Sydney: India put up a counter-attack through Rishabh Pant as they recovered from the early loss of skipper Ajinkya Rahane to move to 272 for five against Australia at lunch on the fifth day of the third Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Currently India need 135 more runs to win this Test.
The wicketkeeper-batsman Pant was out on 97 off 118 deliveries with three sixes and eight fours as he added an unbeaten 148 for the fourth wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara.
India had lost Rahane early in only the second over of the day. The stand-in India skipper was caught at short leg off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
However, his dismissal brought in Pant who was promoted ahead of Hanuma Vihari.
The left-handed batsman, who was hit on the elbow in the first innings by Pat Cummins, survived a caught behind chance off Lyon early, and took the attack to Aussies. He was particularly severe on the Aussie off-spinner.
The series is level at 1-1 with the last match to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from January 15.