Virat Kohli convinced Jasprit Bumrah to take the DRS, and as fate would have it, India did get their first breakthrough. Virat Kohli single-handedly convinced skipper Jasprit Bumrah to take a successful DRS and as fate would have it, India got their first breakthrough against Australia on Day 1 of the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Debutant Nathan McSweeney could only score 10 before having to walk back. It all started with Jasprit Bumrah bowling a fullish delivery, which moved right back into the right-handed batter.
McSweeney looked to defend the ball; however, the angle cut back in, and he was hit straight onto the pads. The on-field official did not give McSweeney out, and it was only after Kohli’s convincing, that Bumrah decided to take the review. On the stump mic, Bumrah was first heard saying, “Close hai. (It’s close).” However, the stand-in India captain wasn’t sure as to whether he should go for a review in just the third over of the innings. Rishabh Pant looked dicey too. But Kohli barged right in, and talked the pacer into taking the DRS.
“Pad pe lagi hai pehle, lele lele. (It has hit the pad first, take it take it),” Kohli told Bumrah
The 30-year-old then went up for the review in the nick of time. The replays vindicated Kohli and as three reds against McSweeney flashed on the giant screen. Bumrah could have also had Marnus Labuschagne in the same over but Kohli ended up dropping the catch. Kohli, however, made up for his mistake soon after, as he safely pouched another catch to send the other opening batter, Usman Khawaja, back to the change room. On the next delivery, Bumrah dismissed Steve Smith for a golden duck.
India bowled out for 150
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and opted to bat in the first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, the batters failed to stick up a challenge in front of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh.
The four pacers took ten wickets between themselves to bundle out India for a below-par total of 150. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy was the top-scorer for India, playing a knock of 41. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also chipped in with 37. The likes of Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, all disappointed with the bat. KL Rahul looked good for his 26 runs in the middle; however, he walked back after a controversial call by the third umpire Richard Illingworth.
