INDORE – Indian skipper Virat Kohli plundered New Zealand´s bowlers again Sunday to record his second Test double-century as the hosts went to tea on 456 for three on day two of the third Test.
Kohli, on 207, and Ajinkya Rahane, on 161, stretched their fourth-wicket unbeaten partnership to 356 as the tourists suffered another wicketless session.
Kohli recorded his 13th Test ton in 48 matches after a string of low scores in his last seven innings since his first Test double hundred against West Indies in July.
The top-order batsman, who tackled the New Zealand bowlers with excellent footwork, hit the ball to all parts of the Holkar Stadium.
The hosts, who took an unassailable 2-0 lead in Kolkata, have made two changes to their starting lineup after losing batsman Shikhar Dhawan and medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to injuries.
India have including veteran opener Gautam Gambhir and pacer Umesh Yadav at Indore’s Holkar Cricket Stadium which is hosting its first-ever Test.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who missed the second Test due to viral infection, returns to lead the visitors in their battle of pride.
The tourists have added all-rounder James Neesham in place of fast bowler Neil Wagner while Henry Nicholls loses his place to Williamson.
Teams
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Santner, Jeetan Patel, Matt Henry, James Neesham, Trent Boult
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
TV umpire: Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Reserve umpire: Nitin Menon (IND). –APP
