Jaiswal and Kohli slam centuries as Australia stare down defeat

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Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a majestic 161 and Virat Kohli roared back to form with a vintage century on Sunday as India sealed victory against Australia in the first Test in Perth.

The visitors declared their second innings at 487-6 in the final session on day three after Kohli reached 100.

Faced with an ominous 534 to win, Australia needed to survive 30 minutes before stumps.

But they imploded instead with debutant Nathan McSweeney out for a duck to Jasprit Bumrah and nightwatchman Pat Cummins fell for two, putting Mohammed Siraj to Kohli in the slip.

When Bumrah caught Marnus Labuschagne (3) lbw, stumps were called with Usman Khawaja not out three and Australia in disarray at 12-3.

The day belonged to Jaiswal, who grew up homeless in the slums of Mumbai and hit 15 fours and three sixes in a mature 297-ball stay.

The 22-year-old opener, in his 15th Test, looked certain for a double century but he cut Mitchell Marsh to Steve Smith at one point and departed to a standing ovation.

Kohli was also on fire in a welcome resurgence after an extended lean spell that questioned his place in the team.

The 36-year-old superstar rode his luck to bring up a 30th Test ton and his first since July last year to silence the critics.

While Kohli has struggled in recent Tests, he has an exceptional record in Australia and now has seven centuries, averaging over 54.

Along with Jaiswal, Australia removed Devdutt Padikkal (25), Rishabh Pant (1), Dhruv Jurel (1) and Washington Sundar (29), after accounting for KL Rahul (77) before lunch.

Rahul’s demise broke a 201-run opening partnership with Jaiswal, a record for India in Australia, and eclipsed the previous best set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986.

The visitors resumed after taking control on day two as Australia were dismissed for a woeful 104 in reply to India’s 150.

Paddling 172-0, Jaiswal took a risky single off Josh Hazlewood’s opening ball to signal his attacking intent.

The left-hander, who opened on 90, reached three figures with an extraordinary six off Hazlewood, hitting the boundary marker full-on and raising his arms in triumph.

It was his fourth ton and first in Australia.

Since scoring 171 on debut against the West Indies in 2023, Jaiswal has cemented his place at the top of the Indian order.

An eye-opening 214 not out at home against England this year catapulted him to stardom, but concerns remained over how he would fare in Australian conditions.

After being out for a duck in the first innings, his response against one of the world’s best attacks put all doubts to bed.

With the sun behind them, Australia finally got a reward for their toil as Rahul feathered Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Instead of Rohit Sharma, who stayed home for the birth of his second child, the 32-year-old did a great job of supporting his young partner.

Skipper Rohit is set to return for the second Test in Adelaide, posing a selection headache for the visitors.

Australia got another breakthrough on the first ball after lunch when Paddikal edged Hazlewood to Smith at slip.

Jaiswal’s dismissal sparked a mini-collapse with Pant being hit by Carey and Jurel out lbw to Pat Cummins.

But Kohli and Sundar steadied the ship and put on 89 for the sixth wicket before Nathan Lyon bowled Sundar.

It introduced Nitish Kumar Reddy who, along with Kohli, went on an attack against a tired attack.

mp/pst