[Watch] Debutant Harshit Rana knocks off Travis Head cheaply with a jaffa in 1st IND vs AUS BGT 2024-25 Test
India debutant Harshit Rana knocked off Australian swashbuckling batter Travis Head with a jaffa on Day 1 of the first Test in Perth on Friday, November 22. With the dismissal, Rana took his maiden wicket as the visitors left Australia reeling at 31/4. Head walked back for just 11 runs off 13 balls.
The dismissal came in the 12th over of Australia’s first innings. Rana bowled a teasing delivery but on length and Head looked in the mix on whether to play on the front or back foot. The left-handed batter was stuck on the crease as the ball beat the outside edge before crashing onto the stumps thanks to inward seam movement after pitching.
Rana went for his trademark celebration witnessed in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He finally found his rhythm after delivering a no-ball off his opening over.
Watch the video below:
Earlier in the day, Ravichandran Ashwin handed the maiden cap to Rana. The latter has bagged 43 wickets in 10 first-class games. He recently bagged a fifer for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy fixture against Assam. The 22-year-old had also scalped two four-wicket hauls in the Duleep Trophy.
Harshit Rana joins Jasprit Bumrah on wickets tally as India fight back against Australia on Day 1
Jasprit Bumrah led from the front as India fought back with the ball against Australia on Day 1. The skipper dismissed Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith for 8, 10, and duck, respectively, to leave the hosts in disarray.
At the time of writing, Australia were 37/4, with Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh at the crease.
Batting first, the tourists put up 150 in their first innings. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy top scored with 41 off 59, while Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul chipped in with 37 and 26, respectively.
Josh Hazlewood starred with the ball, picking up four wickets. Skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh bagged two wickets apiece.
India are without regular skipper Rohit Sharma and injured Shubman Gill in the first Test.
Follow the IND vs AUS 1st Test live score and updates here.