India needed something special to save them from another quick defeat at the hands of Australia on Day 3 in Bangalore.
In walked Ajinkya Rahane. With the hosts at 120/4.
Four wickets had just fallen in one session but the trusted regular number 3, who came out at four down today, collaborated with Cheteshwar Pujara to ensure India did not lose another wickets on the day. Their 93-run partnership, the highest for either team in this series. Also ensuring India enter the fourth day of a Test for the first time this series, with a 126-run lead and six wickets in hand.
The Australians resumed on day three at 237-6 and extended the first-innings lead to 87 before being dismissed for 276 in reply, with India's left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja adding three wickets in the morning session to his three on Sunday and returning 6-63 for the innings.
Josh Hazlewood took 3-37 as India slumped to 120-4 in its second innings as Australia worked hard to limit India's total in a bid to make for a comfortable run chase.
Pujara and Rahane were resilient, and India survived a session unscathed for the first time in the series.
First, they helped India cross 150 in the 49th over. Pujara then reached his 14th test half-century off 125 balls. Overall, he faced 173 deliveries and hit six fours.
The pair rotated the strike with ease and their 50-partnership came up off 110 balls. They took took India past 200 — for the first time in the series — in the 68th over as the lead started swelling on an uneven wicket.
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