Team India’s batting lineup suffered a serious setback on Day 1 of the First Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Playing at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Indian stalwart Virat Kohli was dismissed for a mere 5 runs by Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, continuing his lean patch in Test cricket this year.
Kohli Falls to Hazlewood’s Fiery Spell
Virat Kohli walked in at No. 4 following the early dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal. While Kohli initially looked solid, his innings ended in the 17th over when Hazlewood produced an unplayable delivery.
The ball, short of a length, rose sharply and nipped away in the corridor of uncertainty. Caught off guard, Kohli edged the ball to first slip after it kissed the shoulder of his bat. Commentators debated whether Kohli could have left the delivery alone, but his eagerness to play on the front foot left him in a poor position to deal with the bounce and movement.
This dismissal left India reeling at 32 for 3, a precarious position after choosing to bat first.
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Watch the dismissal here:
Early Blows Leave India Struggling
India’s decision to bat first has backfired, especially with key players missing. Skipper Rohit Sharma is absent due to the recent birth of his second child. In his place, Jasprit Bumrah is captaining the side. Shubman Gill is also sidelined due to injury, prompting the inclusion of Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel as replacements.
India’s innings began disastrously with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal departing for a duck. Devdutt Padikkal, playing at No. 3, also failed to open his account after playing 23 deliveries, leaving the Indian top order in shambles.
The match also saw two debutants in the Indian lineup: all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy from Sunrisers Hyderabad and pacer Harshit Rana from Kolkata Knight Riders. Both players were handed their Test caps as India looked to bolster their options in challenging conditions.
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