India's paceman Jasprit Bumrah (left) celebrates the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (centre) with teammates. — AFP
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli were in sublime form, scoring magnificent centuries in Perth on Sunday. India declared on 487-6, leaving Australia struggling at 12-3 at stumps, trailing by 521 runs on day three of the first Test. The visitors managed 150 in their first innings before bowling out Australia for 104, capitalizing on favorable seam conditions. Jaiswal's consequential 161 marked him as the heir-apparent to Kohli as India's batting figurehead, while the former captain demonstrated his continued prowess with an unbeaten 100.
"Be fearless," Jaiswal shared his mindset with reporters.
"It's always special to score a hundred against one of the best in the world, so I really enjoyed it." Kohli ended his 16-month century drought in the final hour, sweeping Marnus Labuschagne for four to the delight of the crowd's many Indian supporters.
During a challenging 4.2 overs before stumps, Bumrah dismissed debutant Nathan McSweeney (zero) and Labuschagne (three), both lbw, while nightwatchman Cummins (two) edged Mohammed Siraj to the slips. Usman Khawaja remained unbeaten on three, facing a daunting task ahead.
"If a couple of guys find some form and score 80, 90, even a hundred, that's the positive we can take out of it," said pacer Josh Hazlewood.
Resuming on 90 overnight, Jaiswal reached his fourth Test hundred within the first hour, audaciously upper-cutting Hazlewood (1-28) to deep fine leg. His innings started conservatively but became increasingly aggressive as the ball aged and the fielders tired. Jaiswal's only false shot came when Cummins, around the wicket, cramped the batsman for room and a late cut flew just above the outstretched hand of Steven Smith at second slip. However, he pushed his luck too far against all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (1-65), with a full-blooded cut gobbled up by Smith after lunch.
A brief resurgence was in store for the world champions, who eked out three wickets in the space of 18 balls. Kohli combined with all-rounder Washington Sundar (29) to heap misery back on the beleaguered bowlers, who conceded 55 extras. Nathan Lyon (2-96) spun through Sundar's defences, bringing debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (38 not out) to the crease. Kohli dissected the field with ease, picking up eight fours and two sixes before blowing kisses to wife and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma upon reaching his 30th test century.
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