India vs Australia Highlights, 3rd Test Day 1: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli Take India To 215/2 At Stumps On Day 1
Highlights, India vs Australia: Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara took the charge after Mayank Agarwal's impressive show.
Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease when India concluded the first day of the third Test against Australia on 215/2 at the MCG, Melbourne, on Wednesday. The record-highest partnership of the four-match Test series between Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara came after an impressive show by debutant Mayank Agarwal. Agarwal scored 76 runs off 161 balls and gave India a confident start with all-rounder Hanuma Vihari. Even though, Vihari managed to make just eight runs, he looked fearless while facing the daunting Australian pace attack with the new cherry. The new opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari established a 40-run opening-wicket partnership stand. For Australia, Pat Cummins was the only successful bowler with two crucial scalps in Vihari and Agarwal. The four-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1. After suffering a 146-run defeat in the second Test in Perth, India after a week's break have managed to put their best foot forward. For the Boxing Day Test, India dropped openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay to give youngsters Vihari and Agarwal a chance to open the innings. While there was a temptation to play all-rounder Hardik Pandya, a fit-again Rohit Sharma will give the cushion of an extra batsman. Indian team management in a departure from its convention, announced their playing XI, a day prior to the match ending speculations about the possible team combination. (SCORECARD)
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Highlights between India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 1, straight from Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Stumps on Day 1 of the 3rd Test.#TeamIndia on top with 215/2 (Pujara 68*, Virat 47*)
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2018
Scorecard - https://t.co/xZXZnUvzvk #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lxegdNaU5N
12:31 IST: Stumps! Virat Kohli (47*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (68*) take India to 215/2 at the end of the first day in Melbourne. With 92 runs, the partnership-stand between Kohli and Pujara has been the highest so far in the four-match Test series.
12:27 IST: Two overs remaining in the day's play. Starc will look to make the best of the new ball, while Kohli is just three runs away from his 20th Test fifty.
12:22 IST: End of the 87th over! Mitchell Starc has come hard lately. Is it the magic of the new ball? Meanwhile, Kohli has been too fortunate on four consecutive deliveries.Â
12:19 IST: Kohli dropped! It's a lucky day for the Indian captain.
12:18 IST: Loud shout for an LBW appeal against Virat Kohli falls on deaf ears. It came in sharp but hit him too high.
12:13 IST: FOUR! Pujara guides it through the gap for a boundary. It goes to the third man fence with much ease. India are 209/2 after 85.1 overs.
12:08 IST: Hazlewood bowls a maiden over. India won't like another dismissal before the stumps, which is now six overs away.
12:04 IST: Josh Hazlewood to share the new ball with Mitchell Starc.
12:02 IST: 200 up for India. Virat Kohli takes his team past 200 with a double off the fifth ball of the 83rd over.
11:59 IST: The new ball has been taken. Mitchell Starc will start with the new cherry.
11:56 IST: Australia are not taking a new ball at the moment as they keep Lyon in the attack. The spinner might get a few overs to bowl as there are just nine overs left in the day's play.
11:54 IST: A trademark shot from Kohli. The Indian skipper smashes a straight drive to get a boundary.
11:51 IST: The new ball is due. But Australia captain brings Mitchell Marsh back into the attack.
11:50 IST: Just one run comes from the over. India are 193/2 with captain Kohli (40*) eyeing his 20th Test half-century.
11:48Â IST: Lyon bowls the 80th over, following which the new ball will be available for Australia.
11:44 IST: FOUR! Pujara lifts the crowd off its feet with one of his classic shots.
11:42 IST: FOUR! Kohli was waiting for such a half-volley for quite a long time. He pushes it hard to get a boundary, deceiving the fielder at cover.
11:38 IST: Pujara was the only batsman to score a century in the first Test in Adelaide that India won by 31 runs. Are we going to see another hundred by the Indian Test specialist?
11:33 IST: 75 overs gone, India are 182/2. The new ball will be available after five more overs. Spinner Nathan Lyon will look to strike before that.
11:27 IST: Shot! Wonderful use of the feet. Pujara takes a double to take India to 179/2 in 73.3 overs.
11:25 IST: Two runs! Pujara follows it up with a couple of runs at mid on.
11:22 IST: Pujara gets a blow on his index finger. India's physio is out on the field to check whether the batsman is fine. It was a short of a length delivery by Cummins that missed the bat and hit Pujara on his finger.
11:18 IST: Drinks are on the field now.
11:15 IST: Not Out! Australia lose a review as the DRS shows impact outside the line. They now have just one review remaining.
11:14 IST: Review! Australia opt for DRS for an LBW appeal against Virat Kohli. The original decision was given not out.
FIFTY!
