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END OF DAY'S PLAY: The Indians started off bright and confident with the news of Kohli's return sending the crowd cheering loud. Vijay and Pujara took their partnership past 100 runs before the opener departed, failing to strike the big one. The much anticipated moment walked in as Virat was the next man to bat. However, much to the surprise he went back early after being caught behind off Cummins' delivery. Rahane and Nair too parted quickly, but Pujara stood their meditating with his strokes and piling up pressure on the visitors.


For the Aussies, it was a complete game change. It started off slow for them, then making a comeback with Cummins as its architect finally snatching it off from the Indians in the final session where they gave away just 57 runs while grabbing two wickets.  





Over 130 | Score 360/6 | Saha 18* , Pujara 130*


Last over is underway. 57 runs off 30 runs and then grabbing two wickets. Impressive attacking from the visitors. India ends at 3606, trailing by 91 runs.  


Over 128 | Score 355/6 | Saha 13* , Pujara 130*


With four wickets in hand, India still have 98 more runs to surpass Aussies' total. Australia have robbed the game off the hands of the Indians, who were looking confident and a bit more aggressive in the post lunch session. Even for Pujara, his strike rate has decreased in session 3.


Over 126 | Score 351/6 | Saha 11* , Pujara 128*


Five overs more to go and Indians are still 105 runs behind. Hazlewood into the attack with Pujara continuing with his waiting game. Tighter session for the home side  


Over 125 | Score 346/6 | Saha 9* , Pujara 125*


Maiden for the left-arm spinner  


Over 124 | Score 346/6 | Saha 9* , Pujara 125*


Hazlewood to Pujara. Bouncer to finish the over. Two off it


Over 123 | Score 344/6 | Saha 8* , Pujara 124*


Keefe with the ball. Risky single to end the over


Over 122 | Score 343/6 | Saha 8* , Pujara 123*


Eight more overs to go and India still 108 runs behind. Maiden for Hazlewood


Over 121 | Score 343/6 | Saha 8* , Pujara 123*


Saha volleys it over mid-on for another boundary. Saha easing in and Aussies in trouble again.  


Over 120 | Score 339/6 | Saha 4* , Pujara 123*


Cummins into the attack. Outside off giving Pujara the full opportunity to slash it along the ground to the boundary.  


Over 119 | Score 333/6 | Saha 4* , Pujara 117*


Keefe going round the wicket. Now that is impressive! Saha with the sweep shot to drive off the spin to the boundary.  


Over 118 | Score 329/6 | Saha 0* , Pujara 117*


Pujara has scored just eight runs in one hour after tea. Good attacking cricket from the Aussies, who are striking off from the other end. Good turn of game with Cummins as its architect. India still 122 runs behind with four men still waiting.  




Over 117 | Score 328/6 | Saha 0* , Pujara 117*


Another maiden for Keefe


Over 116 | Score 328/6 | Saha 0* , Pujara 117*


Cummins underway to his 23rd over today. Has been brilliant for the visitors. Another sharp bouncer followed by a huge appeal. And they go for a review. And yes! They get it right this time. The balls nicks the gloves and Wade makes no mistake to dismiss Ashwin. Saha walks in  


WICKET! Pat Cummins gets his fourth with another sharp bouncer. Dismisses Ashwin 


R Ashwin c Wade b Cummins 3 (22b)


Over 115 | Score 326/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 117*


Keefe hits off with a killer of a turn. Aussies have surely regained control over the game giving away fewer runs this session. Maiden yet again


Over 114 | Score 326/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 117*


Pat Cummins into the attack to Ashwin. Bat, pad , in the air and Cummins tries for a blinder there but fails to grab the ball. Maiden  


Over 113 | Score 326/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 117*


13 overs, 19 runs and one wicket- one struggling session for the home team. Aussies have been commendable here getting the better off the Indians. And Pujara breaks the waiting game with a ripper off the loose ball. Whacks it off for a four past midwicket. Drinks break


Over 112 | Score 322/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 113*


Cummins swinging in. He is placing each of his deliveries with varying effects. Proved himself to the selectors. Maiden for the pacer


Over 111 | Score 322/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 113*


This session has been difficult for the home side. Maiden for Keefe


Over 110 | Score 322/5 | Ashwin 1* , Pujara 113*


Cummins returns. India needed that partnership, but Nair departed early playing along the wrong line. Two off the over


Over 109 | Score 320/5 | Ashwin 0* , Pujara 112*


Keefe with the ball, over the wicket. Maiden.  


