India clinched a commanding 295-run victory against Australia in the first Test in Perth on Monday (November 25), showcasing brilliance in all departments after a shaky start.
The win came despite an initial collapse, with India bowled out for 150 in their first innings. By stumps on Day 1, however, Jasprit Bumrah and his bowlers turned the tide, reducing Australia to 67/7 and eventually bundling them out for 104.
Reflecting on the turnaround, Bumrah shared his advice to his bowlers, “When you’re bowled out for a low score, it’s easy to get desperate and start hunting for wickets. My message was to stay disciplined, stick to our strengths, and make run-making as hard as possible. That’s what has worked here in the past, and it worked for us again.”
Bumrah emphasized the importance of finding the right lengths on Australian pitches, “The bounce here can excite you into bowling short, but that doesn’t always get results. Instead, we focused on making them play more and sticking to fuller lengths, which suited our strengths.”
Leading from the front, Bumrah delivered a stunning performance, taking 8 wickets for 72 runs and earning the Player of the Match award.
He praised his teammates, particularly debutant Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj, for their composure under pressure, “The character shown by the team after the first innings collapse was incredible. As a captain, I try to take responsibility in tough scenarios to ease the pressure on the younger players.”
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli were key contributors with the bat.
Jaiswal’s resilient 161 earned special praise from Bumrah, “Out of all his innings, this was his best. He curbed his attacking instincts, left the ball well, and batted long.”
On Kohli’s 30th Test century, Bumrah added, “I never felt he was out of form. Sometimes you play on tough wickets, but his confidence in the nets showed. This knock will only boost his momentum.”
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Pat Cummins lamented missed opportunities, “It’s disappointing. We thought our preparation was solid, but nothing seemed to go right. Losing key moments on Day 1 cost us, and we need to be sharper in all facets moving forward.”
The second Test, a pink-ball match, is scheduled in Adelaide from December 6, giving both teams time to regroup and strategize.