Australia vs India 2018: 3rd Test, MCG, Day 1 - Report

Australia vs India 2018: 3rd Test, MCG, Day 1 – Report; Well, it has been quite a day for Indian National Cricket Team at Melbourne. They thoroughly dominated the things on Day 1 of the Third Test to put their noses ahead. The debutant Mayank Agarwal and the ever-solid pair Pujara-Virat Kohli did the trick for India to put 215/2 on the board at the end of Day 1 stumps.

Mayank Agarwal knocks 76 on his debut:

Initially, it was India, who won the toss and asked the home side to roll their arms. India opened the innings with their brand-new pair Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal, who approached the game cautiously.

The duo batted pretty defensively to progress the things slowly. However, Pat Cummins gave the first breakthrough when Hanuma Vihari handed a catch to Aaron Finch at second slip.

However, Mayank Agarwal batted beautifully to turn the things on the Indian side. He smashed the ball beautifully to find the fence more often than not to put Australians chasing the leather. Apart from knocking runs, he was rock solid in his defence as well.

On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara carried his glorious form to knock runs for India. He has been quite brilliant with his technique, who stood like a wall in the middle. During the course, Mayank Agarwal got to his maiden fifty as well.

Just when things looked set for Mayank Agarwal to achieve something big, unfortunately, he nicked Pat Cummins to Tim Paine behind the wicket, which ended his glorious 76-run knock on his debut.

Virat Kohli-Cheteswar Puajra drove the ship beautifully:

Meanwhile, the Indian skipper comes to the crease amidst high roarings from the crowd. Though he escaped initial hiccups, later, displayed his class to the crowd by knocking Australians out easily.

The duo went to add a beautiful unbeaten 92-run partnership for the third wicket to end Day 1 on high for India. At the end of the stumps on Day 1, Virat Kohli was batting on 47 while Pujara was batting on 68.

Brief Scores:

Toss – India won the toss and Chose to Bat first

India – 215/2 (89) (Mayank Agarwal 76, Pujara 68*; Pat Cummins 2/40)