KL Rahul-Jaiswal 1st Indian opening pair to stitch 200-plus stand in Australia
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal scripted history on Sunday by registering the highest first-wicket partnership for an Indian pair in Test cricket on Australian soil.
Rahul and Jaiswal shared a monumental 201-run opening partnership against Australia on Day 3 of the opening Test. This stand not only became India’s highest first-wicket partnership in Australia, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth’s 191-run effort at Sydney in 1986, but it also marked the first time an Indian opening pair crossed the 200-run mark-Down Under.
The partnership, which laid a solid foundation for India after their first-innings collapse, is also the highest by a visiting team outside England since Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes’ iconic 323-run stand in Melbourne in 1912. KL Rahul, steady and composed, contributed 77 runs off 176 balls before falling to Mitchell Starc late in the 63rd over. Starting from an overnight score of 90* off 193 balls, Jaiswal wasted little time on Day 3 to reach his milestone.
Playing with remarkable composure, he brought up his century off 205 balls, a near-flawless knock that showcased his technique and temperament. His innings included eight boundaries and three sixes, with the sixes coming late on Day 2 when he shifted gears against Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
Visiting Opening Pairs with 200-Plus Stands in Australia
| Runs | Players | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 323 | Jack Hobbs, Wilfred Rhodes | ENG | Melbourne | 1912 |
| 283 | Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe | ENG | Melbourne | 1925 |
| 234 | Bob Barber, Geoffrey Boycott | ENG | Sydney | 1966 |
| 223 | Bill Athey, Chris Broad | ENG | Perth (WACA) | 1986 |
| 203 | Michael Atherton, Graham Gooch | ENG | Adelaide | 1991 |
| 201 | Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul | IND | Perth (Optus) | 2024 |
After being bowled out for a mere 150 in the first innings, India roared back into the game, courtesy of Jasprit Bumrah’s inspired bowling, which restricted Australia to just 104, giving India a crucial 46-run lead. The second innings belonged to Rahul and Jaiswal, who began cautiously but quickly shifted gears, punishing the Australian bowlers with an array of strokes. Their partnership also ended India’s 19-year wait for a century-plus opening stand in Australia, the last being a 123-run effort by Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra at Sydney in 2004.
Highest Opening Stands for India in SENA Countries
| Runs | Players | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 213 | Sunil Gavaskar, Chetan Chauhan | ENG | The Oval | 1979 |
| 203 | Vijay Merchant, Mushtaq Ali | ENG | Manchester | 1936 |
| 201 | Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul | AUS | Perth (Optus) | 2024 |
| 191 | Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth | AUS | Sydney | 1986 |
| 165 | Sunil Gavaskar, Chetan Chauhan | AUS | Melbourne | 1981 |
Jaiswal’s century, marked by exquisite timing and audacious strokeplay, further cemented his status as India’s next batting superstar. With the scoreboard ticking at nearly four runs per over, Australia struggled to find answers. Mitchell Starc managed to dismiss Rahul with a sharp delivery, but the damage had already been done.