Perth: Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul achieved a remarkable milestone, registering the third-highest opening partnership for India in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.
Their 201-run stand against Australia at Optus Stadium, on Sunday, during the ongoing Test series highlights a brilliant display of skill and endurance in challenging overseas conditions.
The record for the highest opening stand for India in SENA countries remains with Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan, who scored 213 runs against England at The Oval in 1979. They are followed by the iconic 203-run partnership between Vijay Merchant and Mushtaq Ali against England in Manchester in 1936.
Jaiswal and Rahul’s effort places them ahead of memorable performances such as Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth’s 191-run stand at Sydney in 1986 and Gavaskar and Chauhan’s 165-run partnership at Melbourne in 1981.
The Jaiswal-Rahul partnership also features on an elite list of visiting opening duos with 200-plus stands in Australia. Their 201-run effort is the latest addition to a legacy that began with the legendary English pair of Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes, who hold the record with a mammoth 323-run stand at Melbourne in 1912.
Other notable performances include remarkable partnerships by English pairs: Hobbs and Sutcliffe's 283 at Melbourne (1925), Barber and Boycott's 234 at Sydney (1966), Athey and Broad's 223 at Perth (1986), and Atherton and Gooch's 203 at Adelaide (1991).
This partnership further cements Jaiswal and Rahul's growing stature in Indian cricket, showcasing their ability to rise to the occasion in high-stakes international encounters.