STUMPS - DAY 3

India 360-6 (130 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

A good day of Test cricket as both teams battled hard to take the upperhand but it ends with honours even at stumps on the third day.

Pujara was instrumental in keeping Australia at bay, as he played a wonderful innings of 130 not out, batting through the day, hitting 17 fours in his 328-ball knock. Saha was unbeaten on 18 at the other end at stumps on Day 3.

He had put on 102 runs for the second wicket with Vijay, who made 82 before throwing his wicket away as he was stumped off Steve O'Keefe.

For Australia, Pat Cummins was the star with the ball as he claimed four for 59 in a fiery spell of fast bowling, giving the Indian batsmen a lot of problems with the extra bounce on a slow wicket.

India were not allowed to get away as they reached 360 for six in 130 overs, trailing Australia by 91 runs with four wickets in hand.

They would look to bat through the morning session on Day 4 and try to wipe out the deficit, which would give them the upperhand going into the last couple of days.

India 360-6 (130 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Saha runs Hazlewood down to thirdman for a single and Pujara whips the third ball to midwicket for two runs. He then pulls a short ball to fine leg for one to bring up India's 350, in the 126th over.

Saha keeps strike with a single on the off-side from the last ball of the over.

In the next over, Saha and Pujara take a single each off O'Keefe to bring the deficit under the 100-run mark.

Pujara has stood like a rock right through the day, keeping the Australian bowlers at bay for the whole 90 overs.

Australia have tried everything at him but he has been unmoved and produced a timely century to keep his team afloat.

Two overs to go but Saha still in search for runs. He paddle sweeps O'Keefe fine for a four fine on the leg side beating wicketkeeper Wade before he takes a single three balls later.

Hazlewood to bowl the final over of the day. Saha playing for stumps as he defends watchfully, not trying anything fancy to ensure India deny Australia any more wickets.

India 346-6 (125 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Hazlewood comes back to replace Cummins, who bowled another superb spell and continued to chip away at the wickets. He looks to bowl full and wide as Pujara is content to defend the over.

In the next over bowled by O'Keefe, Saha takes one to long-off before Pujara keeps strike with a single to midwicket.

No moving Pujara who has held forte as he picks another single off Hazlewood before he plays out a maiden over from O'Keefe.

India are 346 for six in 125 overs with five overs remaining in the day's play.

India 343-6 (121 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Australia's strategy working to perfection as O'Keefe holds one end up while the pacers attack from the other end.

Cummins slipping a short delivery down the leg side as Wriddhiman Saha takes a bye to get off strike.

Saha gets off the mark as he powerfully sweeps O'Keefe square on the leg side for a four. India will need to ensure that they keep the scoreboard moving with Australia trying to dry up the runs and build up the pressure.

Pujara has showed superb concentration and has not missed out on any chances to score. A tired Cummins drops short as Pujara slaps him through the covers for a four and then chops the next ball on the bounce over point for a couple.

Saha looking to disrupt O'Keefe's rhythm as he gives the spinner the charge and lofts him over mid-on for a four and then defends the rest of the over.

India 328-6 (116 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Ashwin, on 1, gets a lifeline as Cummins drops a tough chance on his follow through. Ashwin looked to defend but got an inside edge which went off his pads straight back on to the pitch but Cummins went too far ahead on his jump and dropped the catch despite getting a hand to it.

The last ball swung in sharply as Ashwin was hit on the pads but the appeal for LBW is turned down.

O'Keefe creates a chance as Pujara is beaten by one which spins across him before he watchfully defends the rest of the over.

Australia's bowlers not giving away anything, looking to bowl as India's batsmen are either forced to defend or take a risk to get some runs.

Cummins gets another wicket using the short ball directed at the body. Ashwin looks to get out of the way but gets a glove which is not detected by the on-field umpire and is given out. But Australia take the DRS which confirms that the ball kissed the gloves which means Ashwin has to walk back for three as India are reduced to 328 for six.

India 326-5 (113 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Double change for Australia as O'Keefe and Cummins come into the attack in place of Lyon and Hazlewood respectively, with the latter taken off despite picking up a wicket.

O'Keefe looks to build some pressure from his end with two successive maidens allowing Cummins the liberty to try things from his end in a bid to pick up wickets.

