India's first innings at the Optus Stadium began with a turbulent start, as the Australian pacers exploited the lively surface to full effect. Under overcast conditions, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were relentless, delivering fiery spells that left India reeling at 59/5 within the first session. Without the services of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, the visitors faced an uphill battle against the aggressive Australian attack. Wickets tumbled in quick succession, with Cummins accounting for KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, while Starc dismissed debutant Nishant Sindhu for a duck. As the Indian lineup faltered, a spirited partnership was desperately needed to stabilize the innings.

Rishabh Pant rose to the occasion, showcasing his trademark counter-attacking style, and found a reliable ally in Nitish Kumar Reddy. Together, they forged a crucial 48-run stand that momentarily stemmed the flow of wickets. Pant’s quick 37, laced with audacious strokes, and Reddy’s composed 41 offered a glimmer of hope before Cummins struck again to break the partnership. The tail offered little resistance, as India’s innings folded for a modest 150 in just under 50 overs. While the score appeared underwhelming, the stage was set for the Indian bowlers to script an extraordinary comeback later in the day.

See Also: Virat Kohli's 80th century at Perth: A step toward cricketing immortality

Breakdown of Jasprit Bumrah in 1st Innings agaisnt Australia 

Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance with the ball set the tone for India's emphatic victory over Australia in Perth during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Leading from the front as the skipper, Bumrah showcased why he is considered one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket. His spell of 5/30 in the first innings dismantled the Australian batting order and put India in the driver’s seat early on. His ability to extract movement off the seam and his precision with the inswinger, which was his most productive delivery at 60% dot-ball effectiveness, left the Australian batters clueless.

The control Bumrah exhibited was a hallmark of his spell, as he maintained a miserly boundary percentage of just 3.53% across his 19.4 overs. He bowled an incredible 13 maiden overs, continuously applying pressure on the Australian lineup. Bumrah targeted the stumps with precision, delivering 15 balls straight towards the wickets, achieving a 60% dot-ball rate in that area. On the off-side, his dominance was unmatched, with 258 balls bowled at a staggering 82.8% dot-ball rate, while his leg-side deliveries maintained a tidy 78.8% dot-ball percentage. This level of discipline ensured the Australians found no escape route to release pressure.

Bumrah’s spell featured wickets of key players across the Australian batting lineup. He removed the ever-reliable Marnus Labuschagne for just 2 runs and sent Steve Smith packing without scoring. The dangerous Mitchell Starc was the highest run-getter against Bumrah, managing 26 runs, but even he eventually fell victim to Bumrah’s unrelenting accuracy. Contributions from Alex Carey (21) and Travis Head (11) could not stem the flow of wickets, as Bumrah kept striking at regular intervals, leaving Australia reeling.

The skipper's performance not only highlighted his ability to take crucial wickets but also showcased his leadership under pressure. After India had been bowled out for 150 in their first innings, Bumrah knew that the only way to keep the team in the game was through a fiery display of bowling. His efforts in breaking Australia’s resistance helped India gain a critical first-innings lead of 46 runs, which ultimately shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.

This spell will be remembered as a defining moment of Bumrah’s captaincy tenure. It was a masterclass in strategic, attacking bowling that gave India the upper hand in the match. Bumrah’s 5/30 not only cemented his status as one of the finest bowlers in the world but also ensured India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. His remarkable ability to deliver under pressure proved pivotal in scripting one of India’s most dominant Test wins on Australian soil.

See Also: The Rise of Jaiswal: A century in Australia adds to his growing legacy!