Fri Nov 22 03:49:58 UTC 2024: ## India’s Top Order Crumbles as Australia Dominates Day 1 in Perth
**Perth, Australia** – Australia seized control on Day 1 of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India, leaving the visitors reeling at 41/3 at stumps. A rampant Australian pace attack, spearheaded by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, exploited India’s shaky top order, dismissing three batsmen for ducks.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal both fell to Starc without scoring, while Virat Kohli, after a brief stay at the crease, was caught behind off Hazlewood for 5 runs. KL Rahul remained a steadfast presence, ending the day on 17 not out, but his resilience was unable to prevent a disastrous start for the Indian batting line-up.
India, opting to bat first after winning the toss under stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah (in the absence of Rohit Sharma), suffered a stunning collapse against the pace and bounce of the Perth pitch. The debutants for India, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, failed to make an impact with the bat, and the absence of experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also raised eyebrows among commentators.
This match marks a rare encounter with both captains being fast bowlers, as Bumrah leads the Indian team for only the second time in a Test match. The Australian side, with the debut of opener Nathan McSweeney, displayed a clinical approach to put immense pressure on the Indian batting order. The Australians, in form and looking confident, appear set for a commanding lead going into the second day’s play. The series is highly anticipated, and this opening day’s performance has significantly raised the stakes.
First Piper 