India-Australia
Indian bowlers reduce Australia to 12-3 at stumps
Indian bowlers ended the day's proceedings on a positive note as they left Australia struggling at 12 runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of the third day's play of the ongoing first Test in Perth.
Jasprit Bumrah led from the front and dismissed Nathan McSweeney (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (3) while Mohammed Siraj dismissed skipper Pat Cummins (2) to leave the hosts gasping for breath.
India set a record target of 534 for Australia to win the first Test.
India will now need seven wickets to take 1-0 lead in the series.
Australia still need 522 runs for victory.
Usman Khawaja remains unbeaten at 3 and will resume the proceedings on Monday when Indian bowlers will get down to the pitch with the purpose of beating the opponent on home soil.
The series assumes significance since India arrived in Australia after being thrashed in the home Test series against New Zealand.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) and KL Rahul's (77) record opening stand gave India the momentum against the hosts who defeated Rohit Sharma's squad in the 50-over format last year to win the World Cup in the same month.
Jaiswal hammered 6 boundaries and three sixes in his knock. He made his strong presence felt for India last year when he scored 171 on his Test debut against West Indies in July 2023. This was second-highest score on foreign soil.
Starc dismissed KL Rahul to give Australia their first breakthrough in the match and soon it was followed by the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal (25), who was shown the door towards the pavilion by Josh Hazlewood.
Virat Kohli returned to form with his vintage batting when he gracefully faced the famed Australian bowling challenge to score 100 unbeaten runs which helped the Indian squad further take the lead in the second innings.
Hammering some graceful shots, Kohli hit eight boundaries and two sixes in the innings.
Washington Sundar (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38) contributed with their willows at the end before Bumrah decided to declare the innings.
Spinner Nathan Lyon picked up two wickets for Australia.
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