Virat Kohli displayed a heartwarming gesture towards teammates KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal after stumps on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia in Perth. The two opening batsmen had built a commanding partnership, adding 172 runs without losing a wicket, extending India’s lead to 218 runs. At the close of the day, Jaiswal was on 90, and Rahul had scored 62. Their partnership put India in a dominant position with three more days of play left. Virat Kohli’s thoughtful gesture towards Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul has won widespread admiration.
As the pair walked off the field towards the dressing room, Kohli, who was already padded up for his turn to bat, made his way onto the field and gave a salute to both Jaiswal and Rahul in recognition of their excellent performance. The gesture quickly went viral on social media, with fans and teammates alike praising Kohli’s support and leadership.
Jaiswal, after his disappointing duck in the first innings, made a strong comeback, scoring his ninth half-century in 123 balls, including five boundaries. His resilience was appreciated, especially after the early setback, and his composed innings was crucial in helping India build a substantial lead.
Earlier in the day, Australia had resumed their innings at 67/7, with Mitchell Starc (6*) and Alex Carey (19*) unbeaten. Jasprit Bumrah made an immediate impact by dismissing Carey for 21, caught behind by Rishabh Pant. This wicket marked Bumrah’s 11th five-wicket haul in Test matches, reducing Australia to 70/8. Virat Kohli’s thoughtful gesture towards Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul has won widespread admiration.
Harshit Rana then claimed the next breakthrough, removing Nathan Lyon for just five runs. Lyon, unable to handle a short delivery, attempted to guide it past third man but only managed to glove it to KL Rahul at slip. Australia were now 79/9, on the brink of being bowled out.
Starc and Josh Hazlewood offered some resistance, frustrating the Indian bowlers with a solid partnership. While Hazlewood blocked effectively, Starc occasionally played some aggressive strokes, taking Australia past the 100-run mark in 45.4 overs. However, their stand ended when Starc, after a defiant 26 off 112 balls, mistimed a shot and was caught by Pant, giving Bumrah his fifth wicket. Virat Kohli’s thoughtful gesture towards Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul has won widespread admiration.
Australia was finally bowled out for 104 runs in 51.2 overs, with Bumrah taking 5/30 in a stellar spell. His brilliant performance was the highlight of the day as India seized control of the match. The Indian bowlers dominated, and Kohli’s gesture underscored the camaraderie within the team, especially as they went into a strong position heading into the next day of play.