Australia building up the pressure before Pujara breaks the shackles as he gives O'Keefe the charge and smashes him through midwicket for a four, the first runs for India after 18 balls.

India managed just 23 runs in 14 overs after the tea break as the score reches 326 for five in 113 overs, trailing Australia by 125 runs.

India 320-5 (108 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Nair takes a single off Hazlewood for the first runs off the pacer after 17 balls, following two maiden overs on the trot after tea.

Nair again takes a single off the last ball for the second over in succession and then takes one off the first ball of Hazlewood's next over.

In the next over, Nair sweeps Lyon through square leg for two runs and then takes one before Pujara defends the rest of the over.

Hazlewood breaks through Nair's defences as the right-hander is bowled for 23, beaten by some reverse swing as the ball cuts in sharply.

Ravichandran Ashwin at No. 7 blocks the last ball of the over. He will have a big task on hand to give support to Pujara and look to bat till stumps.

India 314-4 (103 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Hazlewood starts with the ball for Australia after the tea break. There is an appeal for catch down the leg side but the umpire turns it down and Australia decide against taking the DRS.

Lyon from the other end. He beats Nair all ends up with one that turns and bounces and goes past the inside edge, beating even the keeper for four byes.

Nair then plays the reverse sweep for two runs to thirdman before he takes one on the leg side before Pujara picks one to midwicket.

Meanwhile, Hazlewood bowls his second successive maiden over to Pujara, who is content to defend the fast bowler.

Nair's support will be the key for Pujara, who has got his eye and will look to build India's total in the post-tea session.

Nair takes a single to point off Lyon before Pujara gets two runs courtesy of an overthrow after he tries to steal a quick single as India reach 314 for four in 103 overs.

TEA - DAY 3

India 303-4 (99 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

A hardfought session of Test cricket as India go into the tea break at 303 for three in 99 overs, trailing Australia by 148 runs.

Pujara held forte for India with a brilliant innings of 109, while Karun was not out on 13.

Cummins continued his superb comeback to Test cricket as he picked up the wickets of Kohli and Rahane, both of whom who failed with the bat for India.

Cummin took three for 49 in 19 overs, while O'Keefe got the wicket of Vijay at the stroke of lunch.

Pujara batted positively after the lunch break to complete his 11th Test century and keep India afloat after Kohli suffered his fifth successive failure of the series, caught behind off Cummins.

Rahane played a loose shot, trying to play the ramp shot but was caught behind off a short ball from the fast bowler.

India will need a big partnership from Pujara and Nair in the post-tea session which should take them close to Australia's score.

India 303-4 (99 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Pujara brings up his century in grand style with a beautiful cover drive off Cummins for a boundary. It took him 214 balls to reach the landmark and was laced with 14 fours, and this is the first century by an Indian batsman in the series.

Overall, this is Pujara's 11th Test century and his fourth of the current home season and he now holds the key to India getting close to Australia's score.

Karun gets off the mark with a risky uppish drive through the covers off O'Keefe for a four. Pujara continues his superb flow as he despatches a full delivery straight down the ground for another boundary followed by a single on the leg side.

Off-spinner Glenn Maxwell comes into the attack as Cummins gets a rest after another good spell.

Pujara collects a quiet single on the leg side before Nair keeps strike with one from the last ball.

In the next over, Nair slaps a short ball from O'Keefe through the covers for a four followed by two singles in the next over from Maxwell.

A single to Nair off Lyon brings up India's 300 in the 99th over.

India 276-4 (92 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Rahane also adopting a positive approach just like Pujara. He goes after a short  ball from Hazlewood, pulling it over square leg for a boundary, which helps India go past the follow-on mark.

The pitch is playing good now as Rahane and Pujara are getting the runs with considerable ease.

A single each to Pujara and Rahane off Lyon in the 87th over before Cummins comes back from the other end, replacing Hazlewood.

Rahane turns the first ball on the leg side for a single and Pujara steers the next ball wide of the fielder at thirdman for two runs followed by a single on the leg side. Rahane gets an inside edge off the last ball as it bounces close to the stumps.

