India vs Australia, 1st Test - Talking Points and Who Said What?

The Indian team completely bamboozled Australia to win the first Test of the 2023 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. On a spin-friendly surface, they first restricted the Pat Cummins-led side to 177 in the first innings and  took a healthy lead of 223 runs. In the second innings, Ravichandran Ashwin completely spun a web around the Aussie batting unit to help India win the match by an innings and 132 runs. 

With that, India took the lead in the four-match Test series and moved closer to the World Test Championship finals. However, there’s still a lot of work left for the Indian team to do. Meanwhile, let us look at the talking points and who said what from the first Test at Nagpur.

Ravindra Jadeja rattles Australia’s batting unit:

Returning to international cricket after an injury, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was absolutely sensational on Day 1 of the first Test. The Saurashtra-born cricketer dismantled the Aussie batting unit and picked up a fifer. Meanwhile, his partner-in-crime Ravichandran Ashwin also picked up three wickets to restrict Australia to 177 runs. Even with the bat, the cricketer scored 70 crucial runs to bail India out of a difficult position. Later, in the second innings, the 34-year-old picked up two wickets to cement India’s victory.

Rohit Sharma leads by example

The Indian team needed a strong start and skipper Rohit Sharma delivered the same. The 35-year-old smashed 120 runs on a surface where all the other top-order batters struggled to cash in. Courtesy of his phenomenal start, India were in the driver's seat right from the word ‘go’, and it eventually played a massive part in India’s success.

Ravichandran Ashwin wreaks havoc

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was great in the first innings but in the second, he absolutely thrashed the Aussie batting unit. The 36-year-old picked up a fifer in the second innings as the Australian batters had no answer to Ashwin’s variations. With that, India bowled Australia out for just 91 in under 33 overs and won the match comfortably. 

Winning skipper Rohit Sharma said -

Yeah, it was [a special hundred], considering a lot of things. Start of the series, very important where we stand in the championship table, important for us to start well. We know playing a series like this it's important to start well. Happy I could put up a performance which could help the team. I was unfortunate I had to miss a few Test matches but happy to be back. Since I was appointed I played only two Tests, got Covid in England, missed three in South Africa, freak injury in Bangladesh. Things can happen when you play for a long time, but I've had injuries in the past so know how to come back from them. The last few years the kind of pitches we have in India who have to have a clear mindset and plan to get runs. Since I started opening I have tried to figure out...my methods. Have grown up a lot in Mumbai on surfaces which turn a lot. You need to use your feet, at the same time put pressure on the bowlers. You have to do something different, and that can be your way. You need to understand what you can do and not look at anyone else. [Moment of the game where you took charge] It was the first two overs from the seamers to be honest, 2 for 2 to start a game you are pretty much in the ascendency...the opposition is always under pressure because we know we have quality in the spin department but the seamers, not to forget, can be quite threatening on a surface like that. They know how to exploit those conditions. Glad all our batters could put up a show, get 400 and enough lead then the spinners came into the picture.

Losing skipper Pat Cummins said -

The game moves pretty quickly at times. You have to manage your tempos. Thought India played really well, their spinners are always going to be hard work when the wicket is spinning and thought Rohit showed his class. That first innings, the wicket spun but wasn't unplayable. Would have loved another 100 or so runs and put a bit more pressure on their first innings. Obviously starting here is tough but three or four of our guys got in and started to look pretty comfortable in the first innings. Those guys who do get in have got to turn it into big scores. [Todd Murphy] He was fantastic on debut. He's been very impressive. Bowled plenty overs.

Man of the Match Ravindra Jadeja said -

It feels amazing...after five months, give 100%, taking wickets and scoring runs. Feels amazing. I've been working hard when I was at NCA, also doing my rehab. Would like that all the NCA staff, physios, trainers, they have been working hard with me. I looked to bowl in good areas, the ball was spinning, the ball was going straight and also keeping low. I know the Australians will look to play sweep and reverse sweep. Generally I look to keep things very simple [with the bat] and not change too much. I focus more on my batting now because it's crucial number, 5, 6, 7, so have to put myself in a pressure situation.

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