Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara put on a brilliant unbeaten 93-run partnership in India’s second innings to revive the team from 120/4. At stumps on Day 3 in the second Test in Bengaluru, India were 213/4 with their lead 126.

It was a great fightback from the duo after Australia had taken four quick wickets in the second session. This was after India had bowled Australia out for 276 in the morning session with Ravindra Jadeja taking a his second-best career figures of 6/63.

Here’s how the day played out:

4.32 pm: STUMPS! And, ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for this duo. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. A partnership of 93 has saved India from 120/4 and taken them to 213/4. The lead is now a healthy 126.

Great batting by Pujara. He had a edgy start, gave a tough chance which Steve Smith shelled but then went back to how how he plays grinding out runs and finishes 79 not out.

Also, Ajinkya Rahane. Under so much pressure of his place in the squad. But his was a knock of high-quality. He also gave a tough catch to leg slip but Warner couldn’t hold on. Apart from that, he was confidence personified. This match is slowly turning. Australia will need something big to win this match.

This day is also India’s. Won the first session, won the last session. Australia came back in the middle session but couldn’t continue the momentum.

4.25 pm: Maybe just one more over now? Starc wheels away but Rahane content to block. India 208/4, lead by 121 runs. Great session for India. Pujara and Rahane have played high quality Test cricket. And it might have won India this match? Who knows.

Hahaha, but there’s still time for a laugh.

4.18 pm: And the maiden streak comes to an end in that over. Seven runs off that over. India get 200 for the first time this series. How important is that? They’re 205/4 and the lead is 118.

4.15 pm: Two straight maidens and Australia keep India at 198/4. Can they sneak in a wicket, just before stumps? They desperately need one. As Ravi Shastri said in the commx box, “The real India have turned up over the last two days”.

4.08 pm: Rahane gets a boundary off that over. India up to 198/4, lead by 111. Class batting from these two. The partnership is 78.

Shades of this Test now. Australia bowled Sri Lanka out for 117 and scored 203. They lost after Sri Lanka scored 353.

Play

4.05 pm: A session which India have won emphatically. Even if they lose a wicket now, they’ll still be mightily pleased with this session.

Aussie supporters are losing hope.

4.00 pm: KEY Moment: India’s lead crosses 100 after Pujara tucks another boundary away. India 191/4, lead by 104.

3.56 pm: Rahane looking more and more comfortable. The pitch is also not doing as much as it used to. Perhaps, it’s just India batting really well. They have the chance to go firmly into the ascendancy in the next half-hour before stumps. Australia look like they’re tiring. India 186/4, lead by 99.

3.49 pm: Two fantastic stops in that over keeps the run flow. India still reach 180/4, lead of 93. Rahane looking more and more settled now. This is ominous for Australia. If they don’t do anything, they’ll be batted out of this match.

Ahh, don’t be mean.

3.40 pm: Expensive over from Hazlewood back into the attack. Eight runs off the over and the fifty-run partnership coming up. Are Australia going to get frustrated now? India 171/4, lead 84.

3.38 pm: Just no luck for Lyon today. He’s had plenty of chances. Another over drilled through and India 163/4, lead is 76 runs.

3.28 pm: FIFTY from Cheteshwar Pujara! What a key knock from him. Very very well played. A 125 balls. Nothing flashy, just patient accumulation. This is as important as the Steve Smith century in the last Test match. India 159/4, lead by 72 runs.

3.24 pm: Mitchell Marsh keeping things tight there. India 156/4, lead 68. This is a very good partnership from the two.

Almost a no-ball, but not quite from O’Keefe for the Rahul dismissal.

3.13 pm: Mitchell Marsh is into the attack. So the Aussie fans have their wish. Australia will want a wicket now. This partnership is already into the 30s. Raps Pujara into the pads but fractionally leg-stump. Concedes one run off the over. India 154/4, lead 66.

8/50 Lyon not as effective this innings.

3.05 pm: Starc sends down another over and India pick him off for 4 runs. The runs are now coming steadily for India. Another twist in the tale? Remember Pujara was dropped when he was 3. India 153/4, 66 runs is the lead.

