Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane hang on as India take lunch at 224/3

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane kept India in the hunt as the visitors reached 224 for three at lunch on Day 3 of the third cricket Test against Australia at the MCG, here today.

Resuming the day on 108 for one in response to Australia's first innings score of 520, India lost the overnight batsmen early but Kohli and Rahane stitched an unbeaten 77-run stand to keep them going. The visitors still need another 106 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Cheteshwar Pujara (25) did not trouble the scorers as the No.3 batsman was out on the second ball of the day as Ryan Harris (2-40) induced an outside edge and the catch was beautifully held by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in front of first slip.

Opener Murali Vijay (68) did add a few runs to his score and hit a couple of lovely boundaries before he got hit on the back of the helmet off a Mitchell Johnson snorter.

The hit sure did shake him up as he was soon picked by Shane Watson (1-25), edging one to first slip as Shaun Marsh made no mistake.

Just when it seemed that the hosts are taking control, Kohli and Rahane combined the right dose of caution and aggression to pull things back a bit in the final half an hour of play in the morning session.

Kohli played well to register his 10th Test half-century as the No.4 batsman hit eight fours. Rahane was pacy in his close to run-a-ball stay so far and also hit some delightful strokes.

Australia captain Steven Smith tried every permutation and combination against Kohli and Rahane but failed to unsettle the duo.

Even off-spinner Nathan Lyon failed to provide a breakthrough after bowling 15 overs in the innings so far.

India though still have a mountain to climb as they trail by 306 runs.