India delivered a commanding performance to secure a 295-run victory over Australia on the fourth day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
After setting a formidable target, India bowled out Australia for 238 in the final session, extending their dominance in Australian conditions. This victory underscores India's recent success down under, having won five of their last nine Tests in Australia since their triumphant 2018-19 tour.
Resuming the day at a precarious 12-3, Australia’s batting lineup faltered against India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Early breakthroughs included Siraj dismissing Usman Khawaja for a mere five runs, and Steve Smith falling for 17 after being expertly set up by the Indian pacer.
A glimmer of hope came through Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47), who put up a spirited fightback. However, both were dismissed in quick succession, with Bumrah and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy dismantling their partnership.
India’s spinners also made valuable contributions, with Washington Sundar claiming two wickets, including Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, before Nitish Rana’s slower ball deceived Alex Carey to seal the emphatic win.
The result leaves Australia facing an uphill battle to reclaim dominance in the series, having not won a Test series against India since 2015.
Concerns for Australia
This defeat has raised questions about Australia’s batting lineup, particularly the form of key players. Top-order stalwarts Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne are without centuries in their past 11, 11, and nine Tests, respectively.
Debutant Nathan McSweeney managed just 10 runs across two innings, prompting scrutiny over his selection as an opener, despite lacking experience in the role at first-class level.
Australia’s lack of aggression with the ball has also drawn criticism, with some pundits questioning their tactics in critical moments of the match.
The second Test will take place in Adelaide on December 6, where Australia has won nine of their past ten matches. However, their sole loss in that run was against India, making the upcoming game a crucial one for Pat Cummins' side.
India eyes WTC final
With this victory, India edges closer to securing a spot in their third consecutive World Test Championship final. The visitors need three wins from the remaining four matches to guarantee their place, while Australia must win five Tests across this series and their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka to stay in contention.
