Jaiswal, Rahul dominate Australia as India take firm control of Perth Test

Openers post 172-run stand to put India in command as visitors take a lead of 218 runs on second day

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Putting behind the batting blues of the opening day, India came back strongly to gain firm control over the Perth Test against Australia with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul taking the first-innings lead of 46 – earned through a Jasprit Bumrah fifer – and stretched it past 200 by the end of the second day's play at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.

With the sun beating down on the Optus Stadium pitch, and the seam movement that proved nightmarish for the batters over the first two innings of the match becoming manageable, Jaiswal and Rahul took India to 172 for no loss, effectively 218 for no loss, thus becoming the first Indian pair in 20 years to add a 100-run stand for the first wicket in Test cricket in Australia. The duo need another 20 runs to beat Sunil Gavaskar and Krish Srikkanth's record stand of 191 achieved in Sydney in January 1986. Jaiswal closed in on a brilliant century and finished 90 not out, while a resolute Rahul was unbeaten on 62 as India stretched their lead to 218 runs.