India vs England, 2016: Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay tons lead strong hosts’ reply on Day 3

Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara led India's determined response to England's mammoth first innings total of 537 as they struck dogged hundreds to guide the hosts to 319/4 on Day 3 of the first Test. Showing great fortitude in the face of a daunting challenge, Vijay played a typically gritty innings of 126 in 301 balls. India captain Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 26 after Amit Mishra fell without scoring in the last over bowled by left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari. (Source: Reuters)

Resuming the day 3 at 63/0, India lost Gautam Gambhir in the second over of the day as Stuart Broad trapped him in front of the wickets. After managing to hit four fours in his innings, Gambhir returned after adding 29 runs from 72 balls. (Source: PTI)

Chesteshwar Pujara compiled a more aggressive 124 in 206 balls. As the duo forged a huge second-wicket stand of 209 to help India give an apt reply to England's massive first innings score of 537. Pujara's 124 score was his ninth 100 plus score while third against England. The right-handed batsman is 21 short of becoming the third fastest Indian to score 3000 runs after Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Azharuddin. Pujara's 206 not out and 135 was against the same opponents on their visit to India four years ago.(Source: PTI)

Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay showed grit aplenty against some tight and probing bowling, especially from Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes to remain unconquered after batting for nearly the entire duration of two sessions. Both Vijay and Pujara had their moments of luck. A dropped catch off Stuart Broad reprieved Vijay on 66 and the Decision Review System came to Pujara's help when he was 14 short of his hundred. (Source: PTI)

Murali Vijay (126) , who survived a LBW shout in the last over before lunch against Adil Rashid, went on to score his seventh Test hundred and second against England. Vijay's previous hundred against the visitors came in 2014, which was also his first century outside India. Rashid got Vijay caught at short leg with a googly followed by Ansari snaring the nightwatchman Amit Mishra. (Source: Reuters)

It was a tough day for England's attack. They toiled through a wicketless second session but picked up three after tea.(Source: Reuters)