AUSTRALIA v INDIA, first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, Optus Stadium, day three.
SCORE: India 150 and 6-487 declared; Australia 104 and 3-12
SUMMARY: India started day three at 0-172 in their second innings and boasting a lead of 218. Yashasvi Jaiswal brought up his fourth Test century early in the day when he ramped Josh Hazlewood for six. Australia's only success during the morning session was when Mitchell Starc found KL Rahul's edge to dismiss the opener for 77. Jaiswal went on to make 161 and Virat Kohli (100 not out) regained his mojo with the bat as India declared at 6-487, setting Australia 534 for victory. The home side have already lost Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne and nightwatchman Pat Cummins, leaving them with a near-impossible task to save the match.
PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Virat Kohli. The under-pressure veteran wound back the clock to post just his fourth Test century since 2020. Kohli monstered Australia's attack, and even a security guard copped a ball to the head after the India veteran cut Mitchell Starc for six. Kohli unleashed some monster strokes before sweeping Labuschagne to the boundary to bring up his hundred. He blew a kiss to his wife in the crowd after bringing up the ton. Special mention also goes to opener Jaiswal. The 22-year-old started the day on 90 and added another 71 runs to his total. He became just the second player - behind former South Africa star Graeme Smith - to convert his first four Test centuries into scores of above 150.Â
STAT OF THE DAY: The 201-run opening stand by Jaiswal and KL Rahul is the biggest by India in Australia, bettering the previous mark of 191 set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I just wanted to contribute to the team score. I'm not a guy who wants to hang around just for the sake of it. I take pride in performing for my country." - Virat Kohli after ending his 16-month Test century drought.
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