India to Win First Test Match: India vs Australia – The first day of the eagerly awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy saw Ravindra Jadeja make a triumphant return to international cricket, registering his 11th five-wicket haul, which played a key role in Australia being bowled out for 177 in 63.5 overs. India, who were 77 for 1 (with Rohit Sharma leading the way on 56*) at the close of play, trail Australia’s total by 100 runs with nine wickets still in hand.
Jadeja, who showed great accuracy and made subtle changes to his pace and trajectory, was particularly effective on the helpful surface. He bowled primarily on a length or slightly fuller, but slowed down the occasional delivery, making it all the more difficult for the batsmen to score runs. His performance was complemented by three wickets from R Ashwin, who tried a more attacking approach.
The tempo of Australia’s innings was typical of a turning track, with scoring and dismissals happening in fits and starts as the batsmen looked to make the most of every scoring opportunity. However, the first flurry of wickets came without any buildup, as Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami removed the openers for just one run each.
Siraj bowled an outstanding outswinger that beat Usman Khawaja’s inside edge and stayed on leg stump, while Shami seamed the ball round the wicket to such effect that he would have taken David Warner’s wicket lbw had the ball not ricocheted onto the off stump.
Labuschagne and Smith managed to hit four boundaries in the next three overs, bringing about a double change in the form of Jadeja and Axar Patel. The ball immediately started to turn for Jadeja, and India regained control through a combination of pace and spin.
India to Win First Test Match: India vs Australia Day 1 Match Report – Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023
The second half of the first session was bowled by spinners, but Labuschagne and Smith were equal to the task, going into lunch having added 74 largely assured runs.
After lunch, the ball turned even more, and Jadeja ran through the middle order. He bowled a beautiful delivery to dismiss Labuschagne, which was roundarm, dipped on the batsman, dragged his back foot out, and then turned away with a puff of dust, leaving him stranded. Debutant KS Bharat had his first official dismissal after having substituted for Wriddhiman Saha last year.
Matt Renshaw, who was arguably keeping out Travis Head due to Head’s poor record in Asia and against spin, fell first ball as he was caught on the crease and Jadeja turned it past his inside edge from round the wicket.
Smith then took on Axar for three boundaries in an over, prompting an immediate change and more runs for Handscomb against Ashwin. However, Jadeja brought the run-scoring to a halt with a series of deliveries that turned away big. Smith started defending for big turn, but one delivery only turned slightly to hold its line in front of off and beat his inside edge to knock back the off stump.
There was another flurry of runs through Alex Carey’s reverse-sweeps and sweeps, but India responded immediately by taking out the catching men in front of the wicket to block both the sweeps. Eventually, Carey played on a reverse-sweep to give Ashwin his 450th Test wicket and end a 53-run partnership in just 11.1 overs.
Ashwin then drew Pat Cummins’ outside edge with some classic Ashwin bowling, sliding a quicker delivery in after dragging him wide, straight, forward, and back. Both Jadeja and Ashwin had a shot at a five-for with three wickets each, a sight that had been missed for some time
