India vs Australia 1st Test: All-Round hosts thump the visitors to take 1-0 Lead, Win by an Innings and 132 Runs

India have started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an emphatic statement after drubbing Australia in Nagpur.

The hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series with a thumping victory, winning the match by an inning and 132 runs, with two days to spare.

It has been a tale of disappointment for the visitors, whose inability to bat in challenging conditions has been exposed yet again. Throughout the two innings, they couldn't handle the Indian spinners. Apart from Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, who showed some resistance, the whole batting lineup crumbled, especially in the second innings.

Ravindra Jadeja Fifer in the First Inning

Ravindra Jadeja made his comeback to Test cricket in an emphatic style, picking up 5 wickets in the first inning as Australia were bundled out for 177. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 3 wickets. Marnus Labuschagne (49), Steve Smith (37) and Alex Carey (36) played well for the away side, but the others couldn't live up to the expectation.

Rohit Sharma's Century, India Pile 400 and Todd Murphy's 7-for

Rohit Sharma played a fluent knock to get his 9th Test ton, his first as the Indian captain in Tests. The Indian skipper scored 120 runs as the hosts took the lead on the 2nd day. Debutant Todd Murphy was the star with the ball for Australia as he picked up 7 wickets. Even at the latter end, Ravindra Jadeja (70) and Axar Patel (84) batted brilliantly to add some valuable runs and take the lead beyond 200 runs for India on the 3rd day.

Australia Crumble Again as Ashwin Stars

In the second innings, it was even worse for Australia. The visitors collapsed and got bruised badly during their epic capitulation. Ravichandran Ashwin started the damage with the wicket of Usman Khawaja, and it never stopped after that. The Aussie batters came and got back to the hut, with the most common mode of wicket being the Leg Before Wicket (LBW). The Indian spin duo bowled efficiently with discipline, making life difficult for the Aussie batters. The stranglehold they put around the likes of Handscomb and Renshaw was a great sight, and they all succumbed after painful suffocation.

Ashwin was the main architect in the second innings, picking up 5 wickets. Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets while Mohammed Shami cleaned the tail with 2 wickets to his name as Australia were bowled out for mere 91 runs in the second innings.

India have thus completed a dominating victory by an innings and 132 runs. The juggernaut now moves to Delhi as the second Test commences in six days' time.