Hyderabad, March 4 (IANS): A double century by Chesteshwar Pujara and a big hundred by Murali Vijay took India to a commanding 400 for three in the first innings at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test against Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International, Uppal, here Monday.

Pujara struck 204, his second double century, and Vijay scored 167 as India scored 89 runs in the first session, losing two wickets and took the lead to 163 runs. Australia had declared their first innings at 237 for nine.

Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 3 and Virat Kohli 4 at the lunch break.

The 370-run second-wicket stand between Pujara and Vijay was broken by debutant spin all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. The off-spinner purchased some nice turn and bounce and Vijay fended a simple catch to backward short-leg.

The partnership is now the third highest partnership against Australia. The 382=run stand for the second wicket between England's Len Hutton and Maurice Leyland at the The Oval 1938 remains on top while the 376-run stand for the fifth wicket between Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata 2000-01 is second.

Pujara got to his double century in style, charging down to Maxwell and flicked the ball through mid-on and mid-wicket for four. He punched the air and hugged Tendulkar as the stadium gave a standing ovation to the Rajkot boy.

But Pujara couldn't carry on and in the next over his to hook James Pattinson found Xavier Doherty taking a brilliant diving catch at long leg.