In the first innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell cheaply, edging a length delivery from Mitchell Starc while attempting an ambitious off-drive. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, playing unusually far outside his crease, was undone by a rising ball from Josh Hazlewood, edging to the keeper for a mere five runs. However, both players rectified their technical errors in the second innings at Optus Stadium in Perth, where they unleashed a breathtaking assault on the Australian bowlers. Jaiswal notched up a scintillating 161, while Kohli remained unbeaten on 100, each facing 297 and 143 deliveries respectively, tiring the Aussies and helping India secure a commanding lead in the first Test of the series.
The second innings was where everything clicked for Jaiswal and Kohli. Jaiswal, heralded as the ‘New King’ by the Aussies press, received a standing ovation from Kohli, who has been known as the ‘King’ of Indian cricket for over a decade, as he returned to the pavilion after his explosive innings. Not only did Kohli applaud him, but Rishabh Pant, the next batsman in, embraced Jaiswal in acknowledgment of what could be a match-winning performance. Jaiswal, with his helmet and bat raised high, was cheered with a standing ovation by every spectator as he walked back to the dugout. In the commentary box, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar stood to applaud Jaiswal’s fourth Test century.
For Kohli, the Perth crowd witnessed a century that was both elegant and layered. After a patient start, once Washington Sundar was dismissed following an 89-run partnership, Kohli switched gears, lofting Nathan Lyon for a six and then punishing Marnus Labuschagne with boundaries. His 30th Test century, his seventh in Australia — the highest by any Indian against this opponent — was celebrated with a kiss to his bat, a smile, and a nod towards his wife, Anushka Sharma, in the VIP gallery. This performance was especially significant after his less impressive outings in the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
“Paaji (elder brother Kohli) has been doing it for a long time, so he’s just incredible,” an elated Jaiswal told reporters. “I was enjoying his batting, we were so happy.”
Optus Stadium has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Kohli. Here, in the 2018 Test, he scored 123 runs, which he later described as his “finest Test century in Australia” in a BCCI.tv video. For Jaiswal, it was his first taste of success Down Under, where he joined an elite club by scoring daddy hundreds in his first four Test centuries, alongside Graeme Smith, and became the third Indian to score a century on his Test debut in Australia. Additionally, he became the youngest opener after Sachin Tendulkar to score a hundred in Australia, and Kohli surpassed Sir Donald Bradman in terms of Test centuries.
“For me all my centuries are amazing, but this is special because I really wanted to do it against Australia,” Jaiswal said. “I worked so hard in every practice session, I wanted to score runs here in Australia, so I really enjoyed it. I was just playing normally, I always trust in me and believe in me.”
Perth witnessed a spectacle where the ‘King’ and the ‘New King’ were in full display, their celebrations mirroring each other with arms stretched wide and broad smiles aimed at the sky, soaking in every moment. Yet, their innings were markedly different in style; Jaiswal’s was a display of youthful exuberance, while Kohli’s was a masterclass in adaptability and experience.