Makeshift opener KL Rahul repaid the faith India have showed in him despite recent struggles, helping to put the touring side in the driving seat against Australia in the first test in Perth on Saturday.

It’s not likely to stick in memory, it might not even have been noticed in the first place, but the Indian takeaway from Perth on a sumptuous second day was served by KL Rahul. It was his carefully-curated walks half-way down the pitch to chat with his Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul registered the highest first-wicket partnership for India in Australia during day three of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at Perth.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul hit half-centuries as India finished the day in a dominating position. | Crickit

Makeshift opener KL Rahul repaid the faith India have showed in him despite recent struggles, helping to put the touring side in the driving seat against Australia in the first test in Perth on Saturday.

Yashasvi Jaiswal confirmed his status as India’s new batting star with an unbeaten century and shared a record 201-run opening stand with KL Rahul as India batted to a likely unbeatable position in the opening Border-Gavaskar test at the Perth Stadium.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a composed unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul a stylish 62 Saturday as India built an ominous 218-run lead over Australia to take a stranglehold on the opening Test in Perth. A determined and gritty effort by both men against a world-class attack put the visitors in the driving seat as they look to draw first blood in the five-match

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul shared an unbeaten opening partnership of 84 Saturday as India built a 130-run lead over Australia to seize control at tea on day two of the first Test in Perth. The ball was not moving nearly as much as the opening day and Australia were in dire need of some inspiration,