The two batsmen are doing well to keep Lyon at bay as they pick another couple of singles in his next over with Pujara taking his score to 90.

Pujara is also struggling with some sort of discomfort in his right wrist, around the thumb area as physio Patrick Farhart comes out to attend.

Cummins bowls a full delivery wide outside the leg stump as wicketkeeper Wade is unable to get to it to give away four byes. Rahane then pulls a short ball to fine leg for a single as he continues to take on the bouncers.

India have done well to score 50 runs from the last 10 overs to grab the initiative despite the cheap dismissal of captain Kohli.

O'Keefe comes into the attack in place of Lyon. Pujara chips down the track to the fourth ball as he hits the full toss through midwicket for a four. The next ball is the arm ball but it slips wide down the leg side for four byes to continue India's good scoring rate.

That also brings up the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket between Pujara and Rahane from just 61 balls.

But India lose a wicket against the run of play as Rahane gives his wicket away with a poor shot. He tries to ramp a short ball from Cummins but only gets an edge and is caught behind for 14.

Karun Nair plays out the remaining four deliveries as India reach 276 for four in 92 overs, still trailing Australia by 175 runs.

India 245-3 (85 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Hazlewood has a huge appeal for LBW turned down against Ajinkya Rahane, with the ball slipping down the leg side.

Rahane going hard at a wide delivery outside the off-stump as he gets a thick outside edge but it falls safely on the off-side.

In the next over, Cummins bowls a quick delivery directed at Pujara's body who flicks it fine on the leg side beating the dive from wicketkeeper Wade for a four.

Pujara has got a bit of momentum after the lunch interval as he punches a wide delivery from Cummins square on the off-side for the second four of the over followed by a single.

Lyon comes in to replace Cummins, who was hit for two boundaries in his previous over. Pujara looking to continue the momentum as he goes hard after a wide delivery only to get an edge which goes fine on the off-side for a four.

Rahane comes down the track to the fifth ball as he drives it through the off-side for the second four of the over.

A huge jump in Pujara's strike rate after lunch, as he has stroked 43 runs from 52 balls after the break, as compared to 40 runs from 139 balls before the interval.

India 226-3 (81 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Australia take the second new ball immediately as Pat Cummins is called back into the attack.

And the bowling change works for Australia as Cummins strike with the big wicket of Kohli, who is caught in the slips for six as he suffers another batting failure in the series.

Pujara flicked the second ball through midwicket for a four as Cummins overpitched. He repeated the shot again as Glenn Maxwell dived in at the boundary to save the boundary and keep it down to three.

The Maxwell effort proves crucial as it brings Kohli on strike, who is dismissed off the very next ball. Kohli throws his bat at a wide outgoing delivery without any footwork but gets an edge and is caught by opposite number Smith at second slip.

Kohli suffers another batting failure in the series, his fifth in a row, with his scores in the series reading -- 0, 13, 12, 15 and 6.

India need Rahane and Pujara to stitch another big partnership like they did in the previous game to rescue them from this stage.

India 218-2 (80 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Just a couple of overs for Hazlewood after the lunch interval as he makes way for Nathan Lyon. Kohli hits the first ball to deep midwicket for a single and Pujara takes one on the off-side before Kohli repeats his shot for another run.

Kohli looking for the singles to keep the scoreboard ticking while also rotating the strike.

The two spinners are rushing through their overs as Australia look to get the new ball and bring back their two fast bowlers and have a go at Kohli, who is struggling with a shoulder injury sustained while fielding on Day 1.

Kohli flicks Lyon through midwicket for a single before Pujara comes down the track and drives the off-spinner straight down the ground past mid-off for a four. He keeps strike with a single from the last ball to deep midwicket.

India 206-2 (75 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

New batsman Virat Kohli defends the last two balls of O'Keefe's 24th over which was left uncompleted before the lunch break following the dismissal of Vijay.

Pujara starts off confidently as he flicks Hazlewood through the leg side for a four before he defends the rest of the over.

In the next over, Kohli gets off the mark with a single as he turns O'Keefe on the leg side before he plays out a maiden over from Hazlewood in the next over.

Pujara adopted a cautious approach in the morning session but he has got off to a quick start after the lunch break.

