Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul walked out to the crease as Mitchell Starc began the attack, following India’s decision to bat after winning the toss.
The lively Perth pitch immediately made its presence felt, with the first delivery racing down the leg side for a boundary. Australia quickly struck when Starc removed Jaiswal for a duck in the third over, leaving India at 5/1.
With Shubman Gill sidelined due to injury, Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal was called in at number three. However, after a fiery spell from Starc and Josh Hazlewood, it was Pat Cummins who made the next breakthrough, dismissing Padikkal for a duck off 23 balls.
India found themselves in a precarious position at 18/2 after 12 overs, as the crowd eagerly awaited Virat Kohli’s turn at the crease. But Kohli’s stay was short-lived. On the second ball of the 17th over, Hazlewood bowled a short-of-length delivery just outside off.
Kohli, attempting to play off the back foot, instead fended at the ball, sending an outside edge straight to first slip. The Indian batter misjudged the extra bounce, and Usman Khawaja, perfectly positioned, took a sharp catch.
Extra bounce from Hazlewood – Kohli's back in the sheds for five #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6M5DjgOqrV
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024
The crowd fell silent as Kohli departed for just five runs off 12 deliveries, sparking a flurry of discussion on Twitter about his form and praise for Hazlewood’s brilliant delivery.