Over 108 | Score 320/5 | Ashwin 0* , Pujara 112*


Hazlewood in his 26th over. Looking little better now, seaming in some control. And there goes the fifth man. Hazlewood sends back Nair for just 23. The reverse swing played its charm turning from outside off to in  


WICKET! Hazlewood gets his first. The ball seeps in between the pad and bat to rip off the stumps. Karun Nair departs


KK Nair b Hazlewood 23 (47b)


Over 107 | Score 320/4 | Nair 23* , Pujara 112*


Lyon in. Nair building on confidence while Pujara is looking relentless. Partnership now rolls to 44 runs off 93 deliveries.  


Over 106 | Score 317/4 | Nair 20* , Pujara 112*


Hazlewood in. Just a single off the over


Over 105 | Score 316/4 | Nair 19* , Pujara 112*


Lyon into the attack. Single off the final ball.  


Over 104 | Score 315/4 | Nair 18* , Pujara 112*


Pujara is leading the charge for the home side with Karun Nair by his side. The Aussies will be looking for another wicket before ending day's play. They are now trailing by 137 runs and Nair too seems to be easing in slowly.  


OVER 101 | Score 309/4 | Pujara 109*, Nair 15*


Final session of the day underway and India have done pretty well to bring themselves at the present stage. But the job is far from over and the hosts need the duo to build a strong partnership together.



TEA BREAK: Much was expected off the skipper as he stepped on to the field after lunch. But his dismal performance continued as he fell off to Pat Cummins. But it was Pujara all the way in this innings for India. Rahane came in for a while but was sent back to the pavilion after being caught behind off a sharp bouncer from the pacer. Pujara led his side scoring the team's lone Test ton in this innings, while the Aussies seem to be bouncing back  


Over 99 | Score 303/4 | Nair 13* , Pujara 109*


Probably last over before tea. Lyon with the ball. A single and India brings up 300 runs. Cheers from the fans. Four singles off this over. And its Tea Time


Over 98 | Score 299/4 | Nair 11* , Pujara 107*


Maxwell again. Two off the over


Over 97 | Score 297/4 | Nair 10* , Pujara 106*


Wonderful timing from Nair and he cuts it down to boundary. Four off Keefe's over


Over 96 | Score 293/4 | Nair 6* , Pujara 106*


Clarke must be happy now. Glenn Maxwell has been introduced moments before they depart for tea. Going in round the wicket. Two off the over



Over 95 | Score 291/4 | Nair 5* , Pujara 105*


Nair gets off the mark with a boundary down cover. And then Pujara. Drives down the wicket for a four. Important thing to notice, Pujara has actually doubled his strike rate in the course of the innings





Over 94 | Score 281/4 | Nair 0* , Pujara 100*


A ravishing boundary brings up his 11th Test ton. INCREDIBLE PUJARA! Playing the patience game, with certain aggression. Much needed hundred to boost the home side, who just lost two important wickets. Bouncer to end the over


Over 93 | Score 277/4 | Nair 0* , Pujara 96*


Keefe is the bowler. Pujara is the only hope for the home side. Incredible for Cummins though



Over 92 | Score 276/4 | Nair 0* , Pujara 95*


Cummins to Rahane. Another wicket for the pacer. Sharp bouncer, Rahane jumps to push it over the keeper, but it clips the edge of the bat and no mistake by Matthew Wade. Cummins gets his second for the day. Nair walks in.


WICKET! Rahane departs trying to chip the bouncer above Wade, but clips the edge and caught by the keeper. Cummins is on fire. 


AM Rahane c Wade b Cummins 14 (33b)


Over 91 | Score 276/3 | Rahane 14* , Pujara 95*


Keefe is the bowler. Pujara is in his 90s no, looking for his 11th Test ton. Runs continue to add up with another boundary from Pujara between mid-on and midwicket. Then a bye-four. Its gifting runs to the opposition.  



Over 90 | Score 268/3 | Rahane 14* , Pujara 91*


Cummins bowls in to give away four-bye. Poor! Pujara is have some issue with his right index finger. Six off the over.  


