Ranchi: Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha brought back memories of the unforgettable 2001 Eden Test when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid remained unconquered the entire fourth day, laying the foundation for a highly unexpected Indian victory against the then invincible Australia.

Pujara (202) and Saha (117) didn't remain unconquered, but they were 'undefeated' for over two sessions and India, needing eight more wickets to win, can now go for the kill on the fifth and final day of the third Test, here, at the JSCA International Stadium. For Australia, they require another 129 on a wearing track to make India bat again. But that possibility looks too far and too impractical.

India were still 91 short of Australia's first-innings total of 451 when play resumed on an overcast Day IV. But Pujara and Saha showed wonderful temperament and were near flawless technically in their 199-run stand for the seventh wicket, the highest partnership for India in this series.

Ravindra Jadeja scored a brisk half-century that pushed India's terrific reply to a staggering 603/9 declared. That looked hardly possible when Saha came to the crease on the third day evening, with India still trailing by 123 runs.

Pujara, in his marathon 11 hours and 12 minutes knock, reached another well-deserved double-century, while Saha stunned and stung the Aussies with his third Test hundred. An elated Virat Kohli signalled the declaration soon after Jadeja glanced Pat Cummins for a boundary to bring up India's 600.

At the moment, India can afford to keep attacking and hope the exhaustion of being on the field for two-and-a-half days takes its toll on the visitors, who are wobbling at 23 for two in their second innings.

Riding the momentum given by the Pujara-Saha pair and Jadeja's quick runs, Australia lost David Warner, whose wretched away form continues, and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon in a space of 14 balls. Jadeja again made optimum use of the rough and footmarks, something that Steve O'Keefe needs to learn if he's not bowling on minefields like the one in Pune.

If Australia have to survive and salvage a draw batting on the fifth-day wicket, onus will be again on captain Steve Smith, who has to play the most important knock of his career, perhaps.

The Laxman-Dravid stand, of course, will always carry greater magnitude, for it came under extremely difficult circumstances. But like that partnership, the Pujara-Saha show - lasting 317 long minutes - too could feature amongst the most significant factors if India go on to win this series.

Keeping the Aussies at bay the previous day, Pujara continued with his typical way of grinding the opposition attack and unleashing strokes only when he saw enough room and width. But Saha was the real surprise element of the day, considering how he went about his knock.

In the very second over of the day, he was given out leg-before on 19 as Pat Cummins celebrated what was supposed to be his fifth wicket. But the 'keeper-batsman's decision to review turned out to be a masterstroke. It went in his favour and off the very next delivery, he caressed Cummins past cover for a wonderful boundary.

Yes, the pitch is a better one to bat on, barring the odd ball keeping low. But with Cummins and Josh Hazlewood steaming in under lights, scoring at ease is certainly not easy no matter how good a batsman one is.

Cummins and Hazlewood peppered Saha with short-pitched balls. He took blows, exchanged a few words with Hazlewood, but was never fazed or looked flustered.

Defensively too, he was quite solid, getting behind the line of almost every ball. His off-drives, particularly off Cummins, looked effortless.

The calculated risks he took before reaching both fifty and hundred also underlines his analysis of the situation as a batsman.

Interestingly, the pair was efficient enough to find the gaps, scoring mainly through ones and twos, hitting the odd boundary in between and cautious when the pacers dished out probing stuff. The Irani Cup triumph, where both put on an unbroken 316 for the fifth wicket for Rest of India, also played a crucial role for the pair as it got along after coming together at a critical phase.

Like Saha, Pujara too made superb use of the DRS when was adjudged leg-before wicket off Lyon. He was on 157 then.

Both batsmen and the reviews frustrated Australia, who frankly are in dire straits after a dream start in Pune.

With their former Test team-mate Mahendra Singh Dhoni expected to be present, the victory, if it happens, will only taste sweeter for Kohli and his troops.