Following India’s terrible start, it was expected that the visitors won’t last at the crease for the entire day. But Cheteshwar Pujara had some other plans. India’s Test specialist scored a magnificent hundred to take the innings beyond the 200-run mark. Pujara showed the same grit and gumption that is typical of him en route a 246-ball 123 that kept India in the game after being reduced to 127 for six in the 50th over.
The third session commenced with Pujara getting his fifty amid team’s struggle with the bat. After some quick fall of wickets in the first two sessions, the last one witnessed the only 50-plus partnership of the innings. Pujara and Ashwin added 62 runs for the seventh wicket before Pat Cummins broke this partnership in the 74th over. A length delivery from Pat Cummins got an extra bounce and took the splice of Ashwin's bat to land safely in Peter Handscomb's hands.
Ishant could contribute only four runs before Mitchel Starc rattled his wickets and sent him back to the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Pujara brought up his 16th Test century which saved the Indian innings from sinking right in the first day. He went on to score another 23 runs but an astonishing direct-hit by Pat Cummins ended his magnificent innings.
Earlier, a horrendous shot selection by Rohit Sharma (37) had left India in the lurch at 86 for five in the 38th over. Post lunch, Rohit and Pujara started off well as they added 45 runs for the fifth wicket.
While Pujara was sedate at one end, the former took the lead in scoring as he hit sixes at will. Two came off Pat Cummins (1-31); the first a pull shot that sailed for six and the other a proper cover drive that cleared the ropes comfortably.
It seemed that Rohit was intent on digging India out of this hole as he hit Nathan Lyon (2-51) for a six on the second ball of the 38th over. Marcus Harris almost caught it, with the ball barely crossing over the ropes and the umpire took some time to call it a six.
That should have been a note of caution for the batsman, but he didn't heed it and skied the very next ball for Harris to take an easy catch in the deep this time.
Rishabh Pant (25) too arrived at the crease with the intent of attacking the bowling. He scored two fours and a six in the space of a few deliveries before Pujara asked him to calm down.
The duo then added 41 runs for the sixth wicket as India crossed 100 in the 41st over, including five sixes surprisingly. Pant didn't look comfortable though as he was forced to play against his natural game. And it showed when he edged Lyon behind to be dismissed shortly before tea.
In the first session, Josh Hazlewood (2-28) reduced India to 56 for four at lunch. The Australian pacers struck regularly with the new Kookaburra ball and made inroads into the Indian top-order that never got going.
Mitchell Starc (1-30) and Hazelwood began proceedings for Australia and were on the money straightaway with their lengths.
KL Rahul (2) was unsurprisingly dismissed cheaply. In the seventh over, Vijay went for a cover drive against Starc and only ended up edging behind.
Kohli looked a lot more confident, but an awe-inducing diving catch ended his short stay at the crease. Usman Khawaja dove to his left and held a stunning one-handed catch at gully off Cummins as Kohli was sent back with India reeling at 19-3 in 11 overs.
Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (13) then came together for the fourth wicket, trying to put on a semblance of a partnership. Together they faced 59 balls and put on 22 runs in a bid to keep the scoreboard ticking.
But this didn't work against the Pacers, who pushed Indian batsmen back with their perfect length and induced drives thereafter. In the 21st over then, Rahane fell to Hazelwood, the fourth batsman out driving in this morning session, and was caught at second slip.