Over 89 | Score 262/3 | Rahane 13* , Pujara 90*


Lyon to Pujara. Two off the over


Over 88 | Score 260/3 | Rahane 12* , Pujara 89*


Cummins once again. He got two important wickets, he surely is looking to get Pujara now. He is bringing about cross-seam now to get whatever bounce is available off the pitch. India now trail by 191 runs.


Over 87 | Score 256/3 | Rahane 11* , Pujara 86*


Lyon going round the wicket. Just two off the over


Over 86 | Score 253/3 | Rahane 10* , Pujara 84*


Pujara continues attacking Aussie hope to get another down. A single and India cross 250-run mark. Bouncer to Rahane and he pulls it for a boundary. Upper edge and flies for a four.  


Over 85 | Score 245/3 | Rahane 5* , Pujara 81*


Lyon comes in and sent for a boundary. Pujara strikes the loose ball past slip. Pujara has been scintillating in this innings. BEAUTY! Steps out and moves away from the ball to send a ripper to the boundary. Nine off the over.


Over 84 | Score 236/3 | Rahane 1* , Pujara 76*


Is that GANDHIJI ? Shift of camera to the stands and we get to see a man dressed as the 'father of the nation'. He is sitting still, absolutely no movement. Hazlewood into the attack and just one off the over.


Over 83 | Score 235/3 | Rahane 1* , Pujara 75*


Cummins towards the leg side, chips the outside edge and goes past the keeper's hand for a four. That was poor bowling from him. Another FOUR! Utilises the pace and jumps to cut wide of point for a four.  


Over 82 | Score 226/3 | Rahane 1* , Pujara 66*


A moment of silence from the fans as the skipper walked out. Cummins rightfully filled in Starc's place in the team. The new ball surely played its charm for the new bowler.  



Over 81 | Score 226/3 | Rahane 1* , Pujara 66*


Cummins is the new bowler. Full toss and is pushed past midwicket to boundary. Classic Pujara strikes once again but saved near the boundary. Ohh! Kohli dismissed in a similar manner as he was sent packing by Starc. Pat Cummins is the man again to strike off the skipper as his dismal performance continues.


WICKET! Kohli departs. Pat Cummins is the man to dismiss him. 


V Kohli c Smith b Cummins 6 (23b)


Over 80 | Score 218/2 | Kohli 6* , Pujara 59*


Lyon to Kohli. Pressure on the captain to display some magic with his bat, something that has been lacking from Kohli in this series. Pujara strikes down the wicket for a boundary. Shifting from his defensive game.  


Over 79 | Score 212/2 | Kohli 5* , Pujara 54*


Keefe to Pujara. Maiden


Over 78 | Score 212/2 | Kohli 5* , Pujara 54*


Lyon to Kohli. Takes a risky single to shift strike. Single to mid-off by Pujara to rotate strike.  


Over 77 | Score 210/2 | Kohli 4* , Pujara 53*


Keefe gives away just a single


Over 76 | Score 209/2 | Kohli 3* , Pujara 53*


Lyon in. Kohli on strike. Three off the over.


Over 75 | Score 206/2 | Kohli 1* , Pujara 52*


Keefe in. Pujara off the backfoot, past midwicket and another four. Brings up 200 for India. And now a fifty. 15th Test fifty for Pujara as he strikes yet another four to bring up his score.


Over 74 | Score 198/2 | Kohli 1* , Pujara 44*


Fast bowler is being introduced- Hazlewood. Virat's shoulder, now under scanner. Maiden  


Over 73 | Score 198/2 | Kohli 1* , Pujara 44*


Kohli on strike now. Keefe is the bowler, going over the wicket. And gets off the mark with a single.  


Over 72 | Score 197/2 | Kohli 0* , Pujara 44*


Pujara off the front foot and drives away for a boundary. Physio in for Pujara, disturbance in his eyes. Just that four of that over.


Over 71 | Score 193/2 | Kohli 0* , Pujara 40*


Yes, the skipper is out on the field, ready to bat. Indians are still 258 runs behind. Can he guide his team to that total?


Keefe completes.  



POST LUNCH: With Vijay departing, one thing is sure now. Kohli is the next man in. A delight for the fans surely. Can Kohli rise from his poor batting display in the last few innings and give to his side a 'captain's knock' ? Or will he once again depart early giving the Aussies a reason to celebrate? 



LUNCH: For the home team, it was bang on right from the first ball. Brewing with confidence, Vijay struck the first six for the day in the initial few balls. Apart from that, glimpse of the dressing room with Virat Kohli all paded up sent the crowds roaring.