Holy cow. Stop the press. Australian supporters are actually calling for Mitchell Marsh into the attack.

3.00 pm: Has the tea break destroyed Australia’s momentum? Eight overs after tea now and just 26 runs. Starc is back into the attack. India 148/4, lead by 61.

That Kohli dismissal has got the DRS debate started again.

2.55 pm: Four from Rahane right at the start of the over. Good batting. The lead is now 58. Every run is important and each run will make Smith more anxious. Even a 30-40 partnership could change the game. India 145/4.

Exactly.

2.48 pm: Rahane holds firm. This is an important innings for him. He’s had a string of low scores. India 140/4, lead is 53.

He can play under pressure. We all know that. Here’s one of his best hundreds after a lot of pressure.

Play

2.42 pm: Pujara moves to 40. How vital will those chances he gave at the beginning of his innings be? Remember, Steven Smith dropped him off a tough one. Rahane is also key now. India 134/4, lead by 47.

2.33 pm: India 130-4. We resume after tea. Pujara has a career second innings average of over 40 and he will need to make sure he also helps the other batsmen around him. This won’t be easy but this is where the greats stand up and be counted. India have Rahane in the middle with him and Karun Nair in the dressing room. A lead of 200 will be great, 150 will also be competitive. India lead by 43 runs.

2.11 pm: TEA! Australia’s session. Four wickets and all of them big ones. The Kohli one may invite controversy but it was a correct decision. What a spell it has been from Hazlewood. India have been brought down to earth. They are 122/4, lead by only 35 runs.

2.07 pm: CLEANED UP! What a spell this is from Hazlewood. Goes through Jadeja’s defence, middle stumped takes a nice little walk. India 120/4. What a spell this has been from Hazlewood.

2.05 pm: One more maiden from Lyon and a lot of talk about Jadeja being pushed up the order.

2.00 pm: Just 10 more minutes to lunch. That last wicket probably gives the session Australia’s way, what do you reckon? They’re currently 120/3, lead by 33.

More on that Kohli dismissal.

And a very important question:

1.53 pm: Well amidst all that...Ravindra Jadeja has come out to bat. Doesn’t get any runs off the Hazlewood over.

The thing about that Kohli dismissal was that even Australia weren’t convinced. Hazlewood didn’t even appeal. Nigel Llong just gave it out straightaway. Kohli reviewed immediately. So it was all very chaotic. But what it means is India are 32/3.

1.49 pm: OUT! What has happened there? He was caught in front but no one really appealed! The umpire gave him out first thing, and he reviewed. Third umpire couldn’t tell if it was bat first so he stayed with the original call. And just like that Kohli is out. India 112/3. Lead by 25 runs.

That is going to be one call which will dispute opinion.

1.41 pm: Kohli gets a creamy boundary through mid-wicket off Hazlewood. The most comfortable he’s looked. Pujara after a nervous start has looked increasingly steady. No more chances being given away and he’s nipping the singles. The ball is still in India’s court. India 106/2, lead by 19 runs.

A lot of talk about Ashwin and Lyon. The commentators did a nice comparison:

1.36 pm: 100 up for India. Little things and stuff. They just need to hang in there. Australia knocking at the door but Pujara and Kohli are India’s two best batsmen. India 100/2, lead of 13.

1.30 pm: The run rate has dipped a bit since Rahul’s dismissal. Just what Australia would have wanted. Kohli has looked steady. Just seven runs in four overs. India 96/2, lead by nine.

1.20 pm: And India take the lead. Virat Kohli has gone off the mark. That KL Rahul wicket changed everything. India 89/2. Lead by 2 runs.

A great 50 from Rahul. But then...

1.15 pm: WHAT A STUNNER! Steve Smith, you beauty! He dropped one earlier but dives to his right to take the catch at slip. It took KL Rahul’s edge from O’Keefe and went quickly. Just what Australia needed. India 84/2.

1.07 pm: FIFTY for KL Rahul. Fantastic cover-drive through the covers off Starc and then gets the fifty later in the over. Some innings this is from the local boy. India 81/1, trail by just six

1.02 pm: So far, this has looked India’s best batting performance this series. Runs coming at a easy clip, no pressure being allowed. Rahul has positive intent. Is this the session which turns the series back India’s way?

