On Day 1 of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth, India’s pace bowlers made early inroads into the Australian batting lineup, leaving the hosts reeling at 67/7 by the close of play. The pitch at Optus Stadium, known for its bounce and pace, played into the hands of India’s pacers, who exploited the conditions to the fullest. Harshit Rana was a standout, claiming his maiden Test wicket and contributing to Australia’s collapse with several crucial breakthroughs.
Australia’s batting unit struggled from the outset against India’s aggressive bowling attack. Though they initially looked steady, key wickets fell in quick succession, causing the Australian side to lose their rhythm. The early breakthroughs by India disrupted Australia’s plans and forced them into a defensive position. Despite a solid start to their innings, the Australian batsmen were unable to handle the pressure from the Indian bowlers, who dominated the first session.
The Australian team’s woes continued throughout the day, with the Optus pitch proving to be a challenging surface for the hosts. As the day progressed, India’s pacers found the right lengths and extracted ample bounce, making it difficult for Australia to recover. With Australia’s top order and middle order dismantled, the team found themselves in a precarious situation.
As India looks to finish off the tail on Day 2, the focus will be on maintaining the pressure and wrapping up the Australian innings early. The outcome of the Test now hinges on how quickly India can clean up the remaining wickets and capitalize on their dominant position before their own batting innings begins.
