Mayank Agarwal's century takes India to 221-4 despite three wickets in 2 overs from Ajaz Patel
Brief Scores: India: 221-4 (Mayank Agarwal 120*, Shubman Gill 44, Ajaz Patel 4-73) winning the toss vs New Zealand at Stumps on Day 1.
After a thrilling Test Match in Kanpur between India and New Zealand, both teams face each other in Mumbai for the 2nd and last Test Match of the series. With India's regular leader, Virat Kohli, back after a little break, it will be a new era of Rahul Dravid as a Head Coach with skipper Virat Kohli in the longest format of the game. New Zealand would be confident coming into this game after their heavy fight to save the last Test whereas India will eye to go one step forward.
The last time the Kiwis had won a Test Match in India was on this very ground, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, 33-years ago. Persistent rain for the last couple of days has delayed the normal proceedings of the Test match.
The 22-yard because of heavy rain for the last couple of days has spent enough time under the covers. Cracks will come out as the Sun will shine in days to come, Spin will be a common word in this game. But batting first won't be easy with a little bit of help for the bowlers.
Team News
The news before the toss may not please the Indian fans as the BCCI Twitter handle confirms that because of different injuries, Pacer Ishant Sharma, Spinning All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Middle Order Batsman Ajinkya Rahane, all have been ruled out of this Test. Body blow for India. Blackcaps too missing the services of regular leader Kane Williamson who is suffering from a Left elbow issue. Tom Latham wears the captain’s cap on his head for this Test.
Wet outfield has the last laugh in the first session
Although the Mumbai Cricket Association and the ground-staffs worked hard to make the field fit for play; the absence of sun for most of the 2hour period in the first session means no action to enjoy. Nonetheless, a second inspection brought up the news that the toss has been decided to be on 11:30 am with the game to begin in 30-mins from then.
Skipper Virat Kohli wins the toss and elect to bat first as the home side makes three changes based on the niggles. Kohli himself comes in place of Rahane, Jayant Yadav to play replacing Ravindra Jadeja whereas Mohammed Siraj would come into the place of Ishant Sharma. In the Blackcaps camp, all-rounder Dary Mitchell will play in place of Kane Williamson.
NZ hit back with quick wickets after Indian opener laid a good platform
Both the openers, Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill made their way into the middle being under a bit of scrutiny to produce a good opening partnership to lay the platform for a huge first-innings total. They started well as the home side raced away to 25 in the 6th over; with tallboy, Kyle Jamieson getting some treatment. Spin was introduced early in the game as both the openers looked good till the first drinks break.
Both the batters show some aggression after the break hitting boundaries in back-to-back over before M Agarwal ran down the pitch to hit spinner Ajaz Patel for a six; the plan was not to settle the spinner with his line and length. A little single in the 19th overtook India to 50-0; their first opening 50-run stand at home after 14-innings. Shubman Gill too took on the spinners as he smashed William Somerville straight down the ground for half a dozen. Few balls in between all of these were spinning but not being able to draw first blood for the visitors. As Umpire Nitin Menon call the second drinks, India was 71 for no loss.
Shubman Gill got a life as keeper Tom Blundell missed a chance to stump out the opponent opener in the bowling off Ajaz Patel but they didn’t need to wait more than a minute. Patel bowled a slow delivery in the fourth-stump channel as Gill flirted with it and found Ross Taylor at slip. India lost their first wicket as frustrated S Gill departs for 44. One ball to breathe and one to dismiss as Ajaz again after an unsuccessful review to Cheteshwar Pujara send him to the hut; the ball spun and hit the pads of the batter before rolling onto the stumps. Virat Kohli arrives. Read More: IND vs NZ - 1st Test, Day 5, Kanpur - NZ survive in nail-biting draw, India fail to take last wicket
The return of Virat Kohli lasted four balls
It was a close call or V Kohli might say it was unfortunate. Ajaz Patel bowled a straight ball which hit the Indian captain to his pads and Umpire Anil Chaudhary rule the batter out; VK goes for the DRS. The third umpire along with the whole world saw a little spike when the ball hit the bat and spilt of second to the pad; after almost an era of checking using different angles and frames; third umpire Virender Sharma rule the Indian leader out due to the lack of conclusive evidence. The decision shocked Kohli as he left the ground being so angry for a duck after four-ball innings. India was pushed back further.
Soon, with some glorifying shots, Mayank Agarwal absorbed the pressure and just in the last over before tea, with a well-judged four behind the wicket, the Karnataka opener reached his 5th Test fifty as India finished on nelson (111) for 3-big wickets at the interval.
Mayank's Century place India in a better position; India 221-4 at Stumps
Both the umpires entered the ground after the break with the booing of the crowd. Nonetheless, Mayank Agarwal look solid on the crease and was hitting boundaries for fun. He was getting on the ball with a run on the track or sweeping or playing different shots all around the ground. William Somerville appeared so ordinary going around for a run-rate of 5.8 with some balls was showing the colour of the 22-yard. And just when seems like; getting a wicket will be tough. Ajaz Patel with a little bit more bounce sent Shreyas Iyer back as the ball flew to the keeper hitting the pads.
The new pair Wriddhiman Saha-Mayank Agarwal was playing cautiously as the latter was inching towards his century; there are some pressure on him as KL Rahul & Rohit Sharma had already cemented their place in the opening place. And a half-volley being punched through the extra-cover boundary took M Agarwal to his fourth Test Century as he punches in the air with yelling out a roar.
The keeper-opener partnership keeps on ticking as Sun begin to set in Mumbai; the artificial light starts to take care with shades making it tough for the batter to survive. And finally, after a few overs; the Umpires decided to go off the filed due to bad light. Centurion M Agarwal and Keeper W Saha went back to the pavilion as fans from the stadium captured the moments in their mobile cameras.
What to expect on Day-2
India will look to bat on as much as possible; the track even with the old ball is showing its spinning character as a batsman are finding it so tough in some phases especially being new at the crease. NZ will look to get early breakthroughs and restrict India under 350; with the Sunset to take part in most of the times; The opposition may not want to chase a huge target on the last day.
Here are some of the Twitter Reactions from INDvsNZ 2nd Test, Day 1: