Ind vs Eng, 1st Test, Day 3: India end day three at 319/4, trail by 218 runs

India end the third day's play at 319/4, they are still behind by 218 runs. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara played two very good innings and barring the last two overs, it was India's day as they dominated the visitors.

Skipper Virat Kohli is unbeaten on 26, the stumps were drawn after the nightwatchman Amit Mishra was dismissed by Ansari.

Adil Rashid was the pick of bowlers for England, Alastair Cook would be gutted that he didn't use him enough today.

India resumed the day at 63/0, and lost Gautam Gambhir in the second over as Stuart Broad got him out LBW. From there onwards, it was just fantastic batting from Vijay and Pujara. Both batsmen put together a stand of over 200 runs.

Pujara scored his 9th Test ton and his first at home in Rajkot (this is Rajkot's first Test as well). Opener Vijay struck a controlled 126 to help India cross 300.

India: 319/4 from 108.3 overs

Another wicket! Nightwatchman Mishra is out, caught by Hameed off Ansari's bowling. It was a long day for England, but it has ended on a very good note. Two wickets in last two overs. And that would be stumps.

India: 318/3 from 108 overs

Wicket! Rashid to Vijay, out caught by Hameed

India: 316/2 from 106 overs

Few more overs to go for the end of play here. India would be very happy with their batting effort. England bowlers, on the other hand, have failed to create too many chances.

India: 308/2 from 102 overs

India have crossed 300-run mark in Rajkot against England. The runs have come at a rate of 3.02. Kohli is slowly opening up, while Vijay continues playing the solid innings.

India: 292/2 from 100 overs

India have played out 100 overs in this innings. They still trail England by 245 runs. Vijay is batting on 117, Kohli is batting on 8.

India: 281/2 from 95 overs

India have added only 4 runs in last 4 overs since Pujara was dismissed. Captain Kohli has started slowly here in Rajkot, he's batting on 2 from 17 deliveries.

Captain Virat Kohli has come to the crease.

India: 277/1 from 91.1 overs

Wicket! Centurion Pujara is out, caught by Cook. Ben Stokes and England finally get a wicket. Pujara tries to cut the ball, but ends up edging it to the slips. Cook took a brilliant catch to get rid of the batsman. The local lad departs for 124. Superb innings.

India: 272/1 from 90 overs

India slowed down the scoring rate in the second session, but they are back to scoring at a brisk rate. The partnership has now crossed the 200-run mark. Pujara is batting on 123, Vijay is unbeaten on 105.

India: 252/1 from 84 overs

Century! Murali Vijay brings up his much deserved Test ton. The opener has been rock solid since the beginning of Indian innings. The partnership is now worth 184 runs.

India: 229/1 from 80.3 overs

Hundred! Pujara brings up his 9th Test century in Rajkot, at home, in front of his father and his wife. The stadium went ballistic celebrating the century, this is the first Test at Rajkot.

India: 228/1 from 79 overs

It's time for tea. Just 66 runs in the second session of play on day 3. Pujara is unbeaten on 99.

India: 220/1 from 75 overs

England came close on few occasions but have failed to get either of the batsman out. The pair of Vijay and Pujara has now crossed 150-run mark. Pujara is batting on 94, Vijay is unbeaten on 83.

India: 208/1 from 70.3 overs

So close! Zafar Ansari gets one to go through Pujara's bat and pad resulting in the umpire raising his finger. Pujara reviews it straightaway, replays shows the ball was missing the stumps as it was too high. Umpire has reversed his decision.

India: 202/1 from 68 overs

India cross 200-run mark in Rajkot. The partnership between Vijay and Pujara is now worth 134.

India: 195/1 from 66 overs

Runs have dried for India in this session, only 33 runs have been added in last 16 overs. Important thing for Indian batsmen is to remain positive. England can sense a wicket here, Adil Rashid has been able to induce some occasional bounce, and both Vijay and Pujara needs to be watchful.

India: 191/1 from 60 overs

Dropped! Haseeb Hameed drops Murali Vijay off Stuart Broad's bowling. Vijay scooped the catch to cover trying to play the straight drive. Luckily, Hameed failed to take the catch.

India: 171/1 from 54 overs

100-run stand is up between Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. Vijay is batting on 59, Pujara is unbeaten on 69. Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes are operating for England.

And we are back underway. Chris Woakes bowls the first over after lunch.

First session of day three belonged to India. The partnership is now close to the 100-run mark. Both batsmen have displayed a lot of maturity, and the runs have come at a quite brisk pace. The only good news for England came in the second over of the day, when Broad dismissed Gambhir for 29.

India: 162/1 from 50 overs

And it's time for lunch in Rajkot.

India: 148/1 from 46.1 overs

Fifty! Both batsmen cross 50-run mark respectively. Vijay scored his fifty with a six, that was inspired by Virender Sehwag! Pujara would be happy to score a half-century at his home ground.

India: 118/1 from 42 overs

The 50-run stand is up between Vijay and Pujara. India now trail by 419 runs, 55 runs have been added since the start of play. India also lost the wicket of Gambhir, who was out LBW by Broad. Ben Stokes is coming on to bowl.

India: 106/1 from 36 overs

Woakes is bowling short to Pujara, and the batsman has taken a few blows to his body. India are batting cautiously out there and the run rate has come down a little.

India: 104/1 from 33 overs

India are batting at a brisk pace and the partnership is now worth 36 runs. Zafar Ansari and Chris Woakes are now operating for England.

India: 85/1 from 28 overs

England are using Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad in tandem. Cheteshwar Pujara is looking positive out there, he is playing on 14 runs from 16 balls.

Right-hand batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has come out to bat for India.

India: 68/1 from 24.1 overs

Shocker! Out, Gambhir is dismissed LBW by Stuart Broad. What a delivery, Gambhir was trapped in front of the wicket and failed to get the bat in the line with the ball. 

India: 68/0 from 24 overs

We are underway in Rajkot. Gautam Gambhir has started the proceedings with a second ball boundary. Moeen Ali bowled the first over of the day, so England have opted for spin from the beginning.

Rajkot: Welcome to the third day’s play of the first Test between India and England in Rajkot. Team India face a daunting task ahead of themselves as the visitors amassed 537 in the first innings.

India openers gave a solid start to the Virat Kohli-led team as India finished the second day at 63/0. Gautam Gambhir is unbeaten on 28, while Murali Vijay is batting on 25.

They still trail the English team by 474 runs. The challenge for India is continue the strong start, they need to score another 274 to avoid follow-on. Earlier in the second day, Moeen Ali scored his fourth century, after he finished the first day on an unbeaten 99. All-rounder Ben Stokes made life hard for India bowlers in the middle as he smashed 128 to help England post a huge total of 537.

Ravindra Jadeja was the highest wicket-taker for India, the left-arm spinner took three wickets. R Ashwin, M Shami and Umesh Yadav took two wickets each. The remaining one wicket fell to Amit Mishra.