India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul extended the team’s lead to 218 runs against Australia at the end of Day 2 of the first Test in Perth. After Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul allowed India to restrict Australia to 104 in the first innings at the Optus Stadium, Jaiswal and Rahul reached an unbeaten stand of 172 runs. While Jaiswal was unbeaten on 90, Rahul played like second fiddle to him. He was unbeaten on 62, with India in a commanding position despite scoring 150 in the first innings.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal had a hilarious conversation with Australian Marnus Labuschagne. The incident took place on the 43rd over of India’s second innings.

Jaiswal pushed Mitchell Marsh’s delivery towards point and tried to steal a single. However, Labuschagne warned him as he pretended to drive him away.

However, Jaiswal also mocked Labuschagne by teasing the Australian player to run him out. The duo went back and forth before sharing a smile.

Jaiswal pic.twitter.com/kmhVUYqLKN

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Coming back to the match, Jaiswal faced 193 balls while Rahul repelled 153 to steer India to 172 without loss at the end of day two.

India have won the last two Border-Gavaskar trophy series in Australia but found themselves in the Perth Stadium match coming off the back of a devastating 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand.

After making a miserly 150 on a lively pitch in their first innings, the pressure was on again. But their response turned out to be admirable.

They took a 46-run lead in the second innings after dismissing the hosts for a paltry 104 at lunch.

Dynamic captain Jasprit Bumrah shot 5-30 and Harshit Rana took 3-48.

Jaiswal brought up his ninth Test half-century off 123 balls, hitting Nathan Lyon for a single.

He was let-off on 52 off a drive from Starc, with the ball flying to Usman Khawaja at second slip, but he failed to take a difficult chance.

The elegant Rahul also had a scare and survived a run-out on 42.

He regrouped to reach his 16th half-century in his 54th Test, taking one more ball than Jaiswal, and once those landmarks were reached they began to play more freely.

(With AFP inputs)