Buoyed by their win in the first Test in Perth, the Indian cricket team arrived in Canberra for the mid-series two-day game against the Australia Prime Minister's XI on November 30 and December 1 ahead of the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide on December 6.
At the end of the first day of play, it is the home side that is firmly in control, and India that is now reduced to chasing the game.
His century in the Perth Test during the 2018-2019 series is rated by many as his finest, which Virat Kohli also acknowledges as his best in Australia.
Hailed as one of Indian cricket's brightest young talents, the 22-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal made a dazzling start to his Test career.
The iconic MCG won't have the bounce of Perth or the seam movement of Gabba but it will still be pace-friendly with 6mm of grass covering
The Perth Test marks Bumrah's second stint as a stand-in captain, having also led his country against England in 2022, and he could not have been dealt a tougher hand.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is on the cusp of making history after he went level with former spinner Bishan Singh Bedi for most wickets in an overseas Test series for India.
'We have nothing but respect for every Indian cricketer who takes the field on Friday'
'The 2018 series win in Australia stands out in his captaincy.'
In a fiery contest, Jaiswal had his moment of cheeky brilliance against Mitchell Starc, a legendary fast bowler with over 330 Test wickets to his name.
Bumrah now has 36 wickets on Australian soil, and the batter he's dismissed most times is his opposite number Pat Cummins (6).
While the whole batting unit faltered, the spotlight fell firmly on seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose lean patches in recent times have become a matter of concern.
Indian cricket has produced a generational superstar in Yashasvi Jaiswal and will remain in good health even when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to call time on their careers, said former Australia World Cup winner Darren Lehmann.
'What they bring to the table (can) never be written off.'
Ashwin's age is certainly a factor that is being kept in consideration.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests
Marsh's fitness has been a major concern for the hosts in the lead up to the pink ball Test, starting Friday.
Nathan McSweeney had a disappointing start to his international career after being ousted by Bumrah for 10 and zero in the first Test at Perth.
Steve Smith is not getting unduly bothered by people's opinion over his role in the 'sandpapergate' episode
Former pacer Mitchell Johnson reckons that Australia should drop out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne from the playing XI for the day-night Adelaide Test against India.
'She knows everything that goes on behind the scenes.' 'I take pride in performing for the country. Feels amazing, the fact that she's here makes it more special.'
Just-retired R Ashwin's father Ravichandran kicked up a controversy on Thursday by claiming that "humiliation" could have been a reason for his son's decision to call it quits but the veteran off-spinner made light of the "dad comment", blaming it on lack of media training.
The IPL auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24-25, clashing with the Perth Test scheduled from November 22.
India need to win three of the remaining four Tests in Australia to book their place in the WTC 2025 final.
'(Bumrah) is so unique, and that's with any of the bowlers, really. Every (batter) picks up different cues and goes about it in a different way.'
Rohit Sharma wilted under the traditional Australian tactic of mentally breaking down the opposition captains
Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal are in same boat; don't want to tamper their mindset: Rohit Sharma
'When Nathan Lyon was bowling I saw two or three balls without any drift. So, I thought of taking on Lyon so that we get some quick runs.'
Rohit had missed the opening Test due to the birth of his second child.
Sunil Gavaskar is in awe of Jasprit Bumrah's leadership qualities and reckons the peerless fast bowler will succeed Rohit Sharma as the next captain of the Indian team
India decided against playing a match against an Australian domestic side in the run up to the five-match Test series, starting in Perth from November 22
Marcus Stoinis says a ready reckoner in how to have a long T20 career has already been created by 40-plus stalwarts like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Faf du Plessis.
Another century in the second Test against Australia could see him overtake the legendary Don Bradman.
'He showed an awareness of what was required, which belied the fact that he was making his Test debut.'
Mitchell Marsh has allayed concerns about his injury, declaring himself "good to go" for the pink ball second Test against India, which begins in Adelaide on December 6.
Jasprit Bumrah dismantled Australia's batting in both innings with eight wickets in the match to bowl India to a huge 295-run victory in the first Test in Perth.
Paine's comments stemmed from a recent media interaction where Gambhir took issue with Ricky Ponting's remarks on Virat Kohli's struggling form, saying that the Australian legend need not be concerned about Indian cricket.
Talking to broadcasters after the India innings, Starc said he did not really visualise Jaiswal's dismissal.
While Sachin Tendulkar's 2013 farewell became a national pilgrimage, a vibrant celebration befitting a cricketing deity, the exits of many other Indian icons this century have been quieter journeys into the twilight.
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