IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 1 Tea: Mayank, Rahane fifties keep Aussies at bay; IND - 177/2

IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 1 Tea: At the tea break, the visitors were at 177/2 after 52 overs; Kohli remained unbeaten on 23 and Pujara was batting on 61

Team India continued their terrific batting show in the post-lunch session on the first day of the Sydney Test. Captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara kept the scoreboard moving after losing Mayank Agarwal midway. At the tea break, the visitors were at 177/2 after 52 overs; Kohli remained unbeaten on 23 and Pujara was batting on 61.

Opener Mayank Agarwal yet again made his team members proud with another scintillating half-century against the Aussies. Since Rahul’s dismissal in the morning, he fearlessly withstood the Aussie pace attack and stitched a partnership of 116 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

He brought the 2^nd fifty of his career which was also the 2^nd on the trot on the Aussie soil.  He kept on punishing the Aussie attackers and once again smashed two sixes to Nathan Lyon before missing out his century by 23 runs.

Mitchell Starc takes the catch with his wife watching up in the commentary box. Looks like you enjoyed that one @ahealy77 ✊https://t.co/KQwvehI1A4 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/eV3wW75nRa

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) January 3, 2019

In the 34^th over, he attempted another aerial shot to Lyon towards the long-on area but ended up getting caught by Mitchel Starc. He may have missed his century again but didn’t fail to provide a solid start.

Skipper Kohli was the next man who came in to bat and the hardship of the hosts began again. This time Pujara took the driver’s seat, pushing the bowlers to a hectic ride. A few overs ahead of the tea break, he brought up the 21^st fifty of his Test career off 134 balls.

India skipper Virat Kohli showing his support for the #PinkTest @McGrathFdn #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/DlA6N9EZHX

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2019

Another 44 runs were added in the second hour of play, with Pujara reaching his half-century off 134 balls, including three fours in an over from leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne (0/12) before the tea break.

Cheteshwar Pujara brings up his 12th score of 50+ against Australia in Test cricket. And he's not done yet...#AUSvIND | @Domaincomau pic.twitter.com/gfypq8RCav

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2019

Earlier in the morning, India were placed at 69 for 1 at lunch. This was after India won the toss and opted to bat.

Things did not change much for Rahul (9) despite missing the Melbourne Test, as he edged twice in the first four balls faced only for the ball to go to the boundary.

He did not last long, edging Hazlewood to first slip in the second over, and his nightmare run on this tour continued. This was the sixth opening pairing for India in 12 overseas Tests since January 2018, and the resultant opening partnership only averages 21.56 in 23 overseas innings.

At the other end, Agarwal settled down and stroked a couple of cover drives. He looked solid in comparison to his Karnataka team-mate and along with Pujara, drove the Indian run-rate forward.

The home side then resorted to run-saving tactics once again, and moved to a shorter length, targeting the batsmen's bodies. Pujara was hit a couple of times, once on the head.

Surprisingly Nathan Lyon only came on in the 22nd over -- the latest he has bowled in any Indian innings this series. But he could not provide a breakthrough before lunch either.