India takes a commanding lead over Australia in the Nagpur Test

“On day three of the first Test against Australia in NAGPUR, India dismissed for 400 before lunch after commanding a 223-run lead in the first innings.”

Axar Patel scored 84 runs before falling as the final Indian batsman just before lunch, after he and Ravindra Jadeja (70) added 88 runs for the eighth wicket.

India had taken over the game after dismissing Australia for a middling total of 177 after Rohit Sharma’s captain’s performance of 120 on a spin-friendly surface.

Patel and Jadeja solidified India’s lead, and Mohammed Shami (37), who came in down the order, helped put Australia on the mat with a breezy cameo.

The best bowler for Australia was Todd Murphy, who claimed 7-124 in his first Test. However, on a pitch where Marnus Labuschagne’s 49 was the highest score by a visiting batsman in the first innings, Australia will require an outstanding batting performance to win.

“Holding the remaining matches of the four-test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in New Delhi, Dharamsala, and Ahmedabad.”