12.55 pm: Four runs off the over. The lead is down to 17 now. India 70/1.

An interesting statistic. India were 66/1 after 20 overs. In comparison, Australia were 50/0 after 20 overs. Runs coming very quickly for India and they are looking comfortable now. Except for Lyon, none of the other bowlers haven’t looked as dangerous. The bounce is a lot less even now.

12.46 pm: Hazlewood sprays it down leg and KL Rahul picks him off for another boundary on fine leg. Rahul is playing very well but Australia are just making it easy for him. The lead is now just 22. India 65/1.

And KL Rahul has crossed 1000 runs in Test cricket.

12.40 pm: Pujara gets a four off the first ball of Hazlewood’s over but blocks the rest away. A lot riding on him, but he’ll have fond memories of this venue and that knock also came against Australia.

Play

12.36 pm: A better over from Lyon. Mainly because he gave away only 2 runs in that over. Australia will need to stop the runs as well. India have been scoring too quickly and too easily for Steve Smith’s liking. India 55/1, trail by 32 runs.

12.30 pm: DROPPED! Pujara is living dangerously. Gets the edge but Steve Smith can’t cling on with his left hand. The runs are coming easy though. India’s 50 comes up. Trail by 37 runs.

12.23 pm: Are Australia bowling too straight at KL Rahul? Seventeen out of his 25 runs have come on the leg-side. He’s just been tucking it to the leg side and getting runs. Are Australia overcompensating by trying to get swing? Their lead is down to 40 now. India 47/1.

12.20 pm: Well, another opening partnership for India fails to touch the 50 mark. That is a definite problem for India. On the bright side, Cheteshwar Pujara has come out nice and positive. Already a drive and a tuck off the pads. They’re not going to clam up and shut shop. Good strategy. India 44/1, trail by 43 runs.

12.15 pm: OUT! OUT! Just the opening Australia wanted. Fourth ball after lunch and Hazlewood just goes through Mukund’s defence. India lose their first wicket, 39/1.

12.05 pm: That session has given India more than a fair chance of winning this Test.

And Indian fans, after a long time, are optimistic:

While the Australian ones have found a familiar scrapegoat...

That shouldn’t take anything away from Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliant spell in the first session. Three wickets and this catch:

11.31 am: LUNCH! India’s session. They allowed Australia only 39 more runs from their overnight score and kept the lead below 100. They then shaved the lead down to below 50. They got in to lunch at 38/0 off 10 overs, trailing by just 49 now.

Could this be the turning point of the series?

11.25 am: Lyon slowly getting into his rhythm. The last ball went straight through and missed Mukund’s off-stump by just a whisper. But India keep on. One more over till lunch. If they can get through, it’ll be the perfect session for them. India 34/0.

11.22 am: SIX from Abhinav Mukund, but he was extremely lucky! Top-edge and Starc’s pace takes it behind. India 33/0 after 7. Australia’s lead is now just 54.

Mukund’s no mug with the bat. Here’s his double century in the Ranji Trophy.

Play

11.17 am: The first innings’ destroyer-in-chief Lyon is into the attack but even he can’t get the breakthrough. India 25/0. And the alarm bells are slowly ringing in the Aussie quarters:

11.15 am: Still Australia can do no damage. India reach 24/0 after 5 overs. The lead is shaved down to 63 runs.

Unlike Australia, India are getting the runs much more easily as of now. Scoring at five runs per over. KL Rahul looks in great touch, as he’s been batting through this series. And even Mukund is holding firm.

But then....there is this:

11.04 am: Now Mukund gets a boundary. This is a fast, pacy start for India, just what they would have wanted. India are 19/0 in 3 overs. The lead is down to 68. Good batting. They just have to keep it up.

Already rubbish? Impatient much?

11.00 am: A beautiful straight drive boundary for KL Rahul. Honestly, he’s been the best batsman on this track. India move to 14/0, trail by 73.

Can he play the sort of innings which brought Sri Lanka back into the Test when they played last year against Australia? Sri Lanka were bowled out for 117 then, they conceded a lead of 86. They went on to win, thanks to some fantastic batting in the second innings.

Play

10.50 am: Eventful first over for India. A play and miss from Mukund, a bye run, a close lbw call for KL Rahul saved by an inside-edge, a leg-glance for four. India have whitted down the lead to 80. 7/0.

Ooh, where does he find these things anyway?!

Of course, Clarkey. Of course.

10.39 am: It’s all over. Top performance from Ravindra Jadeja, he gets 6/63. What a performance. Hazlewood tries to slog, only holes out.

And he’s turned the session around for India. They thought the match was going away when Starc and Wade were pushing the lead forward but not anymore. Starc’s slog was misjudged, in hindsight and then Jadeja swooped in. India will be very happy to keep the lead below 100. Now they just need to go and bat.

10.31 am: He strikes again! Lyon tries to sweep, he’s out plumb in front. Jadeja is turning it around for India. Australia 274/9.

10.27 am: And now Jadeja strikes! Where were you all this time? Big big wicket, it’s Wade who’s caught plumb in front and wastes a review. India are back in this. Australia 274/8, lead 85.

10.18 am: OUT! Finally. Starc tries to slog Ashwin off the last ball of the over but find Ravindra Jadeja on the boundary. Good catch from him. And reward from Ashwin, he thought he had Starc at the beginning of the over off a caught-behind but Starc reviewed it successfully. Have India got the opening they wanted? Australia 269/7, lead 80 runs.

10.11 am: Oh wow. Superb use of the feet. Wade down the ground, hits Jadeja down the ground for a boundary. He moves to 37, Australia 267/6, lead 78.

Wade doesn’t always get the kind of appreciation he deserves, but he’s a nuggety, tough customer. This is a vital knock from him.

He’s done it before. He’s not a bad batsman...

Play

10.08 am: Ravindra Jadeja’s been brought into the attack...finally. But India don’t get the reward they want. Five runs off the last over. Australia 262/6, lead is now 73!

This tweet sums up what an Indian fan feels:

10.02 am: 250 comes up! The lead goes over 60. Thick edge off Wade’s bat off Ishant, rolls away past third slip for a boundary. And that begs a question to Kohli....when are you bringing on Ravindra Jadeja? Australia 255/6, lead is 66.

A very interesting statistic:

And one more:

9.45 am: The lead has gone past 50...it’s now 56 now. Starc got 4 byes off Ashwin in the previous over, and then he clipped Ishant off his pads for 3 runs. Australia 245/6.

No Kohli, don’t take that advice. Don’t bowl...please.

9.35 am: Ishant Sharma delivers a maiden in the first over. Good length, good lines, just outside off-stump. Safely negotiated by Matthew Wade.

It’s a gloomy overcast day in Bengaluru today. And there is a chance of rain (groan)...

9.25 am: Just a few more minutes left. Here’s a quick look at the analysis from yesterday.

Australia curbed their natural aggression with the bat on an uneven pitch. India should learn from it, says Anand Sachar.

Ashish Magotra is worried that India’s over-dependence on Ravichandran Ashwin may be finally coming back to haunt them.

9.00 am: Good morning. What a day of cricket yesterday was, right? We’ll remember it just by this one photo, probably....

Image credit: Cricket Australia/Twitter

And of course, the many jokes that came with it.

But, credit where it is due, Ishant Sharma had a great day with the ball yesterday. He was fast and furious (in a good way) and bowled with an edge which many of us thought had gone missing. All in all, it was a day of Test cricket at its best. Runs being eked out, insults being more freely traded and the bowlers giving nothing away.

By the numbers though, Australia are marginally ahead. The pitch has shown variable bounce and it’s bound to get worse. Australia will not want to chase more than 100 on this so it’s essential that they grow this lead to at least 100 right now. If they can take it to 150-200, they’ll probably have taken this match.

It’s simpler for India. Get the four wickets remaining, preferably, in the first hour. Bat and bat big. That’s what the second innings is for, isn’t it?