WATCH: Mitchell Starc sledges Harshit Rana, gets struck on helmet in fiery response

New Delhi: India mounted an impressive turnaround in the first Test against Australia at Perth. Despite being dismissed for just 150, Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding five-wicket haul shifted the momentum in India’s favor. At one point, Australia faced the risk of recording their lowest-ever Test score against India—83—but a late cameo from Mitchell Starc spared them from such a setback.

Mitchell Starc not only frustrated the Indian bowlers with a crucial cameo but also added some light-hearted drama with a friendly banter involving debutant Harshit Rana. Having shared the dressing room during IPL 2024 with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Starc cheekily sledged Rana during their face-off, quipping, “I bowl faster than you.”

Rana quickly responded by delivering a sharp bouncer that struck Starc on the helmet.

Australia’s delight after bowling India out for 150 in the first innings was short-lived, as the Indian bowlers retaliated fiercely to leave the hosts in deep trouble. Jasprit Bumrah led the charge with a stellar five-wicket haul, supported by Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj, who picked up two wickets each, reducing Australia to a precarious 79-9. However, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood resisted, stitching an unbeaten 16-run stand for the final wicket, taking Australia’s score to 96-9 at the time of writing. A lead of over 50 runs could prove decisive on this challenging pitch.

This is a must-win game for India to keep their WTC final hopes alive. The unexpected series loss to New Zealand at home severely impacted their chances, leaving India with the daunting task of securing a 4-0 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A win in the opening Test would provide a significant morale boost for the challenges ahead in the series.