1st Test Live: Jaiswal, Rahul will look to build on the big lead vs Australia

After a chaotic first day that saw 17 wickets tumbled, only three wickets fall on the second day of the first Test between India and Australia, as the pitch has changed drastically at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

What initially seemed like a match destined to finish within three days now appears likely to extend further, given the current situation.

Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul batted resolutely through two sessions, frustrating Australia with their unbeaten 172-run partnership. Their effort has put the visitors firmly in control, extending India's lead to 218 runs.

The formidable Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood struggled to make an impact, despite their dominance in the first innings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Type these two names while searching for IPL records and you'll find them first and second on the list of fastest 50s scored. They are both modern batters blessed with an array of strokes.

However, on Saturday, Day Two of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth's Optus Stadium, Jaiswal 90* (193 balls, 7x4, 2x6) and Rahul 62* (153balls, 4x4) showed off their defensive skills. India's opening duo ground down a flagging Australian attack, forced to be on the field on back-to-back days, to take them to 172 for no loss in their second innings as the tourists reached a position of dominance to lead by 218 runs.

It was Test cricket in retro mode as terms like intent and strike-rate were forgotten. Instead, what connoisseurs of the long format witnessed was batters willing to let go of deliveries outside off-stump and relying on defence.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul's record-defining partnership on Day 2 of the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth saw them join an exclusive club on Saturday.

After the pitch started to change its nature and turn in favour of the batters, Jaiswal and Rahul made the most of what was on offer.

They shifted through gears, picked their moments and constantly rotated the strike to put pressure off their shoulders. Australia's bowlers soon ran out of depth as they fell to Jaiswal and Rahul's mercy.

The relentless approach from the Indian openers became a sight to behold. They upped the ante to post an unbeaten 172-run opening partnership, propelling India's score to 172/0 at the stumps.

It was the first 150-plus opening stand by a visiting team in Australia since 159 posted by English duo Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook at the MCG back in 2010.

Notably, this was the first 150-plus opening partnership outside Ashes Tests since 191 stitched up by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth at the SCG back in 1986.

India's young southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal etched his name in the history book by slamming the most sixes in Test cricket in a calendar year by eclipsing former New Zealand power-hitter Brendon McCullum's 10-year-old record.

On Day 2 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series opener against Australia, Jaiswal smoked the ball into the stands towards the end of the day's play.

He danced around the crease and found the ideal connection to launch the ball over the boundary rope off Nathan Lyon. This was Jaiswal's 34th Test maximum in 2024, surpassing McCullum's tally of 33, which he amassed in 2014.

England Test captain Ben Stokes slipped to the third spot with 26 sixes that he tonked in 2022. Australia's destructive Adam Gilchrist and India's legendary opener Virender Sehwag struck 22 sixes each in 2005 and 2008, respectively.

In the morning, India captain Bumrah deservedly got his 11th five-wicket haul while debutant Harshit Rana bowled a fiery opening spell to dismiss the hosts for 104 at the stroke of lunch despite a stiff last-wicket resistance from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Starc (26 off 113 balls) shielded Hazlewood (7 not out off 31 balls) admirably during their 25-run last-wicket stand that lasted 18 overs.

The day began with Bumrah (5/30 in 18 overs) getting one to rear up from back of the length and Carey's edge carried at a good height to Rishabh Pant behind stumps.

The skipper's celebration was understated as he purposefully strode back to his bowling mark even before Nathan Lyon had arrived. At the other end, the burly Harshit Rana (3/48 in 15.2 overs) carried on from where he had left off on the opening day.

The rookie speedster used more short balls, and one such well-directed delivery accounted for Lyon, who was pouched at gully by KL Rahul.

Rahul's back-drive off Pat Cummins can easily be called the shot of the match but it was heartening to see Jaiswal put in a big stride forward while driving Mitchell Starc through covers apart from getting under the bounce and playing the ramp shot.

In case of Rahul, he kept a very loose bottom-hand and that helped with the deliveries, even the ones that took the thickish edge only to fall way in front of the slip cordon.

There was a spell of play in the post-tea session when Indians were kept quiet by Nathan Lyon but neither Jaiswal nor Rahul ran out of patience. Jaiswal's half-century came off 123 balls, his slowest in 15 Tests and spoke volumes about his adaptability.

For Rahul, it was about forgetting the unfortunate dismissal on Friday and concentrate, which he did splendidly.

Any target above 300 would be very difficult to chase on this track and Washington Sundar can come into play if those cracks open up, not to forget the three quicks who can use the variable bounce to good effect.

The way Rahul wore down the Australian attack was a sight to behold. There was no chatter from the slip cordon and at one point, the stitches of the Kookaburra came out.

The live grass died by the second afternoon and the seam movement also went out of equation making batting easier.

But no one can take away any credit from the two who were hardly troubled except for a mix-up that could have led to Rahul's run-out.

Jaiswal also showed that he had learnt his lessons from the first innings and curbed his urge to drive on the up initially, which was the best part about his batting. Each of his seven fours and two sixes were well-executed shots.

Once he had defended enough deliveries, the Australian pacers didn't have any option but to try either short or full length which he utilised well.

The whip over mid-wicket to hit Starc for one-bounce four and then induce a grin from the pacer by telling him "you are slow", spoke volumes about how fearless the current generation of Indian cricketers is.

In the final session, he flicked him for good measure for a maximum.

Yashasvi Jaiswal combined game awareness with perfect shot selection while KL Rahul remained technically unflappable in an unbroken opening stand of 172 as India looked set to bat Australia out of the match with an overall lead of 218 runs on the second day of the opening Test in Perth.

After skipper Jasprit Bumrah's game-changing 11th five-wicket haul decimated Australia for 104, young Jaiswal (90 batting, 193 balls) and seasoned Rahul (62 batting, 154 balls) decided to grind it out with some old fashioned Test match batting by waiting for the loose deliveries and respecting good fast bowling.

The Indians showed their compact defense by scoring 88 runs in 31 overs during the post-tea session as Jaiswal inched towards a coveted ton on his maiden outing on Australian soil.

With enough time at their disposal and signs of cracks appearing on the surface, this is going to be India's Test match to lose.