A short ball from O'Keefe is whipped through the leg side by Pujara to take India past the 200-run mark. He comes down the track and drives the last ball through the covers for another boundary to bring up his fifty in some style, from 155 balls.

India are 206 for two in 75 overs, needing another 45 runs to avoid the follow on.

LUNCH - DAY 3

India 193-2 (70.4 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Australia's hardwork and persistence finally paid off with the wicket of Vijay, who was stumped in the final over of the morning session.

Vijay battled hard for his innings of 82, putting on 102 runs for the second wicket with Pujara, who was unbeaten on 40 at the lunch interval.

After a slow start in the morning session on Day 3, Vijay looked to break free but his aggressive approach resulted in his wicket as he was stumped off O'Keefe. That was poor thinking from the senior India batsman as instead of playing for survival he went for the big hit in the final over of the session and even captain Virat Kohli was seeing shaking in head in disappointment.

India struggled to get going in the morning before they lifted the tempo closer to lunch, scoring 73 runs from 30.4 overs while losing just one wicket.

India are 193 for two, needing another 58 runs to avoid the follow-on.

India 193-2 (70.4 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

With India threatening to break free, Australia bring Hazlewood back into the attack.

Pujara guides the second ball to the thirdman region for two runs before he laps the next ball straight down the ground past mid-on for a four as the flow of runs continues.

Vijay has changed gears as he comes down the track to Lyon and lofts him over mid-off for another boundary. He gets a leading edge off the next ball for a single to thirdman as he closes the face of the bat too early.

The tempo has been lifted slightly as India look to inch closer to the 200-run mark by the lunch interval.

A single each to Vijay and Pujara off Hazlewood, who is looking to get the ball to shape into the right-hander with a few fielders close on the leg side.

Vijay is taking on the Australian spinners. O'Keefe comes in to replace Lyon with around 10 minutes left for lunch and Vijay slog sweeps him over midwicket for a four to take his score into the 80s.

After working hard for an hour and half, Vijay has changed gears and is looking to get the scoreboard moving and also force the Australians to spread their field.

The flow of boundaries continue as Pujara again slaps a half volley from Hazlewood down the ground past mid-on for his fourth boundary.

The pacer shocks Pujara with a short ball directed at the body as the right-hander takes his eyes off and looks to fend. The Australians all went up in appeal but the umpire is not interested and rightly so as the ball has come off the forearm guard.

He steers the fifth ball to the point region for a single and Vijay survives a huge shout for LBW. The ball rolls on the off-side off the pads for two leg byes to bring up the 100-run stand between Vijay and Pujara, from 232 balls.

Hazlewood looks disappointed but the ball was going down the leg side and would have missed the stumps.

India have progressed well in the last 30 minutes before the rush of blood costs Vijay his wicket. He chips down the track to O'Keefe but is beaten completely and is stumped after a good innings of 82 as India go into lunch at 193 for two in 70.4 overs.

India 167-1 (65 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Australia have kept a lot of fielders inside the circle, not wanting to concede the singles. India have hit only one four and a six, in 23 minutes in 90 minutes in the morning session as the two spinners keep building up the pressure.

After a few quiet overs, Vijay releases the pressure as he slog sweeps O'Keefe over midwicket for a four followed by a quick single to keep strike.

Vijay uses the sweep again in the next over to good effect as he hits Lyon on the bounce past the leg slip for another four to take his score to 70.

Vijay again plants his front foot outside the line of off-stump and uses the sweep for two runs to deep square leg.

A slight jump in the scoring rate with 13 coming from the last two overs to take the score to 167 for one in 65 overs.

India 151-1 (60 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Pujara comes down the track to Lyon as he flicks it on the leg side but Maxwell makes a good diving stop at midwicket to keep it down to one. Vijay sweeps the next ball for another single on the leg side before his partner defends the rest of the over.

Pujara and Vijay looking to increase the frequency of singles with the boundaries having dried up. They pick up a single each off O'Keefe before the Australians ask for the DRS against Pujara, but there is a clear inside edge as Australia lose their second review.

In the next over, Vijay defends against Lyon as the ball goes off the pads to short leg and the Australians appeal for catch off an inside edge but the umpire is not interested.

