India Dominate Australia to Claim First Test Victory
India secured a dominant 295-run victory over Australia in the first Test in Perth, extending their remarkable success in the country.
Australia was bowled out for 238 in the final session of day four, handing India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
This win marks India’s fifth victory in their last nine Tests in Australia, with only two losses since their 2018-19 tour. The West Indies are the only other team to have won a Test in Australia during this period.
Australia resumed at 12-3 after a brilliant spell of new-ball bowling by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on day three. Things quickly worsened as Siraj dismissed Usman Khawaja, caught behind off a top-edged pull, leaving Australia at 17-4.
Steve Smith was then brilliantly set up by Siraj and caught behind for 17 off a ball that straightened.
Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47) counter-attacked, but both fell in quick succession to Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the afternoon session.
Off-spinner Washington Sundar removed Mitchell Starc at short leg and bowled Nathan Lyon, while Nitish Rana sealed the win with a superb slower ball to dismiss Alex Carey.
India now needs to win three of the remaining four Tests to secure their place in a third consecutive World Test Championship final. Australia, on the other hand, needs five wins from this series and their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka to reach the final.
The second Test, a day-night match, will take place in Adelaide starting December 6.