Day 1 of the pink-ball Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was filled with excitement and drama, with one notable moment involving Virat Kohli’s appreciation for his teammate, Jasprit Bumrah.
During the final session of the day, Bumrah bowled a sharp cutter that Marnus Labuschagne missed. After that Kohli, caught on the stump mic, was heard saying, “He got no clue, Jass,” in a light-hearted moment of support for Bumrah.
This exchange highlights Kohli’s active involvement in the game, his keen sense of strategy, and his enthusiasm for encouraging and praising his teammates. It’s a great example of sportsmanship, where Kohli not only gets into the game but also lifts the spirits of his fellow players, demonstrating his leadership and character both on and off the field.
Australia stood tall on day 1
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, the start was anything but smooth. Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped by Mitchell Starc on the very first ball, leaving India at 0/1. Despite this early setback, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill steadied the ship with a solid 69-run partnership, contributing 37 and 31 runs respectively.
But the Australian bowlers, led by Starc, soon started to break through. India's batting order collapsed rapidly, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both falling cheaply. Kohli, who was dismissed for just 7 runs his early departure left India staggering.
Rohit Sharma, coming in at number 6, also struggled, scoring only 3 runs. The middle order failed to recover from the early collapse, and Nitish Reddy's 42 was the lone resistance in a disastrous innings.
Although Reddy fought hard, he couldn’t convert his innings into a big score, and India was bowled out for 180. Starc was the standout bowler for Australia, taking a six-wicket haul, while Scott Boland and captain Pat Cummins picked up 2 wickets each.
As Australia came to bat, India fought back with Jasprit Bumrah making an early breakthrough by dismissing Usman Khawaja for 13. However, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney provided stability for Australia, remaining unbeaten at the end of the day with the hosts at 86/1 after 33 overs. It was a dramatic day, with plenty of twists and turns, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s to come.
