India’s Pacers Dominate as Border-Gavaskar Trophy Begins
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy got off to a thrilling start in Perth, with pacers from both teams dominating on Day 1. An astonishing 17 wickets fell, setting the stage for a high-stakes Test match. Despite early setbacks, India finished the day in a commanding position against hosts Australia.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first. However, India’s top-order woes persisted, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for a duck after just eight balls, while Devdutt Padikkal followed with a 23-ball duck. Star batter Virat Kohli managed only five runs off 12 deliveries, further compounding India’s struggles.
Amid the collapse, Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) played vital knocks, helping India reach a total of 150. Nitish, who top-scored for India, credited an inspiring piece of advice from head coach Gautam Gambhir for boosting his confidence in the challenging conditions.
Gautam Gambhir’s Motivational Message to Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been in fine form following his performances for India A, shared the impactful advice Gambhir gave him before the game.
“Before the match, I had a chat with Gautam Sir after practice. He mentioned that when you face sharp bouncers or tough spells, just imagine you’re taking a bullet for your country,” Nitish revealed. “Those words really resonated with me and gave me the confidence to take on the Perth wicket, which is known for its bounce. It felt like I was playing for something bigger than myself, and it pushed me to perform.”
India Hold the Edge After Dramatic First Day
Australia’s response to India’s first-innings total was dismal, with their batting lineup crumbling to 67/7 by Stumps. Alex Carey (19) and Mitchell Starc (6) were the only batters left standing as Indian bowlers dominated. Jasprit Bumrah led the charge with four wickets, while Mohammed Siraj picked up two and debutant Harshit Rana claimed one.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood shone with the ball, taking four wickets, while Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Marsh chipped in with two dismissals each.
As the action resumes on Day 2, India will aim to capitalize on their advantage and push for an early victory in what has already proven to be a gripping contest.
