New Delhi, Feb 25: India are under the pump in the first Test against Australia at Pune. The decision to make a rank turner seems to have backfired on Virat Kohli’s team after Steve O’Keefe ran through the fancied Indian batting on Friday. A lot will depend on India’s bowlers today to turn the fortunes of this game. Get live cricket score of India vs Australia day 3 here. (LIVE SCORECARD | WHERE TO SEE LIVE STREAMING)
Australia took a first innings lead of 155, a significant advantage on a spin-friendly track at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, which is making its debut as a Test centre.
The touring side, who have lost their last nine Tests in Asia and were considered underdogs before the start of the four-match series, reached 143 for four at stumps in their second innings, an overall lead of 298 runs.
Captain Steve Smith is unbeaten after a chance-filled 59, during which he was dropped three times, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh on 21 not out.
India will still back themselves having successfully chased 387 set by England in the first Test in 2008 in Chennai.
That famous win was set up by Virender Sehwag’s 68-ball 83 before Sachin Tendulkar (103 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (85 not out) raised an unbroken 163-run stand for the fifth wicket to take India home.
