The second Test between India and Australia in Bengaluru is turning into an enthralling encounter with the hosts fighting back strongly on Monday.
Half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara [79*] and KL Rahul [51], and an unbeaten 40 from Ajinkya Rahane brought India right back into the contest after Australia had taken an 87-run lead in the first innings.
At the end of play on day three, India have a lead of 126 runs with six wickets still in hand.
On Twitter, former Australian cricketers Michael Clarke and Tom Moody praised the Indian batsmen for standing up to the challenge while former English captain Michael Vaughan was relieved that Australia are not having it all their own way.
Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra also hailed the Indian team for showing character, tweeting: “Sport doesn’t build character. It reveals character. And this Indian Team has shown its character in last two days. Proud.”
Here, we collect the top tweets of the day.
Brilliant fight from 🇮🇳. 0 wickets in the last session. @IAmRahane @cheteshwar1 absolutely fantastic Test match batting.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 6, 2017
Wow, what a gripping test, India showing their class in challenging conditions. Game on!! #IndvAus
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 6, 2017
That's better India ... making the start to my week so much more positive ... #ThankYou #INDvsAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 6, 2017
India fighting back .. not over yet ... should be a great Test
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) March 6, 2017
Sport doesn't build character. It reveals character. And this Indian Team has shown its character in last two days. Proud. #INDvsAUS
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 6, 2017
This is an exceptional innings from Pujara.Test match is about playing out sessions and Rahane&Pujara have kept India in the game.#INDvsAUS
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 6, 2017
Not for the first time an Indian pitch has confounded everyone. It is hardly ever as bad on day 3 as it seems it will be on day 1
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 6, 2017
Brilliant resolve from Pujara & Rahane. This pitch needed the old fashioned Test match grafting. And that's what they did. 👏👏👏👍.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 6, 2017
If Pujara is the new Dravid, and Rahane is the new Laxman, then Australia knows what happens when they get together in the 2nd innings.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 6, 2017
This is such a great Test. I have no faith in either of these teams to win it from here. #INDvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 6, 2017
Virat Kohli with Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara right now! #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/eIdX8sUr6k
— गब्बर™ #ABVP (@khud_gabbar007) March 6, 2017
Huge credit again to Rahul, he shielded Pujara at the start of his innings against Lyon and the latter is still there at stumps. #INDvAUS
— Sahil Oberoi (@SahilOberoi1) March 6, 2017
Saw Ravindra Jadeja bowl all six deliveries of his over exactly on the same spot on the pitch.
— Punक (@punk_hardik) March 6, 2017
Thats jadeja-vu.