India vs Australia Highlights 3rd Test, Day 3: Head, Labuschagne hammer Jadeja, Ashwin as AUS beat IND by 9 wickets

The scoreboard keeps ticking as Jadeja concedes two singles in his over. AUS move to 10/1 and they now need 66 runs to win

Travis Head goes for a forward block against Ashwin, good for him that he played it with soft hands as the ball takes an edge but falls short of the short gully fielder. 

Ashwin concedes one run in his over. AUS: 8/1, need 68 runs to win

Ashwin bowls a second maiden over on the trot, while Jadeja gives away two singles in his over. AUS: 7/1, need 69 runs to win

Jadeja will share the new ball with Ashwin. He concedes a single in the first ball and later Marnus Labuschagne hits him for a boundary. AUS: 5/1, need 71 runs to win

Just the start India were hoping for as Ashwin packs Usman Khawaja for 0. The ball takes an edge before settling in KS Bharat's gloves and up goes the finger. 

Khawaja, however, opts for a review but the snickometer shows a deflection as the ball passed close to the bat.

AUS need 76 to win, while India need 9 more wickets

Usman Khawaja and Travis Head walk out to the middle to kick-off the proceedings on Day 3. 

The Indian team have formed a huddle, and Ashwin will lead the attack for the hosts.

As per inputs, Ashwin, Axar and Jadeja were seen bowling a lot while training in the morning. The Australian camp was relatively silent and calm.

Action to get underway shortly.

The lowest target defended in India is 107, which came against Australia back in 2004. 

The match was played at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing 107, Australia were packed for 93 with Harbhajan Singh completing a five-wicket haul. Murali Karthik had then claimed three wickets, while Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan had picked a wicket each.

One common occurrence that many noticed was Australia's stumping tactics. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey dislodged the bails on many occasions while the batter was well inside the crease, forcing the leg umpires to send it upstairs for further examination.

This in return helped the Aussies also get a closer look on any edges, which even the close in fielders may have missed.

Sharing his thoughts on the same, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel highlighted how Smith made the most of the loophole and urged for a change in the DRS rule.

"Steve Smith is aware of that and he exploited the loophole. The on-field umpire should avoid going to the third umpire if he is sure that it's not out when there is an appeal for a stumping," said the ex-cricketer during an interaction on Cricbuzz. 

The ideal solution is that the TV umpire should only review the stumping if the appeal is made only for a stumping. A caught behind should not be checked unless the fielding captain opts for a review."

Beating India at home takes a lot and the team has only been outplayed twice in the last 10 years. If India fail to defend the 76-run target, this will be India's third defeat in their own backyard.

With the pitch not being an easy track to bat on, the spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who are in rich form, will make the hosts believe that they do have a chance, even if it's a slender one. 

Umesh too was superb on Day 2 and the management will hope the veteran pacer to replicate his first-innings heroics.

"We will go in with a positive approach. Cricket is unpredictable and the way the wicket is playing, you never know what may happen as it is difficult to score runs on this pitch. We will bowl tight and dry the runs. It is not a shot-making pitch, there are no easy runs here. So we will bowl well and see what happens." Umesh Yadav at press conference after Day 2

The lowest target ever defended in Tests is 85, which was done by Australia back in 1882. The Aussies achieved the feat against England in a one-off Test at The Oval, where they packed England for 77 runs. 

Interestingly, this fixture also gave birth to the prestigious Ashes series.

If we look at the Aussie batting line-up Usman Khawaja is in good form. Apart from him Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith also hold key. They are the three main batters that India should look to get rid of as soon as possible in order to defend a paltry 76.

“I know it is not enough but still there is a chance (to win).” 

Australia need 76 to win on Day 3, which can be an easy task on any other tracks but Indian spinners will ensure it's not a cake walk for the opposition. 

We can see both Ashwin and Jadeja lead the attack.

Day 1: The Test match started with Rohit Sharma winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, the move backfired as India were skittled for 109 in their first innings, with Matt Kuhnemann completing his maiden five-wicket haul. 

Usman Khawaja then scored 60 to power Australia to 156/4 at Stumps, as the visitors took a 47-run lead. 

Day 2: The second day began with Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb maintaining a cautious approach and adding 30 runs to the overnight score of 156/4 in the first hour. However, Ashwin drew first blood as he dismissed Handscomb, following which Umesh Yadav's terrific display saw Australia getting packed for 197 in their first innings, as they took a healthy 88-run lead. 

Cheteshwar Pujara played a gritty 59-run knock then to help India reach a respectable 163 on Day 2.   

Pacer Umesh Yadav became the 5th Indian pacer to take 100 wickets at home while veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon surpassed Muttiah Muralitharan to become the second-highest wicket-taker against India in the backyard of the Asian giants on Day 2 of the low-scoring Test match at Indore. India’s Cheteshwar Pujara scored a sublime half-century as India have set a 76-run target for Australia to win the Indore Test. Can India rewrite history by denying Australia a famous on Day 3 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium?