India outclassed Australia to win the Perth Test by 295 runs.
Team India pulled off a thumping 295-run victory over Australia in the first Border-Gavaskar Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth on Monday (November 25).
Chasing the mammoth target of 534, Australia’s second innings folded for 238 in 58.4 overs. Travis Head waged a lone battle for the hosts as he scored 89 off 101 balls.
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, who picked a five-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings, returned with three scalps in the second essay. Mohammed Siraj also took three wickets while Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy shared the remaining scalps among them.
After the Perth Test result, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly warned Australia to start playing well or "get ready for a long series ahead".
India made a remarkable turnaround to win the BGT opener after the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home, prompting Ganguly to say that the team's performance was contrary to what the media in both the countries reported.
"I gave a couple of interviews (before the series) and I said this, 'what you are asking me?' They said, ‘you know, they lost 3-0 against New Zealand, they will be blown away by Australia'," Ganguly told the broadcaster during the Indian Premier League mega auction in Jeddah.
“Obviously there were media reports back in Australia that ‘we will blow them away'. Look who has blown them away in the first Test! Indian cricket has enormous, enormous talent.”
"This is for Australia: Play well or otherwise it is going to be a long series for you," he said with a smile.
The Indian batting line-up responded brilliantly after getting bowled out for 150 in the first innings of Perth Test. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), KL Rahul (77) and Virat Kohli (100*) batted exceptionally well in the second dig, propelling the visitors to 487/6 (declared).
Ganguly expressed his delight in the team's overall performance. "It is great to see Bumrah… wow. Bumrah, (Virat) Kohli, Yashasvi (Jaiswal), 22 year old, (playing his) first Test in Australia, (he was) superb,” he said.
"I liked the young boy from Hyderabad, Nitish Reddy, the seamers bowled well. They never looked out of place on a big occasion, big stage playing for India. That is what Indian cricket is all about," he added.
However, Ganguly highlighted the importance of keep applying pressure on Australia given that there are four more Tests left in the series.
The second Test is slated to be held in Adelaide, which will be played with the pink-ball from December 6.
"We will keep putting pressure against Australia in the next four Tests. It is a long way (to go). The next Test is important for me because in a day-night Test, Australia has a great record at Adelaide,” Ganguly said.
"(The) Indians will just have to get used to the pink ball for the day-night Test. It is a long series and I have got my fingers crossed for India winning this series," he further remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)