Perth (Australia): After becoming the first opening pair to register a 100+ run opening stand for India in 20 years, openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal extended their partnership to 200-run and become the first Indian duo to record 200+ run opening partnership in Australia in Tests. Notably, this also marks the highest partnership by Indian openers on Australian soil.
Rahul and Jaiswal forged a massive 201-run opening partnership against Australia on Day 3 of the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, November 24. With this exceptional outing by both batters, the duo surpassed legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth's 191-run opening stand at Sydney in 1986. The partnership is also the highest by a visiting side except for England since Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes' iconic 323-run stand in Melbourne in 1912.
Jaiswal and Rahul opening stand lasted for 63 overs. This is the second longest stand in terms of balls faced for India's opening pairs in Tests outside Asia. The longest opening stand for India outside Asia is between Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jasiwal against West Indies in Roseau in 2023 where both batters stitched 229 runs partnership in 75.4 overs.
While Jaiswal looked aggressive and was looking to score runs quickly, KL Rahul was happy to play second fiddle in the partnership. Jaiswal recorded his maiden Test century off 205 balls in Australia in his debut game. On the other hand, Rahul smashed a couple of boundaries in the second over of the third day and was looking strong to achieve his century, but fell 23 runs short of a well deserved hundred. He departed on 77 runs off 176 balls.