Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli hit imperious centuries before Jasprit Bumrah took two late wickets as India put themselves in a dominant position against Australia at stumps on day three of the first Test.
Opener Jaiswal’s sublime 161 set the tone for India as he and KL Rahul compiled a record first-wicket stand of 201 for India in Australia.
That was followed by Kohli’s zen-like unbeaten knock of exactly 100 at Perth’s Optus Stadium as India declared their second innings on 487-6.
Set 534 for victory, a weary Australia were left with an awkward 24 minutes to negotiate before the close.
Rested and refreshed India stand-skipper Bumrah ran in with menace and trapped Nathan McSweeney lbw with the fourth ball of Australia’s response.
Australia captain Pat Cummins then came out as nightwatchman and edged Mohammed Siraj to Kohli at second slip.
A fired-up Bumrah struck again in his third over as he had Marnus Labuschagne out lbw, with referal backing up the on-field decision.
With two days left to play there is still time for Australia to either bat out for a draw or chase down a record total to win the match.
The current highest successful fourth-innings total to win a match is the 418-7 made by West Indies against Australia at St John’s in May 2003.
Australia’s highest fourth-innings chase to win a Test was the 404-3 they made at Headingley against England in July 1948.
However, with movement and uneven bounce on the pitch India look well positioned to win the opening match of the five-Test series.