IND VS AUS: Ravindra Jadeja claims fifer in return to Test Cricket; Rohit Sharma’s 56* helps Bolster India’s position on Day 1

IND VS AUS 1st Test, VCA Nagpur: Rohit Sharma (56 not out) scored an authoritative half-century after Ravindra Jadeja picked up a five-for as India reached 77 for 1 at stumps on day one of the opening Test against Australia on Thursday.

Team India will look to continue their dominance over Australia on the second day of the first game of the four-match Test series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) stadium in Nagpur. India has been the holder of the BGT since 2015 when Australia last won a series against India. Rohit Sharma’s side has just lost one out of their last five Tests.  

IND VS AUS 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights:

Rohit and KL Rahul stitched 76 runs for the opening wicket before the latter fell for 20 runs on the bowling of Todd Murphy. India were 77 for 1 at stumps on Day 1.

Earlier, hosts India bowled out Australia for a below-par total, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul and Ravichandran Ashwin’s three wickets. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj had reduced Australia to 2 for 2 in 2.1 overs to provide India a terrific start before the duo of Jadeja and Ashwin ran through the spine of Australian batting line-up. Marnus Labuschagne was the highest scorer for Australia with the score of 49.

A Special Special comeback from A Special Special bowler

It was a day that belonged to Ravindra Jadeja. Comeback-man Jadeja (5/47), playing his first international match after recovering from a knee injury, grabbed five wickets as India bowled out Australia for 177 in their first innings just after tea.

Ravindra Jadeja used the crease intelligently to create a variety of angles which confused the Australian batters, and clearly showed his exploits on Thursday were not the result of so-called “rank turner” as is being bandied around by some.

Jadeja’s masterplan against Aussies

At the day’s end Jadeja explained discussed how he planned to bowl against the visitors.

The idea was to keep the Aussies guessing about which delivery would turn and which one would come straight with the angle, and it worked to perfection for the wily spinner. Said the man, who is now three shy of 250 Test wickets.

Jadeja also said the aim was to bowl stump to stump on a low-bounce track. The spinner added that he was happy with his rhythm, having played a quality Ranji Trophy match for Saurashtra against Tamil Nadu last month.

Jadeja had taken seven second-inning wickets in the first-class match on return from a five-month injury layoff. Jadeja was provisionally picked for the Test series against Bangladesh in December last year but he said that he only wanted to return once he was fully fit and had the confidence back.

Also read: BGT 2023 Top Run Scorers: Know Most run scorers in India vs Australia Border Gavaskar Trophy

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