KL Rahul's promotion higher up the batting order has been due to regular captain Rohit Sharma's absence. The India skipper is on paternity leave.

It’s not likely to stick in memory, it might not even have been noticed in the first place, but the Indian takeaway from Perth on a sumptuous second day was served by KL Rahul. It was his carefully-curated walks half-way down the pitch to chat with his Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Jaiswal and Rahul ended the day unbeaten on 90 and 62, as the hosts failed to take a wicket in two sessions, a dizzying change of pace from day one when 17 wickets tumbled.

After a 17-wicket Day 1, Australia's bowlers were made to do the hard yards without anything to show for it on Day 2 as KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal hit fifties to put India on top in the Perth Test. The openers took the first-innings lead of 46 - earned through a Jasprit Bumrah fifer - and stretched it past 200 by the end of day's play.

Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched an unbeaten 172-run opening partnership to take their team into the pole position in the Perth Test. At the end of Day 2, India lead by 218 runs with all 10 wickets in hand.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul finished Day 2 with an impressive unbeaten partnership of 172 runs for the opening wicket in Perth.

On-field umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled KL Rahul not out, but Australia got the decision overturned using DRS

Makeshift opener KL Rahul repaid the faith India have showed in him despite recent struggles, helping to put the touring side in the driving seat against Australia in the first test in Perth on Saturday.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a composed unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul a stylish 62 Saturday as India built an ominous 218-run lead over Australia to take a stranglehold on the opening Test in Perth. A determined and gritty effort by both men against a world-class attack put the visitors in the driving seat as they look to draw first blood in the five-match

Indian cricket team faced a challenging start in IND vs AUS 1st Test in Perth. Making the bold decision to bat first after winning toss, the visiting team struggled as wickets fell at regular intervals.

KL Rahul's controversial caught behind dismissal on Day 1 of the opening Test against Australia in Perth sparked a debate, with former players from both teams questioning the third umpire's decision to overturn the on-field umpire's not out call.