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2018
A patient half-century from @cheteshwar1. This is his 21st in Tests #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Yq9rq5JPP0
11:09 IST: FIFTY! Pujara scores his 21st half-century off 152 balls. A single to reach the fifty. With this, Pujara and Kohli also complete their 50-run stand for the third-wicket partnership.
11:07 IST: Pujara is back into the groove. He hits the ball at deep extra cover to get three runs off short length delivery by Lyon.
11:04 IST: Marsh is keeping it tight from the other end. Just one run from the over as India reach 168/2 in 69 overs.
10:58 IST: Spinner Nathan Lyon comes back into the attack.
10:57 IST: Just one run from the over. India are 165/2 in 67 overs.
10:52 IST: FOUR! Kohli edged but the ball goes past the gap to third man. A boundary to end the 66th over by Mitchell Starc.
10:50 IST: Virat Kohli had scored 692 Test runs in eight innings at an average of 86.5 during India's last tour of Australia in 2014/15.
10:47 IST: End of the over! Marsh concedes just one run in the 65th over. India are 160/2 with Pujara (44) and Kohli (24) in command.Â
10:43 IST: Mitchell Marsh returns to bowl a spell.
10:40 IST: FOUR! Pujara also joins Kohli in the assault. He pushes it to the deep third man and get four runs that lift India to 159/2.
10:36 IST: FOUR! 150 up for India. It was a thick edge off Kohli's bat but the ball fell well short of Shaun Marsh at first slip.
10:35 IST: FOUR! Kohli gets a boundary with the help of an impressive on-drive. Nothing looks better than this.Â
10:33 IST: Two runs, leg byes! The bouncer by Starc hit Pujara on his shoulder but the ball went past wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
10:26 IST: FOUR! A sloppy fielding effort from Travis Head gifts Virat Kohli his first boundary in the Melbourne Test. Though, Kohli had struck it hard towards the mid-on. India are 137/2 in 60.3 overs.
10:22 IST: No run. Pujara leaves a short of a length delivery, the last ball of the over, as India reached 133/2 in 60 overs.
10:17 IST: LBW appeal for Pujara but the umpire gives him not out. The ball by Cummins struck Pujara high on the thigh-pad.
10:11 IST: FOUR! Nicely driven down the line by Pujara. He scores his third boundary to take India to 131/2 in 57.2 overs.
10:09 IST: Inside edge but Kohli is safe. The lucky skipper gets two runs for India.
10:05 IST: Hazlebood bowls a maiden over and keeps Kohli on strike for Cummins. He has already claimed two wickets and would like to convert it into three with the crucial scalp of Kohli.Â
10:01 IST: Kohli gets two quick runs there. India are 125/2 with Cheteshwar Pujara (33*) on the other end.
10:00 IST: India captain Virat Kohli is out in the middle. He will face the last ball of the 55th over by Pat Cummins.
Misses out on a ton. @mayankcricket falls at the stroke of Tea for 76. #TeamIndia 123/2 with Pujara on 33* #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/IstFI0xbxP
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2018
09:41 IST: WICKET & Tea! Cummins strikes again to trap the big fish. Mayank Agarwal goes back to pavilion just before the tea break. India are 123/2 with Cheteshwar Pujara (33*) solid on one end.
09:37 IST: EDGED BUT RUNS! Mayank Agarwal could've gone back to the pavilion if Australia had placed a fielder at the third slip. Agarwal scores a boundary to take India to 123/1.
09:32 IST: We are a few minutes away from the tea break. India have scored 119 runs with a loss of one wicket. No wicket has fallen so far in the second session.
09:26 IST: Inside edge but Pujara is still safe. It didn't carry to Usman Khawaja at gully.
09:18 IST: Just one run from the over. India are 113/1 after 50 overs.
09:11 IST: Pat Cummins, the only successful bowler from the day, comes back into the attack.
09:07 IST: SIX! Mayank Agarwal is going for the maximum now. And he's playing his first Test. Well timed slog-sweep off the ball by Nathan Lyon.
09:02 IST: With 56 runs (not out), Agarwal has topped the chart of Indian opening batsmen on debut in Australia.
08:57 IST: 100 up for India in the 45th over. Earlier, Virat Kohli had won the toss and opted to bat first. It seems his idea has worked quite well.
08:54 IST: FOUR! Good leg cut from Pujara. He gets into the thirties and takes India to 99/1.Â
08:53 IST: Wonderful use of feet here. Pujara scores a three again. He, along with Agarwal, has laid a strong foundation for India.
08:50 IST: Pujara rides on the top of the ball to get three runs for India. With this, he completes a 50-run partnership stand for the second-wicket with Mayank Agarwal.
08:46 IST: Lyon bowls another maiden over quickly. The hosts are trying to take the control from the visitors.
08:42Â IST: Drinks are on the field now.
08:39 IST: Starc bowls a maiden over. India are 86 with a loss of one wicket in 41 overs. The last ball came at the speed of 147.5 kmph. Australia are desperately looking for a wicket now.
