Gill’s ton, Kohli’s fifty power India fightback on third day

Ahmedabad: Opener Shubman Gill’s second Test century (128) and Virat Kohli’s first half-century (59 batting) in 14 months helped India stage a fightback against Australia as they ended the third day of the fourth Test firmly placed at 289 for three at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.

India, who had begun the day at 36 without loss, lost skipper Rohit Sharma (35) to a soft dismissal before drinks in the first session. Sharma lobbed a simple catch to cover off Matthew Kuhnemann.

Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara (42) then added 113 for the second wicket on either side of lunch as Australian bowlers struggled to find any assistance from the surface.

Gill hit 12 boundaries and a six off Nathan Lyon over long on. He looked in complete control. Only once when a Todd Murphy delivery beat his defence, was he beaten comprehensively. Luckily, it missed the stumps and the wicketkeeper, helping India get four runs.

While he accorded respect to the spinners as Australians tried to throttle the run rate, he did not spare the seam bowlers who were milked for boundaries. His first eight boundaries came off pace bowlers Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green. Soon he opened up against the spinners.

Pujara was dismissed leg-before in the post-lunch session to Todd Murphy.

After a half-century partnership with Kohli, a tired Gill suffered lapse in concentration and was dismissed leg-before wicket by Lyon.

With runs hard to come by and spinners bowling tight lines, Australia skipper Steve Smith delayed the new ball, taking it only towards the fag end of the day.  But Kohli, who had nervous start to the innings, and Ravindra Jadeja managed to return unblemished.

India still trail Australia by 191 runs.