Vijay-Pujara combo started off slow, then suddendly around the 25th over the duo opened up with a couple for a ripper down to the boundary. 102-run stand and then Vijay was sent back off a stump out. Bad off course for the pair who was building on momentum, but now the skipper will step in after a day's rest.


Aussies too have been commendable in the first half of the session, bowling on tight lines and avoiding the quick singles. Pat Cummins coming in initially with a couple of maiden spells was incredible. But what has been troubling the visitors is the DRS. After losing it on the first occasion, they have been struggling on a few other to take it, but failed


Over 70.4 | Score 193/2 | Vijay 82 , Pujara 40*


As India rejoiced to the occasion of a 100-run stand by Vijay-Pujara, the opener departs while going for the big one. Keefe places it slightly outside leg stump and he steps out. Misses it and Wade stumps him out. They now depart for Lunch  


M Vijay st Wade b O'Keefe 82 (183b)


Over 70 | Score 192/1 | Vijay 82* , Pujara 39*


Down the wicket and off for a four. Brilliantly struck by Pujara. A sudden bouncer, hits the hand guard and caught. Huge appeal, but denied. Another appeal and Aussies suffering from no reviews left. And a partnership of 10 runs comes up.


Over 69 | Score 185/1 | Vijay 82* , Pujara 34*


Keefe back into the attack. Vijay brewing with confidence. Front foot across and a four over midwicket. Partnership 94 runs off 225 runs.  



Over 68 | Score 180/1 | Vijay 78* , Pujara 33*


Hazlewood back. Michael Clarke seems to be looking for Maxwell. Two off the over


Over 67 | Score 178/1 | Vijay 77* , Pujara 32*


Vijay moves away from the ball to whack a ripper off to mid-off. FOUR! India is now up with its aggrssive side.


Over 66 | Score 173/1 | Vijay 72* , Pujara 32*


Hazlewood comes back. Pujara pushes second ball to square third man and gets two runs. They now stand 78 runs from 205 balls. Another fine display of batting from Pujara. Nice on front foot and it goes past mid-on for a four


Over 65 | Score 167/1 | Vijay 72* , Pujara 26*


Lyon. And now to Lyon. Vijay whacks another four of a sweep way past backward short leg. India finally opening up.


Over 64 | Score 161/1 | Vijay 66* , Pujara 26*


Indians taking things really slow. Just 35 runs off 23 overs in this session. And finally a boundary after a long time. Slog sweep with full power by Vijay and it whistles to the boundary over midwicket.  


Over 63 | Score 154/1 | Vijay 60* , Pujara 25*


Aussies have been keeping the home team on a tighter side. Bowling on tight lines and avoiding the quick singles. Maiden to Lyon


Over 62 | Score 154/1 | Vijay 60* , Pujara 25*


Keefe into the attack. Pujara keeps strike with a single.


Over 61 | Score 153/1 | Vijay 60* , Pujara 24*


Last few minutes have been tensed for both the teams. Lyon gives away two runs.


Over 60 | Score 151/1 | Vijay 59* , Pujara 23*


Slow motion shows Lyon did get that, but unlucky for the Aussies, no reviews left.


Over 59 | Score 149/1 | Vijay 58* , Pujara 22*


Another huge appeal off Lyon's delivery to Vijay. Umpire denies, but Kangaroos have no reviews left. Maiden.


Over 58 | Score 149/1 | Vijay 58* , Pujara 22*


Keefe comes in. Last ball and there is a huge shout. Aussies take a review to dismiss Pujara off an LBW. Slow motion reveals bat first then pad. Aussies lose all reviews.


Over 57 | Score 146/1 | Vijay 56* , Pujara 21*


Lyon into the attack. India still 305 runs behind. The duo is taking things really slow, little less on strike rate and run rate. Might be of a concern to the skipper. Just two off the over


Over 56 | Score 144/1 | Vijay 55* , Pujara 20*


The duo is building on patience to charge to the mammoth total of 451. Drinks break now.



Over 55 | Score 142/1 | Vijay 54* , Pujara 19*


Lyon finally in. Up next is surely Kohli, another glimpse of the skipper at the dressing room sharing some light moments. Just one off the over.


