A day of utter dominance has India poised to secure just their second Test win in Perth and go 1-0 up in their defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (90 not out) and KL Rahul (62 not out) made a pitch that was previously difficult to bat on look easy as they comfortably handled Australia’s weary bowling attack to make it through two entire sessions and 57 overs as India reached 0-172 at stumps.
Heading to Australia humbled following a historic 3-0 home whitewash by New Zealand, India went to stumps on day two at Perth’s Optus Stadium leading the hosts by 218 runs with 10 wickets in hand.
Jaiswal, in just his 15th Test and coming off a first-innings duck, even sledged star quick Mitchell Starc: “It’s (the ball) coming too slow.”
Rahul and Jaiswal have put together the second highest Test opening stand by an Indian pair in Australia, only behind Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth’s 191 in 1986.
The only chance they gave was when Jaiswal, on 51, edged to slips off Starc, but Usman Khawaja put down a tough catch.
The 22-year-old Jaiswal will look to bring up his fourth Test century on Sunday in his first Test in Australia.
After 17 wickets tumbled during a chaotic opening day, Australia’s bowlers struggled to create meaningful opportunities for dismissals once India started their second innings.
The world No.1 ranked Test team ended day two shell-shocked, a little more than 24 hours after rolling India for 150 on a ground where teams have traditionally posted big first-innings scores.
But a Jasprit Bumrah fast-bowling masterclass ensured Australia crashed to their lowest home Test total – 104 – against India in 44 years.
A courageous knock from pace ace Starc allowed Australia to post some crucial lower-order runs after they were reeling at 9-79.
Starc (26) batted for almost the entire first session, sticking around to top-score for Australia and face more balls – 112 – than any other batter in the first innings.
It is the second most balls Starc has faced in an innings in his Test career – only behind the 144 when he hit 99 against India back in 2013.
The 34-year-old took a blow to the helmet and the body to help Australia reach triple figures.
After dismantling Australia’s top order on Friday, Bumrah (5-30) removed keeper-batter Alex Carey (21) with his first delivery of day two.
Across eight Tests in Australia, Bumrah has taken 37 wickets at an average of 19.18.
It was his third five-wicket haul in Australia, and the 12th of his 41-Test career.
Carey has been the in-form batter in the Sheffield Shield this season, and produced a player-of-the-match unbeaten 98 in Australia’s previous Test back in March against New Zealand.
Starc was left to battle it out with Nathan Lyon, but the veteran spinner could only add five before falling to debutant Harshit Rana (3-48).
Bumrah was appointed stand-in captain for this match after veteran opener Rohit Sharma stayed home for the birth of his second child.
India arrived in Australia given little hope of defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they have held since 2017.
But Bumrah, who declared before the game that he thrived on responsibility, has proven himself a natural leader in the battle of fast-bowling captains up against Pat Cummins.
India’s only previous Test win in Perth came in 2008 at the WACA Ground.
