Opener Matt Renshaw (7) was on the crease as Australia were 23/2 at stumps.
Cheteshwar Pujara (Photo: AFP)
Motivated by Cheteshwar Pujara’s impeccable double-hundred, Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets early in Australia’s second innings to keep them under control on the fourth day of the third Test on Sunday.
Opener Matt Renshaw (7) was on the crease as Australia were 23/2 at stumps, trailing India by 129 runs with eight wickets remaining at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.
Earlier, middle-order batsman Pujara scored an imposing double-century as India declared their first innings for a mammoth total of 603/9.
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The 29-year-old batsman played a marathon innings as he batted for 668 minutes, facing 525 balls.
This was the record-longest innings by an Indian as Pujara broke Rahul Dravid’s record, who batted for 495 deliveries in a Test match in 2004.
Pujara scored his third double-century when India needed the most and put a mammoth 199-run partnership stand with Wriddhiman Saha for the seventh-wicket.
The 32-year-old wicketkeeper batsman Saha was another delight to watch as he smashed 117 runs off 233 balls. He scored his third Test century, well graced by eight boundaries and a six.
At the tail-end, Ravindra Jadeja (54*) and Ishant Sharma (0*) were batting when skipper Virat Kohli decided to declare the innings with a 152-run lead against Australia.
For Australia, spearhead Pat Cummins, who returned to play a Test after six years, claimed four wickets, while spinner Steve O'Keefe took three precious wickets.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon trapped the big fish, dismissing Pujara to join the celebration.
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