Stand-in captain Pujara reviews successfully to bring an end to Khawaja’s marathon knock

R Ashwin picked up his 32nd five-wicket haul, spearheading India’s effort with the ball as Usman Khawaja’s epic 180 made the hosts toil for the major part of the first two days. Khawaja was ably supported by Cameron Green, who put on 208 with him for the fifth wicket, before Ashwin got into the act to limit Australia to 480.

Australia threatened to get in excess of that eventual score thanks to a rock-solid, fluent partnership. Green, who started the day on 49, looked unperturbed throughout even as India attempted to bowl dry on a flat pitch. He managed to cash in whenever the bowlers erred in their lengths, pocketing 18 boundaries in total to compile a maiden Test century.

At the other end, Khawaja continued to bat in an equanimous manner. The duo batted through the first session of the day unscathed, and stayed together for 378 balls in aggregate to grind India down in Ahmedabad.