The 91 that Rahul and Murali Vijay shared, was their highest partnership in 15 innings and nine Tests of batting together.
Opener KL Rahul once again failed to convert a sound start into a three-figure mark but that was not his mistake. He did not throw away his wicket like he did in the previous two Tests but was unlucky as a Patrick Cummins short delivery rose sharply and took Rahul's glove as the tall opener went on back foot to defend.
When Matthew Wade accepted the catch gleefully, India yet again failed to post a century partnership for the first wicket. But the 91 that Rahul and Murali Vijay shared, was their highest partnership in 15 innings and nine Tests of batting together.
However, it was a start that India will take considering the Australians’ mammoth total of 451. Like how the Indian bowlers suffered at the hands of Steve Smith and Co., the Aussie bowlers faced similar punishment. India finished the day at 120 for the loss of KL Rahul, still trailing by 351 runs.
Rahul continued to dominate the opening stand, taking a special liking to left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who bowled from the same end as his Indian counterpart Ravindra Jadeja. Rahul drove O’Keefe through covers, glanced delicately to fine leg while also picking fours off Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood behind square on the on side.
Smith operated his medium-pacers in short spells of three or four overs while giving his spinners Lyon and O’Keefe six-seven over spells. The Australian spinners may have created chances with Vijay flicking Lyon straight into the helmet of forward short leg with the fielder having little time to react for the catch.
After Rahul fell, Vijay took charge, picking up Lyon for three fours in the first over of his second spell. A pre-meditated sweep took the edge and raced to fine leg boundary. But the next two were well connected, one to square leg and another, a pull off one knee to fine.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who played a crucial knock of 92 in the second innings of Bengaluru, did not waste a full toss sent down by Josh Hazlewood, depositing him to mid-wicket boundary.
India have a long day ahead on Saturday if they are to remain in the contest. And the important thing is it Virat Kohli gets that much more time to rest his injured shoulder while he can bat whenever he wants as his case is classified as an external injury.
At stumps: Australia 451 vs India 120/1 in 40 overs (M Vijay 42*, C Pujara 10*)
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