Australia's first Test match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series kicked off at the Perth Stadium, and it turned out to be quite the spectacle, particularly for Indian fans. The highlight of the day came from captain Jasprit Bumrah, who took center stage with his stellar performance, bagging 5 wickets for just 30 runs, leading his team to secure a significant first-innings advantage.
On November 23, 2024, Bumrah's outstanding bowling helped India dismiss Australia for only 104 runs, marking the third-lowest score for the Australian team at home since the year 2000. By the time lunch arrived on Day Two, India found themselves with a comfortable 46-run lead after concluding their own innings at 150 runs.
Starting the day resuming from 67 for 7, the Indian team expected to end Australia's innings swiftly, but the last-wicket partnership between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who managed to score 25 runs off 110 balls, made things more interesting. Their resilience frustrated India's bowling attack, bringing the deficit below 50 runs.
Bumrah commenced his spell today by taking the wicket of Alex Carey with his first delivery, marking his 11th five-wicket haul in Test matches. Following him closely was debutant all-rounder Harshit Rana, who contributed significantly with figures of 3 wickets for 48 runs. Rana showcased his skills effectively, managing to bowl out Nathan Lyon, who was visibly cramped for room with the deliveries he faced.
Despite Bumrah missing out on another potential wicket due to Rishabh Pant's inability to grab the catch, Starc remained stubborn at the crease. He carefully defended against India's bowlers, even after taking one ball to the helmet from Rana. The initial swing of the ball became less pronounced after 40 overs, allowing Starc and Hazlewood to settle down and gather important runs for Australia.
Just before the players headed to the lunch break, Rana dismissed Starc, who miscued a slog, leading to his wicket at 26 runs off 112 balls. It was a well-deserved breakthrough for India, talent showcasing their end goal of grabbing the upper hand in this Test match.
The match stats by lunch read: India 150 all out versus Australia's 104 all out, giving India a lead of 46 runs. Bumrah's five wickets included significant dismissals, reinforcing his reputation as one of the premier fast bowlers globally. Harshit Rana's impressive debut performance made fans and selectors alike optimistic about India's bowling strength moving forward.
At the conclusion of Day Two's play, India extended their lead to 218 runs, during which another strong performance was exhibited by batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who put on an unbroken partnership of 172 runs. Jaiswal finished the day unbeaten at 90 runs, with Rahul not far behind at 62 not out.
Reflecting on his sensational debut, Harshit Rana expressed his excitement and satisfaction during the post-day press conference. He shared how happy he was personally with his bowling performance and the confidence he derived from the advice and inputs provided by veterans like Bumrah and Virat Kohli.
Rana remarked, "I am even happier with the team’s performance. The wicket of Travis Head was particularly significant for me. The team was discussing how to attack and set him up, which led to his dismissal." He emphasized the importance of teamwork and how Bumrah's tactics made his job as the debuting bowler more manageable.
He noted how veteran players assisted him by discussing which lengths and lines were effective on this surface and how those insights provided him with confidence. Rana said, "If you focus on the same line and lengths, it will be more helpful."
The young bowler recounted fond memories of his childhood, waking up early to watch India play against Australia and confessed to emotional moments when he learned he was selected for the Test side. Despite nerves the day before, he felt gratitude as he embraced the opportunity and managed to channel any anxiety during his debut match instead of letting it overwhelm him.
On the whole, Day Two turned out to be dramatically favorable for the Indian team. They have one foot firmly set on the path to securing victory and establishing dominion early on in this Test series against their Australian counterparts.