08:32Â IST: LBW appeal from Lyon for Agarwal. But it falls on deaf ears.
08:26 IST: Just two runs from the 38th over by Nathan Lyon. India are in command with 85/1 on the scoreboard.
08:22 IST: Pujara joins the domination with three runs. He chips it into the mid-on to help India reach 83/1.
Fifty on Test debut for @mayankcricket #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zpJijgerzT
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2018
08:19 IST: FIFTY! And he hammers the final nail in the coffin. Mayank Agarwal scored his maiden fifty off 95 balls on his Test debut. He reached the mark with the help of a boundary at long-on.
08:17 IST: FOUR! Agarwal has been after the boundaries since morning. He is contrasting to Pujara, who is taking his time.
08:16 IST: Nathan Lyon is back into the attack.
08:15Â IST: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is in awe of the flat wicket in Melbourne. "It's a beautiful pitch to bat on," he says on air.
08:10 IST: FOUR! Pujara gets on the top of the ball to smash a lovely boundary. What a sight to watch! India are 71/1 in 34 overs.
08:07 IST: Agarwal scores another three runs here. Amazing batting show by the Karnataka batsman. This shot could fetch him a boundary. Pujara is helping him too as we see a brilliant bit of running between the wickets.
08:04 IST: Some smart batting on display by Mayank Agarwal. He gets a double and follows it up with a single to disrupt the field setting.
07:58 IST: Australia are building pressure on India and looking for a mistake from either of the two Indian batsmen.
07:54 IST: Agarwal edged but safe as it came from soft hands and bounced well before Aaron Finch at the second slip.
07:51 IST: End of the 30th over! With a maiden over, Cummins tries to keep scoring tough for India, who are 61/1.Â
07:47 IST: Four runs from the over. India are 61/1 with debutant Agarwal (38*) in impressive form. He has made his mark in MCG and told the world that he belongs to the longest format.
07:44 IST: FOUR! Agarwal starts the second session with a boundary. He drives the ball gracefully to covers to get four runs that take India to 61/1 in 28.1 overs.Â
07:42 IST: Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara are back on the crease to resume Indian innings.
That will be Lunch on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. #TeamIndia 57/1, M Agarwal 34*, C Pujara 10* #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/TNV3RknBm3
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2018
07:03 IST: Lunch! India have scored 57 runs with a loss of one wicket in the first session of the third Test. Agarwal (34*) and Pujara (10*) look solid on the crease and will take the game forward in the second session after lunch.
07:01 IST: It could be the last over before lunch. Marsh will look to strike before the end of the first session.
06:58 IST: Three runs again! Pujara has his eyes firmly set on the cherry. India are 57/1 in 26.4 overs.
06:57 IST: We are just a few minutes away from the lunch.
06:53 IST:Â Marsh bowls a good length delivery and Pujara misses the flick. Now that's something rare.
06:41 IST: Fifty up for India. Mayank Agarwal (33*) leading the charge with Cheteshwar Pujara (4*) solid from the other end.
06:36 IST: What a brilliant effort! Pujara could get a boundary there. But he gets three runs to drive India to 48/1 after 21.5 overs.
06:33 IST: Another maiden over by Cummins. India are 44 without loss in 21 overs.
06:24 IST:Â Change from the other end as well. Mitchell Marsh comes into the attack.
06:23 IST: Cheteshwar Pujara comes at the crease.
06:21 IST: WICKET! Cummins strikes the first blow for Australia. India lose Vihari for eight runs. And it brings to an end of a 40-run opening-wicket partnership. Pat Cummins did the magic with a brilliant bouncer. With this, Vihari has told the world about some of his weaknesses. And Australian bowlers and pacers from all across the globe don't hesitate to bowl bouncers.
06:18 IST: Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets to his name in the ongoing series 16 wickets. India fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have claimed 11 wickets each so far.
06:14 IST: No run! Agarwal defends it well. Just one run from the 17th over by Cummins.
06:10 IST: FOUR! Agarwal concludes the 16th over with a boundary. India are 36 without loss in 16 overs.
06:07 IST: Vihari scores a single as India get a run after 18 deliveries.
06:02 IST: No run! India are still 31/0. And Drinks are on the field after first 15 overs.
05:58 IST: Vihari seems in no hurry. And Lyon manages to bowl a maiden 14th over.
05:56 IST: End of the over! India are 31/0 in 13 overs.
05:55 IST: Vihari gets a new helmet. He has scored just three runs off 41 deliveries so far.
Ouch! Vihari cops a nasty one on the helmet, but he's given the all clear to stay out there #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gsyVwUptia
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2018
05:53 IST: Vihari suffers a nasty blow on the back side of his head. Cummins goes up to check whether the batsman is fine.
