After playing a second fiddle to Australia in the first two days, India fought back on the third day in Bangalore to establish a lead of 126 runs with six wickets in hand. Follow the live scores and blog of Day 4 from 3pm (AEDT) here on The Roar.
Ravindra Jadeja helped the hosts get rid of Australia in the morning session, dismissing Matthew Wade, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood as the left-arm orthodox bowler finished with six wickets to his name in the first innings.
Australia compiled 276 runs for a lead of 87, which was big enough for the surface, but could have been a lot more.
Although Abhinav Mukund fell cheaply yet again, Lokesh Rahul continued his fine form at the top of the order with yet another half-century. He would have been angered by his dismissal to Steve O’Keefe as he failed to build on yet another good score.
India finished the first session at 38 for no loss. However, Australia bounced back with four wickets in the second session.
Mukund was the first man to walk before Rahul’s dismissal by O’Keefe. Hazlewood, who claimed three of the four Indian wickets to fall in the second innings, dismissed Virat Kohli and Jadeja in quick succession as India looked to be in a spot of bother once again.
Cheteshwar Pujara looked strong at one end and was joined by Ajinkya Rahane at the other end. Both batsmen had fallen cheaply in their last three innings, however the pair played a solid rescue act, as India posted 91 runs for no loss in the final session.
Pujara was unbeaten on 79 runs when the umpires called stumps, Rahane on 40. The two showed great application in the middle and will be crucial for India’s hopes on this pitch.
With the pitch showing signs of inconsistent bounce and good turn, Australia will be acutely aware of what awaits in the fourth innings, the hosts having already established a decent lead, with wickets in hand.
India will want to push the lead to at least 200. Australia will want to bowl the hosts out for much cheaper, knowing well that life could get tough on a cracked-up Day 4 surface.
Follow the live scores and blog of the fourth day of this second Test between India and Australia from 3pm (AEDT) here on The Roar.
TC123
Guest
What a great level headed view on how the nasty Aussies don't like receiving their own treatment. Kohli gets under the skin of Australian fans and players alike because he doesn't take a backward step and allow the Australians to do what they do best, being bullies. Well done Kohli, keep up the great work. The rest of the cricketing world admire you.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Handcomb may not have scored truck load of runs, but it's very obvious he has the skill and game to be success in those conditions. And his catching is top class.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Could not agree more. His cricketing ability and his behavior sit on opposite ends of the scale. I can't recall a more ungracious captain. He seems to abuse everything that does not agree with him.
George
Guest
I wonder if Lehmann wants to assess Marsh after 50 Test caps.
George
Guest
Quite.
TC123
Guest
Taking the loss a bit hard there are we? Typical bully mentality and just a stupid comment
Riccardo
Guest
No brainer. Even from across the ditch is has to be Khawaja.
Bobby
Guest
Disgraceful? Turn it up champ! It's passion when we do it...disgraceful when Kohli does it! Grow a pair and enjoy the antics instead of taking it so personally! It's Great fun!
Fight fair
Guest
How exactly did they gift Australia the first test. By over doctoring the pitch? That sounds like cheating that backfired.
Fight fair
Guest
Kholi is an an arrogant little pr*#%k. Wpould have loved to see Mitch Johnson offer him out behind the sheds when he got in his face in Sydney a few years back. The batam would have turned feather duster.
Rats
Guest
I don't agree with 99%, Jeffrey. May be 75%.. :) I am an Indian fan and I condemn Kohli's behavior in the press conference. And I am sure I am not the only one. Even the BCCI paid one of the Indian commentators criticized it on air. I don't want somebody representing my country being that cocky. Especially someone with loads of talent and when the world is watching. On the field is fine, as long as the line is not crossed. Indian team needs his energy. I have grown up watching the dull Indian team. And I don't think Kohli is the best batsman in the world. Top 3, yes. Indian test team itself is over-rated. They have got themselves to blame by having a pathetic away record. Especially in the last 5 years.. One of the worst.. Smith apologized. People should let it go. It happens. I remember MS Dhoni threatening the on-field umpire to go for 3rd umpire. The poor on-field umpire obliged. Money power shown by the then Indian captain. There is video in youtube, Mr. Kohli. Go see that.. who crossed the line then! I am a fan of MSD. But no denying facts ...
Red Kev
Roar Guru
"looking good" is how we get mediocrity like Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh being selected for Australia over and over and over
Red Kev
Roar Guru
That's what you're hanging your hat on? You and everyone else banged on and on about Handscomb was a great player of spin and that meant he should be retained while Khawaja should be dropped because he wasn't despite the fact that both (yes BOTH) dominate spin in Australian conditions. Peter Handscomb has returned 22, 19, 16, 24.
SonOfLordy
Guest
I'm a proud Aussie, but boy many of us are a thin skinned lot. Can give it and fly off the handle at a moment's notice, but can't take it. Even you are demonstrating that! I thought it was funny when they were pointing at their heads when they dismissed Starc. Kohli has seen Indian teams get walked over by aggro Aussies over the years. Just a bit of pay back from him. Obviously getting to the thin-skinned Aussies. Must be something in the water in Australia or just the hyper-capitalistic/materialistic mindset we share. India have played bad this series and it's still 1-1. Sanctimonious Australians should forget about Kohli and concentrate on their own team's behaviour. The country's captain just got caught brazenly cheating, team selections are utterly bizarre and the inclusion of Mitch Marsh probably just cost us the second test and the series, Aussies were themselves sledging India on the field.
prosenjit
Guest
What's your take on kohli's behaviour in this match?I saw him shouting loud f**k offs after many wickets.
brent elms
Guest
That's bit harsh, india are a great team and are no.1 at the moment for a reason which they showed today. I rate them and don't get into these stupids arguments of "my team is better than yours". Two top quality sides ranked no.1 and no.2 playing quality cricket,appreciate it mate. what smith did was wrong and illegal and he apologised for it which is fine. i loved all the aggression on the field, i don't give a tosh about players' behaviour, they are not robots, players are human beings and everybody shoud behave like they naturally do.I love a contest and some fire on the field, as smith said everybody played in the spirit of the game, we all were having bit of fun. kohli does go overboard but i think he just can't help himself, he is emotional and very aggressive, seems a nice guy off the field
brett hayes
Guest
very bad from smith on that review thing. Kohli mentioned that anybody can see the full video replays of the incidents happened before as well which means if kohli is right then that's downright cheating. If kohli is right then there should be strict action, even though i should back smith here but such thing shoudn't happen in cricket. they are professional cricketers that know the rules, they are not in kindergarten.
Jeffrey
Guest
You represent 99% of the Indian fans- ungracious and forever overrating your average team. This isn't a great Australian team at all and they hammered India in the first test and more than likely would have won the second test if they had won the toss. Not impressed with this Indian team and Kohli is not the best test batsman in the world. I rate AB De Villiers as the best overall batsman still.
Sumit
Guest
His only bad stats are in England that is it. And if you guys do not provide roads the best chances for outside teams to win. It is not one way traffic any more. India gives as good as it gets
Gurlivleen Grewal
Roar Pro
Guys small margins. Don't expect the no 11 partnership to eke out 60 important runs everytime. They dropped few catches and it could very well have been a 180 all out for Aus in 1st inn. They are the same teams that played in the second test. Every little bit cascades and you get a gigantic 330 run win. Similar issues were in the Aus 2nd innings - drops and DRS. It was a meek surrender in the 4th dig but that doesn't mean they would have made a better fist of a target of 200. Look up how close NZ, Eng were to India. But in the end the scorelines makes it like 200+ run wins, inn defeats. All of them with both teams at even keel in the first 2-3 days.