India once again showed batting failure and are struggling at 358, having lost nine wickets already. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy is the lone fighter, being unbeaten with 105 off 176 deliveries while Washington Sundar showed the grit also as he faced 162 balls before being caught by Smith off the bowling of Nathan Lyon at 50. 

The visitors started the third day on a positive note with Rishabh Pant playing his strokes. But the wicket-keeper batsman finally returned to pavilion, hitting a bizarre shot and perished. Sunil Gavaskar, sitting in the commentary box could not control himself and slammed him stating ‘absolute stupidity’! Nathan Lyon finally came into play as well, sending Jadeja back for 17.

Since then, Team India has avoided the follow-on with Reddy and Washington Sundar unbeaten on 85 and 40. That trail was over 300 before the day’s play, and now India is less than 150 behind. Meanwhile, rain has arrived in Melbourne, but from the looks of it, it’s a passing shower. Mohammed Siraj is batting on the other side (2 not out) with Reddy. 

Pat Cummins and Scott Boland scalped three wickets each while Nathan Lyon had two important wickets of Washington Sundar and Rabindra Jadeja.