India’s massive 295-run victory in Perth after being bowled out for just 150 in their first innings is being celebrated as one of the best Test victories on the Australian soil, as stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah started a turnaround before Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli took over. And former India captain Sourav Ganguly warned the Aussies that there’s more to come from this Indian team.
‘Player of the Match’ Bumrah followed up his five wickets in the first innings with three in the second, while Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden ton (161) in Australia in his first match Down Under and Kohli roared back to form with his 30th Test century (100 not out) to bat the hosts out of the game.
Setting the hosts a mammoth target of 534, India (150 and 487/6 declared) hammered Australia (104 and 238) to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Before flying to Australia, India were whitewashed by New Zealand in a three-Test series at home, which raised question marks over whether the team will be able to repeat its series triumphs on the last two tours of Australia.
“Obviously there were media reports in Australia that ‘we will blow them away’. Look who has blown them away in the first Test,” said an ecstatic Ganguly on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he is part of the Delhi Capitals camp as JSW Sports’ Director of Cricket.
“Indian cricket has enormous talent, and this is for Australia: Play well, otherwise it’s going to be a long series for you,” he warned the Aussies before praising India’s star performers.
“It’s great to see Bumrah, wow! Bumrah, Kohli, Yashasvi – a 22-year-old, first Test in Australia, superb! I liked the young boy from Hyderabad, Nitish (Kumar) Reddy. The seamers bowled well. They never looked out of place on a big occasion, big stage, playing for India.
“They’ll keep putting pressure on Australia in the next four matches.”
Ganguly added that the day-night Test with the pink ball will present a different challenge to the Indian team.
“The next Test is important for me because in day-night Tests, Australia have a great record in Adelaide. We Indians will have to get used to that pink ball. But it’s a long series and I’ve got my fingers crossed for India winning the series.”
India will play a day-night practice match before the pink-ball Test in Adelaide beginning December 6.
The visitors have been further bolstered as the team’s regular skipper Rohit Sharma has joined them in Australia. Rohit missed the first Test as he was on a paternity leave following the birth of his second child.
