Umpire changes his mind about giving Cheteshwar Pujara out against Australia

The Third Test between India and Australia at Ranchi is already poised on a knife's edge and could do without the heart-stopping moments provided by umpire Chris Gaffaney today.

With India at 6-385 and closing in on Australia's first innings total of 451, danger man Cheteshwar Pujara attempted to hook Josh Hazlewood but missed.

There was a half-hearted appeal from Hazlewood, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and captain Steve Smith at first slip, but not much was made of it until the commentators returned to it later.

Replays showed that Gaffaney had raised his finger as if the batsman was out before changing his mind at the last minute and running it across his hat.

"How to give a batsman a heart attack right there," one commentator noted. "The finger came out and it went and scratched the head."

Fellow umpire Ian Gould and Nigel Llong also managed a laugh about it afterwards although it would be safe to assume the Aussies wouldn't have seen the funny side.

Pujara would go on to pass 150 to put India in a strong position at lunch at 6-435 on day four and only 16 runs behind Australia's first innings total of 451.