India reduced to 252/7 in first innings at lunch on third day

India lost crucial wickets before posting 252/7 in their first innings at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test against Australia here on Sunday.

Rishabh Pant was batting on 14 at the break.

India still trail Australia's first innings total of 326 by 74 runs.

The visitors suffered a big blow just before the break when skipper Virat Kohli was caught in the slips off a Pat Cummings delivery.

Kohli scored an excellent century in difficult circumstances that contained bucket loads of grit and determination as well as as pure class.

The Indian captain posted 123 runs off 257 balls with 13 boundaries and a six over third man.

India had lost Kohli's fellow overnight batsman Ajinkya Rahane right at the start of the day.

Rahane could not add to his overnight score of 51.

But Kohli and the rookie Hanuma Vihari got together to add 50 runs between them before the latter was caught behind off a sublime delivery by Josh Hazlewood.

Brief scores:

India (first innings): 252/7 (Virat Kohli 123, Ajinkya Rahane 51) vs Australia (first innings): 326.

(With inputs from agencies.)