confidence as they look to continue their strong form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Brief scores

India: 150 and 487/6 (Jayswal 161, Kohli 100*, Rahul 77, Nitish 38*; Lyon 2/96, Hazlewood 1/28).

Australia: 104 and 222 (Head 89, Marsh 47, Carey 36, Smith 17; Bumrah 3/42, Siraj 3/51, Sundar 2/48).

Result: India won by 295 runs.

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