India vs Australia 3rd test: Ravindra Jadeja bowled Steve Smith

For Pujara, his total represented a second double century against Australia – the most by any Indian batsman, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. There was no need to take risks and the Indian duo did precisely the same. Pujara brought up his 150 with a single off Nathan Lyon while Saha reached his 50 with a single off Steve O’ Keefe. So when New Zealand arrived to kick-start the home season, Pujara eventually won his place back. He made some sweep shots and ventured to hit even the better balls. They may have run out of ideas. He scored 117 of 233 balls which included eight boundaries and a six.

Murali Vijay, who played a sheet anchor role, scored 82 off 183 balls. There was more misery waiting when they came out to bat.

The visitors were restricted to 451 despite centuries by skipper Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, and India piled 603/9 declared in reply to take a firm grip on the game on the back of Cheteshwar Pujara double ton and Saha’s century. India went into lunch at 435 for six. He tried to hook a short ball over the wicketkeeper and caught behind by Wade.

He made clever use of his feet against the spinners and never allowed them to settle down on a wicket that aided some turn while he was extremely choosy against the likes of Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The hosts found themselves at a spot of bother at 276/4. Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on 186 when he faced the 496th ball of his innings.

That gave India an unexpected 152-run lead over Australia’s 451, setting up a fascinating final day.

Hazelwood did the trick in the 108th over as he bowled out Nair (23).

Jadeja came in at number nine and played a useful cameo, putting on 54 for the ninth wicket with Umesh Yadav (16). He looked the most comfortable against Cummins who troubled the Indian batsmen with his bounce and pace.

Before Pujara took control of the charge, Vijay frustrated the Aussies combining his staying power with attacking intent. At lunch, Jadeja’s figures were 18-9-22-3.

Such was India’s desperation in Ranchi that it looked less like a Test and more like a schoolyard romp between two 11-year-olds when Wriddhiman Saha piled on top of the Australian captain in an effort to extract the ball from between Smith’s legs.

“We badly needed a partnership”. Both times, they felt reasonably safe after innings that India then set about sandpapering into insignificance, batting for 183 overs in the former match and 191 in the latter.