1st Test Live: India eye big win against Australia in Perth

Former India captain Virat Kohli hit his much-awaited first hundred of the year across formats on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

By scoring his 30th hundred in Test cricket, Virat not only roared back to form but also broke a string of records and most importantly, broke the record of his idol Sachin Tendulkar.

Former batting great Tendulkar had scored six Test hundreds over the years in Australia and Kohli hit his seventh Test century in Australia as India declared their second innings at 487/6 to set Australia a 534-run target.

This is also Kohli's 10th hundred across formats in Australia, the most by a visiting batter.

What is it about young Indian batting talents and Perth that makes the venue a perfect stage to showcase their wares to the world?

The reverberations of an 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar's 114 in 1992 at the WACA are still felt. Virat Kohli's twin knocks of 44 and 75 at the WACA 20 years later showed everyone what he is made of and on Sunday, Yashasvi Jaiswal stamped his class by smashing a majestic 161 (297 balls, 15x4, 3x6) his fourth hundred, all of them 150-plus, at the Optus Stadium on Day Three of the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy to lay claim on the tag of 'The Prince'.

Meanwhile Virat Kohli 100* (143b, 8x4, 2x6), 'The King', then pulverized a frazzled Australian attack for his 30th Test century and his first in the last 16 months.

The moment the Indian veteran reached triple figures, his second at the Optus after his heroics in 2018 in a losing cause, Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah declared with the score at 487-6. It left Australia a target of 534 to chase in 25 minutes and two days.

The hosts, tired after being in the field for 134.3 overs, ran into an inspired Bumrah again to slump to 12 for 3 in 4.2 hellish overs.

With a declaration looming and increasing urgency, Kohli broke his 16-month century drought in the final hour, sweeping Marnus Labuschagne for four to the rapturous approval of the crowd's many Indian supporters.

During a tricky 4.2 overs before stumps, paceman Jasprit Bumrah dismissed debutant Nathan McSweeney (zero) and Labuschagne (three), both lbw, while nightwatchman Cummins (two) edged Mohammed Siraj to the slips, leaving Usman Khawaja unbeaten on three with an almighty mountain to climb.

"If a couple of guys find some form and score 80, 90, even a hundred, that's the positive we can take out of it," said pacer Josh Hazlewood.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli hardly put a foot wrong on their way to magnificent centuries in Perth on Sunday, as India declared on 487-6 and had Australia reeling at 12-3 at stumps and trailing by 521 runs on day three of the first test.

The visitors scored 150 in their first innings before bowling out Australia for 104 while conditions still favoured seam.

Jaiswal scored a consequential 161 to earn the title of heir-apparent to Kohli as India's batting figurehead, but the former captain showed he is not ready to relinquish the reins just yet with a fine unbeaten 100.

"Be fearless," Jaiswal described his mindset to reporters.

"It's always special to score a hundred against one of the best in the world, so I really enjoyed it."

With the sun beating down, Australia finally earned some reward for their toil when Rahul feathered Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Playing in place of Rohit Sharma, who stayed home for the birth of his second child, the 32-year-old did a stellar job supporting his young partner.

Skipper Rohit is set to return for the second Test in Adelaide, posing a selection headache for the visitors.

Australia got another breakthrough on the first ball after lunch when Paddikal edged Hazlewood to Smith at slip.

Jaiswal's dismissal sparked a mini collapse with Pant stumped by Carey and Jurel out lbw to Pat Cummins.

But Kohli and Sundar steadied the ship, putting on 89 for the sixth wicket, before Nathan Lyon bowled Sundar.

That introduced Nitish Kumar Reddy, who with Kohli went on an onslaught against a tired attack.

The visitors resumed after seizing control on day two when Australia were dismissed for a woeful 104 in reply to India's 150.

Padding up on 172-0, Jaiswal took a risky single off Josh Hazlewood's opening ball to signal his attacking intent.

The left-hander, who began on 90, reached three figures with an extraordinary six off Hazlewood, hitting the boundary marker on the full, triumphantly raising his arms in the air.

It was his fourth ton and first in Australia.

Since scoring 171 on debut against the West Indies in 2023 Jaiswal has cemented his place at the top of the Indian order.

An eye-opening 214 not out at home against England this year catapulted him to stardom, but concerns lingered over how he would perform in Australian conditions.

After being out for a duck in the first innings his response against one of the world's best attacks put any doubts to bed.

The day belonged to Jaiswal, hitting 15 fours and three sixes in a mature 297-ball stay.

The 22-year-old opener, in his 15th Test, seemed destined for a double century but he cut Mitchell Marsh to Steve Smith at point and departed to a standing ovation.

Kohli was also on fire in a welcome resurgence after a lengthy lean spell that sparked questions about his place in the team.

The 36-year-old superstar rode his luck to bring up a 30th Test ton and his first since July last year to silence the critics.

While Kohli has struggled in recent Tests, he has an exceptional record in Australia, and now has seven centuries, averaging over 54.

Along with Jaiswal, Australia removed Devdutt Padikkal (25), Rishabh Pant (1), Dhruv Jurel (1) and Washington Sundar (29), having accounted for KL Rahul (77) before lunch.

Rahul's demise snapped a 201-run opening partnership with Jaiswal, a record for India in Australia, eclipsing the previous best set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986.

Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed a majestic 161 and Virat Kohli roared back to form with a vintage century Sunday as India zeroed in on victory against Australia in the first Test in Perth.

The visitors declared their second innings on 487-6 in the final session of day three after Kohli reached 100.

Faced with an ominous 534 to win, Australia needed to survive 30 minutes before stumps.

But they instead imploded with rookie Nathan McSweeney out for a duck to Jasprit Bumrah and nightwatchman Pat Cummins falling for two, edging Mohammed Siraj to Kohli at slip.

When Bumrah trapped Marnus Labuschagne (3) lbw, stumps were called with Usman Khawaja not-out three and Australia in disarray at 12-3.