Virat Kohli acknowledges Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul after record-breaking opening partnership in 1st Test against Australia

Virat Kohli was full of praise for India's opening duo, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, as they walked off the field at the end of Day 2 of the first Test at Optus Stadium in Perth. Despite being busy with his own batting drills, Kohli took a moment to salute their impressive performances, showing his appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

His gesture was a fitting tribute to the calm and controlled manner in which the two young openers put Australia on the back foot, maintaining their unbeaten stand of 172 at stumps—India's lead had ballooned to 218 runs.

The morning session had seen Australia bundled out for just 104, thanks to a devastating 5-30 spell from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah. In contrast, the Indian openers batted with purpose and flair, easily negating the new ball and rendering Australia’s bowlers ineffective for most of the day.

Both Jaiswal and Rahul exhibited maturity; Rahul, often under pressure to perform, seemed to find his rhythm early, striking a beautifully timed straight drive through the line past Pat Cummins. His elegant strokeplay continued through the afternoon, and he reached his 16th Test fifty with a nerveless shot off Mitchell Marsh. The crowd’s loud cheer for Rahul reflected the significance of the moment, with Rahul often being under criticism for his form.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal, the 22-year-old who is playing his first Test Down Under, added his own flourish to the innings. His crisp upper cut over the wicketkeeper off Cummins was a standout shot, displaying a fine blend of technique and timing. Jaiswal’s confidence only grew as the day wore on, and in the final hour, he launched Mitchell Starc over fine leg for the first six of the innings, followed by a towering maximum off Nathan Lyon.

The duo showed it had the tools to tackle the Perth pitch, which had been tricky for most batters in the first innings.

The Indian openers' partnership provided a perfect counterpoint to the chaos of Day 1, when 17 wickets had fallen. The contrast in batting styles – Rahul’s steady, technical approach and Jaiswal’s attacking flair – has left Australia scrambling for answers. As the hosts looked to regroup, India’s opening duo had turned the tables, with Kohli’s salute acknowledging not just the runs, but the temperament and promise that both Rahul and Jaiswal bring to the team.