Mayank Agarwal: Kiwi bowlers tested us

Mayank Agarwal walks back after being dismissed for 34. Pic/AFP

The way Day One of the first Test against New Zealand panned out for India, it took us back to the 1990s era when the visiting team batsmen would succumb to hosts in favourable conditions.

However, being the No. 1 Test team in the world, a little better show was expected from Virat Kohli's men.

After losing an important toss at the Basin Reserve, India lost half the side for just 122 runs on the board when rain curtailed any further play on the opening day. The wrecker-in-chief was lanky debutant Kyle Jamieson (3-38), who got a look-in after Neil Wagner opted out due to the birth of his first child.

"As a batsman, it's not easy on a first day track [pitch]. They bowled in good areas and kept testing us and didn't give us any loose deliveries. As a batsman, you never quite felt that you are in as it was doing a little bit even after lunch," said Mayank Agarwal, who scored 34.

Agarwal negotiated the toughest two hours before lunch and became the first Indian opener to survive the first session of a Test in New Zealand since Manoj Prabhakar's efforts during the 1990 Napier Test.

Agarwal had the highest partnership of the day - 48 runs with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (batting on 38). "The more runs you get and more you can stay on this track, the better it is.

"The way Ajinkya is batting, it's very, very good. He is looking solid, and I really hope that he and Rishabh Pant [batting on 10] get a big partnership and take us to a big score," said Agarwal.

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