Interestingly, Vijay was lucky to get away with that. The Ultra Edge shows he had got a slight inside edge before the ball went off the pads and India benefit from Australia having no reviews left.

Pujara rocks back and slaps a short ball from O'Keefe to deep point for a single to raise the 150-run stand before Vijauy also takes a single.

India have reached 151 for one in 16 overs with the follow on just 100 runs away now.

Vijay has battled hard for 59, while Pujara has showed lot of patience during his innings of 23.

India 144-1 (56 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Australia have a fielder at deep square leg as Cummins uses the short ball to good effect. Vijay looks to pull a short ball from well outside the off-stump but is beaten. Australia will looking to build the pressure and force the Indian batsmen into making such mistakes.

O'Keefe drops slightly short as Pujara rocks back and whips it over the fielder at short leg for a boundary through midwicket.

Cummins bowling a full mixture -- full delivery, short deliveries directed at the body and also the short balls as Pujara is quite watchful against the young pacer, who bowls three maiden overs in a row.

It has been slow going for the Indians with just 18 runs coming from 13 overs on the third day.

Vijay gently chips O'Keefe on the off-side for a single to mid-off to raise the 50-run stand for the second wicket from 132 balls.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon comes into the attack in place of Cummins, who bowled a sharp brief spell.

Vijay gets an inside edge off the first ball but it falls safely on the leg side before he comes down the track but has to pad up as Lyon appeals half-heartedly. Vijay then turns the fifth ball on the leg side for a single.

The key for India will be rotation of strike against the two spinners which would also keep the scoreboard moving.

A single each to Pujara and Vijay off O'Keefe's next over as India reach 144 for one in 56 overs, having scored 24 runs in 16 overs in the first hour of the morning session.

India 133-1 (50 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

O'Keefe's role looks quite clear, he will be looking to hold his end up with some disciplined bowling which will enable Australia to attack from the other end.

He bowls two successive maidens after being hit for six in his first over of the day. At the other end, Hazlewood is getting some reverse as the ball keeps tailing in but Pujara is comfortable defending it.

Hazlewood bowls a short ball as Vijay takes his eyes off and is struck on the back.

O'Keefe bowls it slightly slower, giving it a bit of air as he gets some turn to beat the defensive push from Pujara, who then gets a single from the last ball.

Captain Virat Kohli is his whites in the dressing room and looks like he will be the next to bat, at No. 4, if a wicket falls.

Pat Cummins comes into the attack in place of Hazlewood. He bowled a good spell on Day 2, especially in his second spell of six overs in which he got the key wicket of Rahul.

Vijay drives O'Keefe on the off-side for a single to bring up his half-century, from 129 balls. An important landmark for the India opener as gets a fifty in his 50th Test.

India are 133 for one in 50 overs with Vijay on 50 and Pujara on 15, still needing another 119 runs to avoid the follow-on.

India 129-1 (44 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Pacer Josh Hazlewood to begin proceedings with the ball for Australia on Day 3. Cheteshwar Pujara steers the third ball to thirdman for a single for the first run of the day before Murali Vijay defends the rest of the over.

Spin from the other end as left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe is called into the attack. Pujara takes another quiet single on the leg side before Vijay chips down the track and lofts O'Keefe back over his head for a straight six.

Pujara is looking quite solid and he will be instrumental in India's pursuit of a huge first innings total to match up against Australia's 451.

Hazlewood bowls a good short ball as he gets Pujara fending awkwardly but the ball falls safely on the leg side and gets the batsman a single.

India 120-1 (40 ovs) vs Aus 451 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of the third Test between India and Australia in Ranchi.

India will be hoping for a good start in the morning session as they look to continue their good batting performance from the second day.

India mounted a positive reply after Steve Smith's unbeaten 178 and Glenn Maxwell's maiden century powered Australia to a series-high 451 on day two.

KL Rahul made an elegant 67, his fourth half-century in five innings, before Pat Cummins dismissed him in the paceman's first Test after more than five years in the wilderness.

India were 120 for one at close, still 331 behind, with Murali Vijay unbeaten on 42 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 10.

Home skipper Virat Kohli, who did not take the field since sustaining a shoulder injury in Thursday's second session, is expected to bat at his regular position at No. 4.