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[caption id="attachment_76276" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Image: ICC[/caption] XtraTime Web Desk: An absolute amazing grit and determination from debutant Mayank Agarwal puts India in a commanding position in the Boxing Day test match at the MCG. Though the definitive judgments should wait for another few days, but the early signs are that there has been a thoroughly improved application by the Indian batsmen. After the challenges of Adelaide and especially Perth, this was a more docile affair for the batsmen and India took advantage, moving to 2 for 215 on the back of a fine debut by Mayank Agarwal followed up by solid work from Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. There was much interest in the toss, with 10 millimeters of grass left on the surface, enough to urge Tim Paine to consider bowling but the coin fell India’s way and Virat Kohli took the batting first option noting the dryness underneath the top layer. The talk soon began as a number of deliveries with the new ball barely carried to Paine, Nathan Lyon was on by the eighth over there were catchers in front of wicket within the first hour and a slip cordon of one inside Josh Hazlewood’s first spell. Australia’s slim rewards went to the outstanding Pat Cummins who transcended the conditions with hostile spells. He gave Hanuma Vihari, promoted to open the innings, a working over before removing him with a poorly played bouncer and ended Agarwal’s impressive debut innings with another short delivery fended down the leg side. But then some excellent batting display by Pujara (68* off 200 deliveries) and captain Virat Kohli (47* off 107 deliveries) helped India go strength to strength from the platform set by the top order. India's runs flow have been slow though, but since tea, the runs had started to flow more freely. As so often, the arrival of Virat Kohli has been key to that as he has moved along at a run-a-ball. He has played a couple of sweet on-drives, although Josh Hazlewood did find his outside edge only for the ball to die well short of slip. On day 2, India's intention would be to bat the whole day to consolidate the position they have been at the moment.