Virat Kohli became only the fourth Indian to score a hundred on his captaincy debut as the visitors responded resolutely to Australia's mammoth first innings total by reaching 369 for five on the third day to leave the first cricket Test evenly poised here on Thursday.
Kohli, standing in for injured regular captain MS Dhoni, became the first Indian after Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar to score a hundred on his debut as skipper of the team.
The 26-year-old's seventh ton in the five-day format ended at 115 after he was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson off a short-pitched delivery just before stumps. The Indian's attempted pull landed in the hands of Ryan Harris at deep fine leg in the 95th over of the day.
At draw of stumps, Wriddhimaan Saha (1) was holding fort in the company of Rohit Sharma, who batted fluently to score 33. The resolute effort by the Indians, undone to an extent by Kohli's late dismissal, came after the Australians declared their first innings at an overnight score of 517/7.
On a bright and sunny day which started early to make up for the four hours of play lost on Wednesday due to rain, the Indians dominated the proceedings for most part before Kohli's wicket swung the equations slightly in Australia's favour.
Earlier in the morning, opener Shikhar Dhawan (25) departed in the eighth over but the rest of the top-order fired in unison to put India in a comfortable position on a placid track.
It started with Murali Vijay (53) notching up his seventh Test half century in the pre-lunch session, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara (73) sailing to his sixth in the pre-tea session, and ended with Kohli's inspiring knock.
In between, Ajinkya Rahane (62) also managed to clinch his fifth Test fifty as Australian bowlers toiled just the way their Indian counterparts had to on the first two days of the match.
Pacer Mitchell Johnson bent his back to send down a couple of probing spells but the wickets were hard to come by. Johnson, the most menacing of all the Aussie pacers, ended the day with figures of 2/90 in his 18 overs — Kohli's wicket being his most crucial strike.
Spinner Nathan lyon also managed to pick up two wickets for his toil of 30 overs in which he conceded 103 runs. Notwithstanding Kohli's brilliant knock, which came off 184 balls and was laced with 12 fours, India still trail Australia by 148 runs in the first innings.
Kohli put on 81 runs for the third wicket with Pujara (73 runs). He added 101 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (62 runs) and another 74 runs for the fifth wicket with Rohit.
For Australia, Ryan Harris (1-49) was the other wicket-taker.
Rahane was especially scratchy after the break, struggling at times against both pace and spin. But he played some beautiful shots to make up for it and scored at a brisk pace to reach his fifth Test fifty off just 61 balls.
Kohli too had crossed his half-century mark and the two were batting fluently, scoring at more than five runs per over. Their 100-run partnership came off 151 balls in the 75th over and just when it was looking like India had two set batsmen for the second new ball, disaster struck.
lyon bowled an absolute ripper and Rahane gloved it to Watson at first slip, the batsman clueless about the extra bounce and turn on that delivery.
It brought Rohit to the crease and he maintained his calm as Australia took the new ball as soon as it became due. Kohli took the lead in scoring thereafter and got to his hundred in the 85th over of the innings. He faced 158 balls and hit 12 fours in doing so. Three overs later, India crossed the 350-run mark in the 89th over, runs still flowing at more than five-per-over.
Kohli then fell just when the day's end was in sight, pulling Johnson to fine leg where Harris held a fine catch. Saha then survived a dangerous spell from the tear away bowler to avoid any further loss. Earlier, in the post-lunch session, Pujara scored his sixth Test fifty, only his second half-century in the last 17 Test innings.
With Kohli, he scored runs quickly and their 50-run stand for the third wicket came up off only 54 deliveries. But then lyon, who had been hit out of the attack by Murali Vijay (53 runs) before lunch, returned and bowled a brilliant spell to the two set batsmen. Kohli looked more comfortable against the spinner but Pujara was circumspect throughout.
It ended with Pujara being bowled in the 50th over of the innings as he defended the ball but left enough gap for it to break the stumps. It brought Rahane to the crease and he survived a spell by Johnson before tea, as India crossed the 200-run mark in the 56th over.
In the morning session, Vijay struck his seventh Test fifty to steady India in the morning session. He put on 81 runs with Pujara for the second wicket after Australia had declared at their overnight score.
Debate on DRS rages
The use of Decision Review System (DRS) has been a hot topic of discussion since Indian team's refusal to use it. It once again came in to the limelight on Thursday.
According to Cricket Australia (CA) website, the debate started when off-spinner Nathan lyon made a vehement appeal for a lBW decision against Murali Vijay after he was struck on the pad with the final ball of the 22nd over.
The decision was turned down, and Clarke might have considered using a review, if one had been available.
However, the TV replays clearly showed that the ball was missing the stumps and that the umpire was correct with the ‘not out’ decision.
Former leg spinner Shane Warne was vocal in his support for the technology. “It doesn't matter if you agree with DRS or not, what does matter is that everyone should have to play by the same rules,” texted Warne, after the question was raised as a ‘Viewers' Verdict’ in the Cricket Australia live app.
Dhawal replaces injured Bhuvi
Mumbai paceman Dhawal Kulkarni is being sent to Australia on an urgent basis as replacement for injured Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, according to Cricket Board secretary Sanjay Patel. “Dhawal will be flying to Australia on Saturday and we are in the process of getting his visa done. He is going there as cover for Bhuvaneshwar Kumar who has injured his ankle and will come home, take treatment, and then go back to Australia,” Patel said.