NEW DELHI: Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul‘s stellar batting performance on the second day of the first Test against Australia in Perth received praise from none other than Virat Kohli.
As the day’s play concluded, Kohli was present at the ground for his batting practice session. Upon seeing Jaiswal and Rahul leaving the field, he expressed his appreciation by clapping and offering a salute to acknowledge their performance.
Jaiswal and Rahul wore down Australia’s bowlers on Saturday, guiding India to 172 without loss at stumps and extending their lead to 218 runs.
Australia were dismissed for just 104 in the morning session, thanks to a brilliant 5-30 from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah. This followed India’s 150 all-out on day one, in conditions ideal for seam bowling.
It was difficult to wait for my debut, says Harshit Rana
Jaiswal and Rahul remained unbeaten on 90 and 62, with Australia failing to take a wicket across two sessions – a sharp contrast to day one, when 17 wickets had fallen.
Earlier, Australia number nine Mitchell Starc scored 26 and was the only batter to provide any meaningful resistance as Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana (3-48) took a session to prize out the final three wickets.
Bumrah claimed his 11th Test five-wicket haul with his first ball of the day, pitching back-of-a-length and seaming away from Alex Carey (21) who nicked to keeper Rishabh Pant.
