Mon Nov 25 08:40:00 UTC 2024: ## India Stuns Australia in Perth, Reclaims Top WTC Spot

**Perth, Australia:** In a stunning upset, India defeated Australia by 295 runs in the first Test at the Optus Stadium, ending Australia’s winning streak at the venue since 2018 and reclaiming the top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. After being bowled out for a paltry 150 runs on the first day, a victory seemed improbable for the Indian team. However, a remarkable turnaround saw India dominate the match.

Several Indian players contributed to this historic win, but five stand out as heroes:

* **Jasprit Bumrah:** The Indian captain delivered a stellar bowling performance, taking a total of 5 wickets across both innings. His spell in the second innings, including the dismissal of Travis Head, was particularly impactful.

* **Yashasvi Jaiswal:** Jaiswal, after being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, redeemed himself with a monumental 161 runs in the second, becoming the highest-scoring Indian opener in Australia and only the third Indian to score a century on debut in Australia.

* **KL Rahul:** Despite recent uncertainty over his place in the team, Rahul provided crucial stability at the top of the order, scoring 26 and 77 runs in the first and second innings respectively, and forming a record-breaking 201-run opening partnership with Jaiswal in Australia.

* **Virat Kohli:** Kohli also recovered from a first-innings failure, scoring a century in the second innings, anchoring India’s innings and propelling them to a formidable total of 487/6.

* **Nitish Reddy:** The debutant all-rounder impressed with crucial contributions both with the bat (41 and 38 runs in the first and second innings respectively) and the ball (dismissing Mitchell Marsh), playing a pivotal role in India’s success. His first innings 41 runs were particularly vital in helping India reach a respectable total.

Australia, bowled out for 104 in their first innings, struggled to chase down India’s massive second innings total of 487/6, eventually managing only 238 in their second attempt. This resounding victory marks a significant turning point in the series and solidifies India’s position as a major contender for the WTC final.

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