An impeccable century from Cheteshwar Pujara and a 82-run knock from Murali Vijay helped India reach a respectable 360/6 in reply to Australia's 451 on day three of the third Test match here on Saturday.
Beginning from Friday's 120 the Indian squad made 360 thanks to Pujara's unbeaten 130, though recovering from shoulder injury skipper Virat Kohli and others could not add much to the scorecard. Pat Cummins, who replaced the injured Mitchell Starc, ran the show for Australia with an impressive 4/59.
India still need 91 runs to overcome the deficit and take an upper hand in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
As the first session began in the morning Pujara and Vijay continued the game with the same pace they had gained on the second day.
Vijay completed his 50 in 129 balls hitting four boundaries and a six, while Pujara began moving ahead with ones and twos.
Australia, on the other hand concentrated on building pressure through disciplined bowling from spinners Nathan lyon and Steve O'Keefe.
Pujara was extremely patient throughout the session making the least perilous moves and shots but Vijay was starting to lose his patience. He made some sweep shots and ventured to hit even the better balls.
Both of them raced to a 102-run partnership. However, Vijay could not keep hold of his wicket for long and was stumped by Wade trying to hit a boundary on O'Keefe's ball. He scored 82 facing 183 balls with 10 boundaries and a six.
Vijay's wicket before lunch proved a shot in the arm for Australia, which was badly looking for wickets in the first session.
Post lunch Australian pacer Cummins dominated the sessions with his pace bouncers, taking four wickets, thereby preventing India from reaching a big score.
Capitan Kohli came to bat at his usual number four after going through a small practice session in the morning.
He looked fine on the crease as he took singles initially but he could not last long edging an outward delivery of Cummins and the ball went straight to the visitors skipper Steve Smith in the second slip. Kohli made six runs facing 23 balls and India were 225/3 in the 81st over.
Ajinkya Rahane came to support Pujara, who continued his patient game braving the pace attack of Cummins and Hazelwood. Pujara remained firm and steady despite the psychological pressure building after Kohli's departure. He finally hit a boundary to the covers to get his 11th century and the first by his team in this series.
Meanwhile, Rahane, who has been trying to settle down at the crease stealing singles, committed a blunder. He tried to hook a short ball over the wicketkeeper and caught behind by Wade. Cummins got another wicket as Rahane departed for 14. The hosts found themselves at a spot of bother at 276/4.
Karun Nair was on the crease and he began with confidence giving psychological advantage to Pujara. India crossed 300 by tea trailing Australia by 148 runs with the loss of four wickets.
As Nair became comfortable at the crease, reaching 50-run partnership with Pujara, Hazelwood and lyon continued their attack to break the pair.
Hazelwood did the trick in the 108th over as he bowled out Nair (23). A beautiful delivery struck the off stump sending Nair to the pavilion.
When Ravichandran Ashwin came to bat at the seventh spot India were 320 for the loss of five wickets. He mostly tried to defend facing Cummins and O'Keefe. The slow run rate continued as Pujara took the charge on the other side. In the 116th over Cummins struck again as Ashwin was caught behind and was eventually declared out after a review. Ashwin scored 3 facing 22 deliveries.
Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha came next when India were 328/6. He hit a boundary to get off the mark and gave the much needed confidence to Pujara who was running short of stable partners.
With little time left before the end of the day's play, both the batsmen made sure to avoid taking any risk while defending O'Keffe and Hazelwood.
At the end of the day, India were at 360/6 in 130 overs. Pujara remained unbeaten on 130 with Saha holding the other side at 18.
For the Australian squad the day remained fruitful with Cummins taking four wickets and Hazelwood one. Both the pacers not only made the Indian squad unstable but also slowed down Pujara considerably. Spinners O'Keefe and lyon also played their part to limit India in the chase.