Mitchell Starc emerged as Australia’s top scorer in their first innings, with a determined 26 off 112 balls helping the hosts scrape past the three-figure mark on Day 2 of the first Test against India at the Optus Stadium in Perth, on Saturday, November 23.
Harshit Rana, making his Test debut, had an impressive outing as the tall Delhi pacer troubled the Australian batters with his ability to extract significant bounce from the surface.
In his second over on Day 2, Rana bowled a short-of-a-length delivery that surprised Starc with extra bounce, though the edge fell just short of the slip fielder.
In a lighthearted moment, Starc engaged in some friendly banter with the young pacer, cheekily saying, “Harshit, I bowl faster than you, Harshit. I have got a long memory.”
Rana responded with a wry smile, showcasing the camaraderie the two share. The pair were teammates for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024 season, where they helped the Shreyas Iyer-led side clinch the title.
The interaction quickly went viral, reflecting their mutual respect and playful rapport.
India’s bowling unit shone brightly in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge.
Bumrah claimed four wickets on Day 1 and added another on Saturday, completing his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests.
After India were bowled out for just 150, it was crucial for their bowlers to respond strongly.
Bumrah’s fiery pace and bounce set the tone, while Rana provided excellent support, finishing with figures of 3/48 in 15.2 overs.
Mohammed Siraj also contributed with two wickets as Australia were bundled out for 104, giving India a valuable 46-run lead.