Over 54 | Score 141/1 | Vijay 53* , Pujara 19*


Keefe gives away three runs off the over and 50 comes up for the pair


Over 53 | Score 138/1 | Vijay 50* , Pujara 19*


Pujara on strike with Cummins into the attack. The pacer has been varying his length and bounce, making him unpredictable and thus difficult to score. Thrid maiden for the day



Over 52 | Score 138/1 | Vijay 50* , Pujara 19*


Pujara on the backfoot and drives off Keefe for a four. Pushes it past mid-wicket.  


Over 51 | Score 133/1 | Vijay 50* , Pujara 15*


Cummins into the attack troubling with his short deliveries. Maiden.


Over 50 | Score 133/1 | Vijay 50* , Pujara 15*


Vijay takes a single off Keefe's delivery to notch up his 15th Test half-century. Brilliant on the ocassion of his 50th Test match. One off the over.


Over 49 | Score 132/1 | Vijay 49* , Pujara 15*


And there is Kohli, up in the dressing room. Pat Cummins replaces Hazlewood. He was fantastic yesterday, giving away 22 runs off his 10 overs and then taking the important one- KL Rahul. Gets a maiden.


Over 48 | Score 132/1 | Vijay 49* , Pujara 15*


Keefe to Pujara. That was a good turn of the ball. Clever spell from Keefe. Has been bowling really tight this morning. Gives away just a single.


Over 47 | Score 131/1 | Vijay 49* , Pujara 14*


Hazlewood gets another over. Pujara gets a single and Vijay is on strike, but his wait continues.


Over 46 | Score 130/1 | Vijay 49* , Pujara 13*


Vijay is on 49, Keefe with the ball. He still has to wait as the left-arm spinner gets yet another maiden.


Over 45 | Score 130/1 | Vijay 49* , Pujara 13*


Well one thing is sure for today, Virat Kohli is coming on to bat today. He is ready after a day's rest and is all paded up to display a classic innings. Vijay gets a single and is one short of his half-century.  


Over 44 | Score 129/1 | Vijay 48* , Pujara 13*


Keefe in. There is not much turn in the pitch. Gets a maiden over


Over 43 | Score 129/1 | Vijay 48* , Pujara 13*


Hazlewood to Pujara. Outside off deliveries on a length and well defended by the batsman. Just one comes off this over.


Over 42 | Score 128/1 | Vijay 48* , Pujara 12*


Keefe spins in. Wow...that came out of nowhere! One step and off to the boundary. SIX! Great from Vijay.


Over 41 | Score 121/1 | Vijay 42* , Pujara 11*


Day 3 is underway as Josh Hazlewood starts off with Aussie attack. Cheteshwar Pujara is at crease as he eases off with a single to third man. One off the over


K L Rahul (67) scored his fourth half-century of the series and together with Murali Vijay (42 batting), conjured up a stand of 91 -- their best of the series -- on a JSCA track that remained good for batting.


India still need 132 runs to avoid the follow-on but with Virat Kohli's fitness a concern, the onus will be on other batsmen to help India post a substantial total. (Ind vs Aus, Day 2 - As it happened | Match Report)


By far India's best batsman in the current series, this was Rahul's fifth half-century in Test cricket. But just when he was looking good for a big score, Rahul frittered away the advantage edging one to Matthew Wade off comeback man Pat Cummins' delivery.


He faced 102 balls hitting nine boundaries while Vijay also looked compact at the other end remaining unbeaten on 42 in his 50th Test appearance. Cheteshwar Pujara was at the other end, batting on 10, when stumps were drawn for the day.


Vijay hit six boundaries in 102 balls showing enormous patience as he left anything that was remotely pitched outside the off-stump.


After a couple of difficult pitches, it was one of the easier tracks to bat on. After negotiating the initial spell of Cummins and Josh Hazlewood safely, Rahul opened up by hitting shots on all sides of the square.


Rahul treated all the bowlers with equal disdain. Cummins was hit for three boundaries, so was Steve O'Keefe while Hazlewood was dispatched to the ropes on two occasions.


Earlier, Steve Smith posted the highest individual score by an Australian captain in India, smashing 178 off 361 balls with 17 boundaries to his credit.


Ranchi: Live cricket score and live updates from Day 3 of the third Test match between India and Australia being played at JSCA International Stadium Complex. In reply to Australia's 451, hosts were 120/1 after Lokesh Rahul slammed yet another crucial fifty in the series. (Ind vs Aus: Full Coverage)