IND vs NZ: 2nd Test, Day 1 Review – Mayank Agarwal, Ajaz Patel star on curtailed day
The Indian side ended the 1st Day of the 2nd Test against New Zealand with their scorecard reading 221/4. Even though rain washed out the entire first session of play, as many as 70 overs were bowled in the day. Mayank Agarwal scored a superb 120* for the Indian side and thwarted the New Zealand bowling attack. Ajaz Patel was brilliant with the ball and scalped 4 wickets.
In this article, let us take a look at the 3 talking points of Day 1.
1. Virat Kohli’s controversial LBW call
Was it out? Or was it not out? Well, that was the question on the lips of the viewers, as Indian skipper Virat Kohli was adjudged LBW for a duck. Kohli was initially adjudged LBW by the umpire off the bowling of Ajaz Patel, and the batter was not happy with the decision given by the on-field umpire.
As a result, he went upstairs. The third umpire looked at the replay from different angles, and it looked as if Kohli had got a slight inside edge, with the ball kissing the bat, moments before it hit the pad. But then, the third umpire was not convinced and upheld the decision of the on-field umpire. Kohli was livid with the decision and ended up arguing with the umpire, as he walked back for a duck.
2. Mayank Agarwal stamps his authority with a superb ton
Mayank Agarwal was the catalyst of the Indian side with the willow on Day 1. The right-handed opening batter played throughout the day, and scored a superb 120* off 246 deliveries and kept the Kiwis at bay. He put on a scintillating opening stand of 80 runs with Shubman Gill. Even though wickets tumbled at the other end, Agarwal went about his business in mellifluous fashion. And, the batter was overjoyed once he crossed the three-figure mark, and rightfully so!
3. Cheteshwar Pujara’s misery in 2021 continues
Cheteshwar Pujara was cleaned up by an ‘absolute jaffa’ by Ajaz Patel. The ball pitched on the leg stump and turned sharply. Pujara tried to flick it away, but the red cherry beat his willow and shattered his stumps. The right-hander walked back for a duck.
Pujara has endured an abysmal run in 2021 in Test cricket. The batter has played 23 innings and has scored 639 runs at a poor average of under 30. He has failed to score even a single century this year in spite of playing 23 innings.
