India vs New Zealand, Day 3: As it happened
Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 299 runs in their first innings. Starting their day at 28 runs, New Zealand lost their first wicket at 108 and then wickets fell at regular intervals. Martin Guptill and James Neesham scored 72 and 71 runs respectively. India have a lead of 276 runs as the day ended.
Ahead of the third test match between India and New Zealand, the hosts look forward to whitewash the visitors after winning the first two test matches at Kanpur and Kolkata. India will face NZ at the Holkar Stadium in Indore for the third and the final test match of the series. New Zealand will look to win the test match as captain Williamson returns.
History will be created as Holkar Stadium hosts its maiden test match starting today. The stadium in Indore became India's 22nd venue for test matches.
Indian team saw two more players injured as Shikhar Dhawan fractured his thumb and Bhuvneshwar Kumar strained his back. Gautam Gambhir has been selected in the playing XI in place of Dhawan, while Umesh Yadav replaces Kumar. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has returned to the team after recovering from viral illness. He is also joined by James Neesham in playing XI.
Winning seventh consecutive toss as a captain at home, Virat Kohli opted to bat first and also went on to score his 13th test hundred. Along with Ajinkya Rahane, Kohli put on 167 runs as India scored 267 runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of day one. Earlier, Pujara scored 41 runs, while Gambhir hit 29.
India lost Murali Vijay for just 26 runs. But Cheteshwar Pujara and Gambhir helped India put on runs on scoreboard before Gambhir got out. Pujara also departed as India touched 100 runs mark. Kohli and Rahane remained not out at 103 and 79 runs respectively.
India declared their first innings after piling up 557 runs losing five wickets on day two of the third test match against New Zealand. Skipper Virat Kohli scored his second double test century while Ajinkya Rahane scored 188 runs. Rohit Sharma also fired a quick fifty before India declared their innings. NZ scored 28 runs as the day ended.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane continued their 175 runs stand and added a total of 365 runs to set up a new record of highest 4th wicket partnership by an Indian pair. They broke Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman's record of 353 runs.
