After a delayed start due to rains, India banked on Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten 120 and Shubman Gill's 44 to post 221/4 at the end of Day 1 of the Wankhede Test.
That moment when @mayankcricket got to his 4th Test Century 👏👏
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2021
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India started off well with Gill and Agarwal putting on a magnificent 80-run partnership for the opening wicket. Gill scored at a brisk pace and looked comfortable in the middle until he was undone by Ajaz Patel. He was lucky to have survived a stumping chance but ended up edging one to Ross Taylor at slip in the very next delivery.
Stumps on Day 1 of the 2nd Test.#TeamIndia 221/4 (Mayank 120*)
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2021
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Patel was in the thick of things as he went on to pick up three more wickets on the day. Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli fell prey to the Mumbai-born Kiwi spinner immediately after Gill's dismissal, reducing India to 80/3 from 80/1 in a matter of two overs!
Pujara was the first one to go as he tried to play coming down the track but was completely beaten by the flight of the delivery, leaving his off-stump rattled.
Even though Kohli's leg before decision was a controversial one where the ball appeared to have hit the bat first before hitting the pad, the review went in NZ's favour.
Patel was handed a really long spell (29 overs, 4/73) and he didn't disappoint at all. Shreyas Iyer, the hero of the first Test match, was the last wicket to fall to Patel today. Even though Iyer looked in good touch for his 18 runs, he couldn't repeat his heroics. After an 80-run partnership with Agarwal, he edged one onto his thigh pad that carried to Tom Blundell.
FOUR now for @AjazP! Iyer onto his pad and Tom Blundell takes the catch and he's out for 18. 160/4 in Mumbai. Agarwal joined by Saha. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/tKeqyLOL9D #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/TyQAHIxGiH
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 3, 2021
Even though India lost wickets in a flurry, Agarwal remained in his elements and continued taking on the Kiwi bowlers. With Wriddhiman Saha (25*), who showed a lot of character for his fifty in the last match, Agarwal went on to stitch a 61-run* partnership to take India to 221/4.
50-run partnership comes up between @mayankcricket & @Wriddhipops
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2021
Live - https://t.co/CmrJV47AeP #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/6lyWbQ3e6W