05:50Â IST: Pat Cummins comes into the attack.
05:34Â IST: FOUR! Absolute brilliance from Agarwal. India are 26/0 after eight overs.
05:33 IST:Â Hanuma Vihari is finally off the mark after 25 balls. He gets a quick single with a push through mid-on.
05:32 IST: Paine introduces the spinner in the eighth over.
05:29 IST: FOUR! Byes. Tim Paine let it go!Â
05:28 IST: First boundary for Agarwal. He couldn't get a start better than this.
05:26 IST: A maiden over by Hazlewood. Vihari has faced 21 deliveries and yet to score a single run. India are 13 without loss.
05:22 IST: After five over, India are 13 without any loss of wickets. Vihari is yet to score a run. However, he looks comfortable here.
05:21 IST: And after the bouncer, Agarwal negotiates with a double. Good running between the wickets.
05:20 IST: Starc throws a brilliant bouncer. And Agarwal leaves it with much grace.
05:15 IST: Nicely played! Three runs, again from the bat of Mayank Agarwal. He displays some confidence here with this shot. After all, he has come a long way to make it happen.
05:13 IST:Â Another maiden over by Mitchell Starc. India are four without any loss in the first three overs.
05:10 IST: Vihari looks calm enough at the crease and maybe that's what convinced Virat Kohli to play the all-rounder at the top order.
05:09 IST: End of the over! India are three without loss after first two overs.
05:07 IST: Agarwal goes off the mark with a confident push through cover. He gets three runs for India.
05:05 IST: Josh Hazlewood to share the new cherry with Starc. Agarwal to face the first ball of his international career.
05:04 IST: Starc starts with a maiden over. India are 0/0 in one over.
05:00 IST: Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari are on the crease to start India's proceedings in Melbourne. Mitchell Starc will open the attack for Australia.
04:50 IST: "We have a pretty inexperienced group so a win certainly helps. I would have laughed if someone would have told me last year that I will be the skipper for the Australian team in the next Boxing Day Test," says Australian captain Tim Paine.
04:44 IST: "We will make the first use of this surface. This pitch looks like a nice one but it looks bit dry. So, it is going to become slower and slower. We are taking this Test as the last Test of this tour. We want to be at our best for this match," says Virat Kohli at the toss.
04:40 IST:Â Australia Playing XI: Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk/C), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
04:36 IST:Â India Playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Toss time: #TeamIndia win the toss and elected to bat first #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LgnZcMW9pO
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2018
04:33 IST: Toss! India have won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in Melbourne.
Australia's co-captains ready for the toss #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ve1IVRj8S1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2018
04:30 IST:Â We are just a few minutes away from the toss.
A very special cap presentation this morning and co-captain Archie Schiller is ready for his Test debut! Learn more about Archie's story here https://t.co/vmcqkK0tqE #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QfSVkLJ9KA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2018
04:25 IST:Â Mayank Agarwal is set to make his debut in Melbourne.
A special moment for @mayankcricket who is all set to make his debut at the MCG #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/r0J0eD9rXz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2018
04:20 IST: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.
Time had already run out for Rahul, who had scored only 48 runs in four innings this series, including a highest of 44 in the second innings at Adelaide.In this year's overseas cycle alone, his average had dropped down to 20.94 in nine Tests with only one fifty-plus score. Vijay had done no better previously scored 49 runs in four innings this series, including a highest of 20 in the second innings at Perth. Overall in 2019, he only averages 18.80 in eight Tests, with one hundred against Afghanistan. Otherwise his highest score this year is 46 in the first innings against South Africa at Centurion. In this year's overseas cycle, his average drops down to 12.64 in seven Tests. Â Â
The sheer numbers indicated that the two couldn't be persisted with as they had become "walking wickets" for the Australian new ball bowlers. Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, who is present in Melbourne indicated that Vihari is being looked as a stop-gap solution (with Prithvi Shaw injured). Agarwal though has earned his place by sheer weight of runs in domestic cricket as well as for India A and couldn't be ignored any further by either selectors or the team management. While Vihari bats at number three for Andhra, he has previously opened for Hyderabad earlier in his first-class career.
It suffices to say that he has impressed the team management sufficiently in his two Test outings thus far to be handed this responsibility against Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Even so, this new strategy from the think tank again puts the spotlight on Rohit Sharma, who will be eager to make an impression after yet another batting order shuffle to accommodate him.
In the past, India have dropped Cheteshwar Pujara (Sydney, 2014), moved Ajinkya Rahane to number three (Colombo, 2015), and even skipper Virat Kohli has batted at number three (St. Lucia, 2016) to make way for Sharma in the line-up. The batsman continues to underwhelm with his indifferent Test form, albeit he did score an attacking 37 runs at Adelaide out of India's first innings total of 250.
India Cricket Team
Australia Cricket Team