Indore: Virat Kohli (103 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (79 not out) designed a tremendous Indian fightback as the hometeam ended day one of the third and final Test on 267/3 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Saturday.
Kohli, Rahane were involved in an unbeaten 167-run partnership as India put themselves in a commanding position.
India were in a spot of bother when Cheteshwar Pujara got out just when India had crossed 100-run mark. There were some anxious moments for Rahane but he managed to stay put and accompanied the Indian skipper as the New Zealand side was pushed onto the backfoot.
Earlier, after winning the third toss in a row, Kohli elected to bat. While Gautam Gambhir represented India after a gap of two years, Umesh Yadav replaced injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the team.
New Zealand too made two changes to the team that played in the Kolkata Test. Kane Williamson, who had to sit out in the second Test due to flu, came in place of Henry Nicholls and Jimmy Neesham took Neil Wagner’s spot in the playing XI.
While Murali Vijay got out early after Tom Latham took a fine catch at short leg off Jeetan Patel’s bowling, Gambhir powered India to a flying start. The southpaw was on song as he tackled spinners and pacers with ease before he was trapped before the wickets by Trent Boult.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who has enjoyed a good run of form in the series, played another good knock before he was done in by a beauty of a delivery from Mitchell Santner.
Teams:
India: Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Santner, Jeetan Patel, Matt Henry, Trent Boult
