India were 515 for eight at stumps on the third day in reply to Australia’s 380 all out in the opening cricket Test at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here today.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave an exhibition of blistering strokeplay to hit a career-best undefeated 206 while Virat Kohli cracked 107 as India rode on their captain’s batting brilliance to gain control of the first cricket Test against Australia by taking a substantial 135-run first innings lead here today.

Virat Kohli smashed his fourth Test hundred, while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni inched closer to his sixth as India reached 371 for six at tea on the third day of the first cricket Test against Australia here today.

India were 182 for three in their first innings at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test against Australia here today.

Brief Scores: Australia 1st Innings: 380 all out

Australia were 317 for seven in their first innings against India at stumps on the opening day of the first cricket Test here today.

Set to complete a century of Test appearances, veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today said he is a “bit nervous” going into the first Test against Australia starting here tomorrow.

Axed from the Test team after a prolonged form slump, India ‘A’ skipper Gautam Gambhir will have a point to prove when he leads out the side in a three-day warm-up cricket match against the Australians starting here tomorrow.

The mercy pleas of sandalwood smuggler Veerapan’s four associates, sentenced to death in a 1993 landmine blast case, have been rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee, a human rights activist said here today.

Tamil Nadu today said the Central Bill on Food Security was replete with “confusion and inaccuracy” and that the state should be exempted from the implementation of the proposed measure.

Determined to make an impression against mighty Australia, Board president’s XI skipper Abhinav Mukund today said that he and his teammates are looking forward to put up a good fight when they take on the visitors in a two-day warm-up match, starting here tomorrow.