What's the story?Virat Kohli the number one batsmen in Test cricket was at his best again. Against a challenging Australian bowling lineup, the Indian captain rose to the occasion and scored a half-century on Day 2. This was Virat Kohli 19th fifty-plus score of the year and the Indian fans would love to see the skipper reach the three-digit mark.Virat Kohli came into the middle as the Indian openers - Murali Vijay and KL Rahul yet again failed to make significant contributions to the score. Just before lunch break, Vijay, the first Indian batsmen to get dismissed, was bowled for a duck, thanks to Mitchell Starc's inswinger.KL Rahul soon followed Murali Vijay back to the hut after he was cleaned up by a Jos Hazlewood yorker after making just 2 runs.After the departure of both the openers, Cheteswara Pujara teamed up with the Indian captain and the two have added 74 runs for the third wicket. Pujara, as usual, was calm and composed throughout his innings but out for 24 trying to score runs off a Starc's delivery straying down the leg-side.With Pujara's dismissal, the responsibility to take India ahead went into the hand of the Indian captain and vice-captain. Rahane and Kohli did not let the aspirations of the Indian contingent down as they added 90 runs for the fourth wicket before the end of the day.In the partnership between the two, Rahane was the aggressor as he did not hold himself back from playing attacking shots. At the end of Day 2, Rahane and Kohli were unbeaten at 51 and 82 as India trail Australia by 154 runs.In case you didn't know...Tim Paine and Pat Cummins resumed the play for Australia on Day 2 with the scorecard reading 277-6 at the start. India had just 10 overs old second new ball at their disposal but did not make any use of it in the first hour.The Indian bowlers allowed Australia to add 59 runs for the seventh wicket before Umesh Yadav sent Cummins to the pavilion. India took the last four wickets for 16 runs but Australia already out on a decent score of 326 in the first innings.The pitch at the Optus stadium has a considerable grass cover but the cracks have already started developing on the pitch. Australia will be happy with their first innings score as the pitch has a lot to offer for the bowlers and they can induce a collapse at any time.India, on the other hand, would want to add as many runs as possible in the first innings itself as the pitch could offer a lot of turn, making life difficult for the batsmen. Heart of the matterVijay's failures continueThe Indian openers have not been performing so well in recently, particularly in the away Test. India had three regular Test openers - Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan - at the start of the year. During the England tour, Vijay was dropped midway through the series after repeated failures. Dhawan too got a similar treatment after failing in England as he got dropped from the side.After getting dropped from the side, Vijay went back to county cricket and had a good stint with Essex which helped him make his way back into the side. The comeback is not going according to plans for Vijay and he might even get dropped for the next match. On the other hand, KL Rahul too is to not having a good time in the middle but might get another chance in the next match.Here's how Twitter reacted to Day 2 of the second Test between India and Australia:Twitter reactionsAn outrageously skilled day of cricket. According to Expected Wickets (xW) Australia bowled well enough to earn 8.09 (!) wickets but India have batted so well that they have only lost three. Pujara, Kohli & Rahane weathered a storm. #AUSvIND— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 15, 2018The bowlers should definitely let Kohli have the business class seat on the flight back. #AUSvIND— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 15, 2018As good as any set of batsmen/any team could have played after conceding 326 on this wicket and being 2 down for nothing. Should go down as one of the finest days in the history of Indian batting.— Elite Alagappan (@IndianMourinho) December 15, 2018On this tour, Kohli's average impact against the seamers is 2.16m away from his stumps. In the CricViz database (2006-present) no visiting batsman has ever batted further down the track in an Australian Test series.The Aussie quicks are averaging 143kph.*gulp* #AUSvIND— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) December 15, 2018Virat played cricket only in the initial phase of his career, since then he is ruling the game.— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 15, 2018Rahane channelling his inner Rohit Sharma. This is either gonna change the game positively for India or Australia.— Dennishant Sharma (@DennisCricket_) December 15, 2018Rahane reminding everyone that the IPL auction is 3 days away.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 15, 2018It's okay, no-balls only count when the batsman is out. It was different when we were growing up. https://t.co/H6BejHGJwV— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) December 15, 2018Manjreakar has a full-time job in Sales.For Mumbai cricketers.#AusvInd— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) December 15, 2018Rahane's batting today. pic.twitter.com/EtQ1nps7VY— Desi Gooner (@Sahil_Adhikaari) December 15, 2018Vijays who should be immediately sent to India. #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/yjiP0ksbiU— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) December 15, 2018Has Murali Vijay played his last test? #INDvsAUS— Srini Mama 2.0 (@SriniMaama16) December 15, 2018People ask why Murali Vijay is in team. He is doing #zero promotion.#AUSvIND— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) December 15, 2018KL Rahul is absolutely slaying it.....................................................In the Royal Stag ad— Ravi Maestri (@ravimaestri) December 15, 2018Why is Ajinkya Rahane batting like a right-handed Rishabh Pant?— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) December 15, 2018No point playing KL Rahul and Vijay here, we should directly start our innings from 0/2 with Pujara and Kohli opening😅 #AUSvIND— Sannith Shetty (@sannithmufc) December 15, 2018If Murali Vijay makes it to the 3rd test, I’m gonna lose my faith in humanity.#AUSvIND— Prajakta Bhawsar (@ViratsFangirl18) December 15, 2018Congratulations Murali Vijay for your fantastic test career.Have a great future ahead.— Walker Ajith (@My_India_Best) December 15, 2018Murali Vijay (former Indian opener) ...Thanks Vijay 😑😑😂😂#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VL504KvFOD— Pradhumn Pratap Singh (@pradhumn_pratap) December 15, 2018KL RAHUL HAS SURVIVED THE FIRST OVER. HUGE. #AUSvIND— Manya (@CSKian716) December 15, 2018Very sporting of Kohli to allow the Australian batsmen 30 minutes to settle down, before bringing on Bumrah.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 15, 2018