Jaiswal, Rahul notch up India’s highest opening partnership in Australia since 2000

India succumbed to some really good bowling, treacherous batting conditions and poor batting in the first innings in Perth and could score only 150 runs. However, after getting Australia cleaned up for just 104, they have started their second innings on a completely contrasting note. 

With the pitch easing up on the second day, the Indian opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal showed immense resolve to both bat time and keep the scoreboard ticking. In the process, they notched up the only century partnership by an Indian opening pair in Australia in this millennium. They are still unbeaten after having batted 57 overs together.

Jaiswal, especially, showed a lot of intent to correct his mistakes from the first innings, batted with much softer hands close to his body, and watched the ball till the very end. He also avoided playing rash drives on the up whenever Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Josh Hazlewood enticed him with a half volley away from his stumps. 

He also put up a masterclass on leaving deliveries bowled to him by Starc from over the stump, something which he has failed to do so far in his career against left-arm pacers. He even smacked Starc for a six over fine leg, which riled up the tall pacer, and he even said something to the 22-year-old. Jaiswal only replied with a “it’s coming too slow” and continued batting. Starc could only give a wry smile in return. 

Jaiswal also brought up his first half-century in Australia in his first game in the country itself, and has now scored 10 50+ scores in Test cricket this year, which is the most for any batter in the world.

Meanwhile, Rahul continued the good work he put in the first innings, which was curtailed short due to a controversial dismissal, and is nearing his fifty with assured steps. This is also only the sixth time an Indian opening pair has had a hundred partnership in Australia, and only the second time in the second innings. 

These record-breaking batting efforts, which occurred in Perth in the first Test of the series, bodes well for India in not only this Test but also the upcoming four Tests of the series. 

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