Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand’s half-centurion on Day 3 of the second Test match versus India, believes Mayank Agarwal set the template for batting against spin in Mumbai. The Indian opener scored 150 and 62 runs in first and second innings of the game, helping the hosts to set a 540-run target for the Kiwis to chase in seven sessions. 

Except for Daryl Mitchell (60 off 92), no New Zealand batsman could cross the fifty-run mark in the second innings as the team reeled at 140/5 at stumps

“The way Agarwal played in both innings for India, he put pressure on our spinners and he set the template for how I personally wanted to try and go about, taking on the Indian spinners today,” Daryl Mitchell told host broadcasters Star Sports after the stumps on Day 3.

The Kiwis were bundled out for 62 runs in 28.1 overs in the first innings. 

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Mitchell believes that the visitors will have to find a way to put the pressure back on India. He was dismissed trying to loft Axar Patel over deep extra cover.

“Disappointing to not still be out there and kick on but it was nice to get a partnership going. It’s a pretty challenging surface, the ball’s definitely turning there with your name on it. It’s just about trying to find ways and put pressure back on the bowlers at certain times and stick within your strengths. Ultimately that was my downfall today, but it was nice to spend some time out in the middle,” Mitchell said. 

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Rachin Ravindra (2) and Henry Nicholls (36) will resume New Zealand’s innings on Day 4. India need five wickets to win the game and the series. 

“That’s the wonderful game of Test cricket, they are constantly throwing things at you and you’re doing the same thing back. You just got to keep doing that for long periods of time and keep trying to win every small battle. It’s obviously a tough situation we’re in, we’ve got another two days to bat now. It was just about going out and playing our game, keep trying to put pressure back on their bowlers for as long as we can and hopefully that will put us in a position come day five where there might be a chance. Obviously, it’s very challenging,” Daryl Mitchell added.