India Thrashes Australia by 295 Runs in Perth, Strengthens WTC Final Bid

India delivered a commanding performance to defeat Australia by 295 runs in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held in Perth. The victory not only gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series but also propelled them to the second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, boosting their chances of reaching the final.

Match Summary:

• First Innings:
  India batted first and put up a solid total of 384 runs, with key contributions from Rohit Sharma (112) and Virat Kohli (91). Australia’s bowling unit, led by Pat Cummins (4/89), struggled to contain the Indian batters.
• Australia’s Response:
  In reply, Australia were bundled out for 187, with Ravichandran Ashwin wreaking havoc, claiming 5 wickets for 45 runs. Usman Khawaja (52) was the lone warrior for the hosts, as the rest of the batting lineup faltered.
• Second Innings:
  India extended their dominance by declaring their second innings at 252/4, setting Australia an imposing target of 450 runs. Shubman Gill played a brisk knock of 76, supported by Cheteshwar Pujara (63 not out).
• Final Day Collapse:
  On a challenging Day 4 pitch, Australia’s batting crumbled for 154 runs, with Mohammed Siraj (4/36) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/42) spearheading the attack. Steve Smith (41) offered some resistance, but the rest of the lineup fell cheaply.

WTC Standings After the Win:

• India: 61.11 percentage points (110 points from 15 matches)
• Australia: 57.69 percentage points (90 points from 13 matches)

What’s Next?

India’s victory puts them in a strong position to qualify for the WTC final. With four matches remaining in the series, Australia will need to bounce back quickly to regain momentum.

Player Spotlight:

Meanwhile, debutant Harshit Rana shared his journey and the challenges of waiting for his Test debut, emphasizing the emotional significance of representing India in such a high-stakes series.

The next Test in the series promises to be a critical clash as both teams vie for supremacy and crucial WTC points.