In pics: India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 1

A strong batting performance from India saw Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar score half-centuries to finish the day on 215 for 2.

By Cricket Country Staff Last Published on - December 26, 2018 2:02 PM IST

Kohli’s contribution was a controlled 47 not out, in which he left the ball with certainty outside off stumps and forced the Australians to bowl to his strengths. Kohli’s driving was as usual gorgeous, with two drives past mid-on off Hazlewood and Marsh particularly pleasing on the eye. (AFP Image)

Agarwal made a promising start to his international career by scoring a half-century on Test debut. Agarwal was positive, using his feet well and playing Nathan Lyon with a straight bat. His first boundary in Test cricket came via an outside edge off Mitchell Starc past gully, but the sight of Lyon settled him. In the offspinner’s first over, he slapped a drive into the covers. Later, Lyon floated it wider and Agarwal cracked another four with the panache of Virat Kohli. (AFP Image)

On the friendliest batting track of the series so far, India’s latest – and makeshift – opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari blunted the new ball, batted out an hour and 20 minutes and gave the visiting team a solid start after Virat Kohli won a great toss. Vihari, in his third Test and having opened just three times in first-class cricket, made eight off 66 balls in an opening stand of 40 in 18.5 overs before a Pat Cummins bouncer saw him glove the ball to Aaron Finch at second slip. (AFP Image)

Agarwal and Pujara played out an almost-spotless second session. On the stroke to tea, Cummins, easily the pick of the bowlers, produced a delivery that prevented India from playing out a perfect session. It took a very good short ball from Cummins to end Agarwal's innings as the batsman nibbled a well-directed delivery off his ribs and was taken by Tim Paine down the leg side. (AFP Image)

Late in the day, Kohli, on 47, flashed at the new ball and was spilled by a diving Paine in front of first slip. It denied Starc a wicket during a high-octane spell of pace and swing and summed up the day Australia had. (AFP Image)

In the final session, Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Kohli got together and played out a wicketless session for India. Continuing his fine form in the series, Pujara registered his third 50-plus score, following the century and a 71 in Adelaide. The two batted to add 92 unbeaten runs for the third wicket and guided India to 215 for 2 at stumps on Day 2. This was also Pujara's 21st half-century in Tests. (AFP Image)