3 things India needs to do well to dominate Day 3 of 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
India dominated Day 2 of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, November 23. After Australia resumed their first innings on 67-7 in response to India's 150, the visitors bowled out the hosts for 104, gaining a significant 46-run lead.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul featured in an unbroken 172-run stand in 57 overs when stumps were called. Jaiswal struck seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 90, while Rahul hit four fours in his defiant 62 not out as the nature of the Perth track changed completely on Day 2.
While India are in a commanding position after two days of the ongoing contest in Perth, we take a look at three things they need to do well to dominate Day 3 of the 1st BGT 2024-25 Test.
#1 Jaiswal and Rahul need to start from scratch
Jaiswal and Rahul will resume their innings against Australia on Day 3 in Perth on 90 and 62 respectively. However, Sunday will be a fresh, new day and the Indian batters must ensure that they start from scratch. While this seems all too obvious, it is easier said than done, and hence both overnight batters need to be alert.
India need to get off to a solid start on Day 3 in Perth as the first session of play in a Test match often sets the tone for things to follow. The visitors cannot allow Australia even a sniff of a chance because, being a champion side, the hosts still have the ability and the arsenal to turn the Test on its head. They will be searching for a couple of early wickets, which India must deny them.
#2 Avoid a batting collapse at all costs
If we look at the state of the Perth Test after Day 2, India hold all the aces. They have already built a significant lead of 218 runs. Add to it, the visitors have all their 10 wickets in hand. As such, one would be compelled to believe that India should continue to boss the Test on Day 3 as well.
The current Indian batting line-up though has had its fair share of batting collapses in recent times and some rather shocking ones at that. At the start of the year, they lost six wickets for zero runs in 11 balls against South Africa in the Cape Town Test, prompting Ravi Shastri to comment:
"If someone went around the corner for a dump, and has come back, India have been bowled out for 153."
India were 153-4 at one stage in their first innings before suffering an unbelievable batting collapse. In the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, India were 408-3 in their second innings but lost seven wickets for 54 runs to be bowled out for 462.
Australia will be aware of India's batting meltdowns in recent times and hence would be looking to make early inroads. Remember, Virat Kohli is struggling for runs and there is not much confidence in the rest of the batting order barring Rishabh Pant. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy did well in the first innings, but repeating the act in the second essay will be a big challenge nonetheless.
#3 Bat Australia out of the contest
Having gained a significant lead of 218 runs with all 10 second innings wickets in hand, India will be looking to gain a huge lead. While the visitors undoubtedly have the upper hand in the contest, they must remember that three full days of play are still left in the Perth Test. India must thus look to bat Australia out of the contest.
India must try to bat out the entire Day 3 and score at a decent pace so their lead swells closer to 500. The visitors cannot afford to take it easy and lose their way as they have done in the recent past. Remember, England chased down 378 without any trouble against India in Birmingham two years back. Incidentally, Bumrah was the captain in that Test as well, with Rohit Sharma unavailable.
If India can put a huge second innings total on board and set a massive target for Australia, they will still have enough time to bowl out the hosts. In such a scenario, Bumrah and co. can put additional pressure on the Aussies, who will be batting to save the Test match.