India looking to set big first innings total

India and captain Virat Kohli were looking in ominous form after the first day of the Boxing Day test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara saw India through to 215-2 at stumps, poised to go on to set Australia a big first innings target.

Kohli was unbeaten on 47 while Pujara had batted most of the day for his 68.

Debutant Mayank Agarwal hit a half-century as India made slow progress to reach 123-2 at tea after electing to bat.

Bangalore-born Agarwal was out in dramatic fashion, caught behind for 76 on the last ball before tea, after gloving a short delivery from Pat Cummins to wicketkeeper Tim Paine. The patient Agarwal hit eight fours and one six off 161 deliveries.

Agarwal hit a stylish off-drive to the boundary from the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon to register his maiden half-century from 95 balls, including six fours. The right-hander showed some flair as he moved his score to 63 by thumping a six over long-on from the bowling of Lyon as India’s batsmen started to play more attacking shots in the post-lunch session.

Cummins, the only wicket-taker in the match so far with 2-24, struck a key blow with Agarwal’s dismissal on a lifeless pitch.

Pujara gave a half-chance on 33 when he edged a ball on to his pad and it rebounded to a diving Usman Khawaja, who was unable to hold a catch at gully off the bowling of Mitch Marsh.

Agarwal dominated an opening stand of 40 with Hanuma Vihari. Struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Cummins on three, Vihari added just five runs to his total before edging a simple catch to second slip off another short ball from the same bowler.

The four-test series is level at oneall.