Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara provide solid start for India in the second inning

After a dismal outing in the Kanpur Test, Mayank Agarwal has created quite a turnaround in his personal performance. In the first inning, where India was struggling against the spin of Ajaz Patel, Mayank put up a great show to score 150, to help his team on to a score of 325 in the first inning.

India gained some momentum towards the end of the first inning as they reduced the New Zealand team to a total of 62. This momentum was visible in the batting of two Indian openers.

Mayank Agarwal built on his excellent performance from the first inning to score another fifty. While Pujara, who was opening in place of Shubman Gill, also played a confident-looking knock of 47. He looked to be in confident touch yesterday evening and even today morning. Some of his shots showed that he was feeling in a better space while opening the inning. This confidence was visible in the pull shot he deposited for a six, and in the two fours, he scored against Ajaz Patel this morning.

Together the duo put on the score of 107 for the first wicket. They looked formidable together, but after Mayank’s dismissal, Pujara did not last long either. Both the batters were dismissed by Ajaz Patel again.