PERTH, Australia (AP) — Yashasvi Jaiswal confirmed his status as India’s new batting star with an unbeaten century and shared a record 201-run opening stand with KL Rahul as India batted to a likely unbeatable position in the opening Border-Gavaskar 2024-25 test at the Perth Stadium on Sunday.

India were 359-5 at tea on the third day with Jaiswal scoring 161 runs.

The tourists who last won a test in Perth at the WACA grounds in 2018 have an overall lead of 405 runs and still plenty of time left to bat Australia out of this test.

Jaiswal brought up his fourth test century in sensational style as he parried a Josh Hazlewood bouncer over the third man boundary for his third six. He celebrated the ton by raising his bat followed by raising both arms.

Playing in only his 15th test in a career that has spanned just as many months, Jaiswal was in brilliant touch as he batted with ease and conviction.

In his controlled but at times flashy 6 ½ hour innings Jaiswal took his calendar year run tally to 1,280 at an average of 58.18 including two double hundreds against England at home to add to this ton.

Jaiswal, 22, has so far struck 15 fours and three sixes off 297 balls. His third six to bring up his hundred took his sixes tally to a record 35 for a calendar year since and surpassed New Zealander Brendon McCullum’s 33.

Jaiswal dismissed for 0 in the first innings joined the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to score a duck and a hundred in the same test in Australia. Gavaskar made 0 and 118 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 1977.

KL Rahul scored 77 and played second fiddle to Jaiswal in the 383-ball stand batted for 302 minutes and hit five fours off 176 balls.

Leftarm swing bowler Mitchell Starc finally separated the threatening partnership when KL Rahul edged a delivery that was slanted across the right hander and wicketkeeper Alex Carey took a low catch.

The opening stand was the highest for India in Australia since the 191 between Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 1986.

The conditions have been batter-friendly after the opening day claimed 17 wickets including India being bowled out for 150 after winning the toss. Australia replied with 104 and was dismissed in the second morning after Jasprit Bumrah took 5-30 in a sensational new ball spell.