India set Australia a target of 534 in the first Test match, at Perth – the highest they have ever set them to chase in Test cricket.
After being bowled out for 150, India hit back to send Australia packing for 104. Building on the 46-run lead, India finished day two on 172-0, with a lead of 218.
KL Rahul fell for 77 on the third morning, but Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to make 161. He has converted each of his first four Test hundreds into 150s now. Virat Kohli got to his 30th Test hundred as well. Jasprit Bumrah declared as soon as Kohli reached his milestone, with India’s total on 487-6.
India set Australia a target of 534. Never before have they set them a target this big. Their previous best, of 516, was at Mohali in 2008-09. On that occasion, they had bowled out Australia for 195.
If one excludes the timeless Test match of 1928-29 (setting big targets was, quite logically, the norm in timeless Tests), the biggest target set against Australia was 632, by South Africa at the WACA in 2012-13. On Australian soil, the West Indies set them 574 in 1979-80 and South Africa 539 in 2016-17.
500-plus targets set against Australia in men’s Test cricket
| Team | Target | Venue | Season | Result |
| England | 742 | Brisbane (Exhibition) | 1928-29 (timeless) | Won |
| South Africa | 632 | Perth (WACA) | 2012-13 | Won |
| South Africa | 612 | Johannesburg (New Wanderers) | 2017-18 | Won |
| Pakistan | 603 | Abu Dhabi | 2014-15 | Won |
| England | 583 | Lord’s | 2013 | Won |
| West Indies | 574 | Adelaide | 1979-80 | Won |
| South Africa | 570 | Gqeberha | 1969-70 | Won |
| West Indies | 552 | Bridgetown | 1991 | Won |
| England | 546 | The Oval | 2009 | Won |
| South Africa | 539 | Perth (WACA) | 2016-17 | Won |
| Pakistan | 538 | Abu Dhabi | 2018-19 | Won |
| India | 534 | Perth (Optus) | 2024-25 | Ongoing |
| England | 532 | Adelaide | 1932-33 (timeless) | Won |
| England | 522 | Lord’s | 2009 | Won |
| India | 516 | Mohali | 2008-09 | Won |
| England | 506 | Manchester | 1981 |
By stumps, Bumrah (2-1) and Mohammed Siraj (1-7) reduced Australia to 12-3 as Usman Khawaja returned unbeaten.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
