Midway through his record-breaking dig of 202, Cheteshwar Pujara had a simple response when Josh Hazlewood tried to niggle India's batsmen on day four of the third Test in Ranchi.
"Look at the scoreboard," Pujara quipped, according to teammate Wriddhiman Saha.
It was a fair point given Australia were unravelling as Pujara and Saha compiled a 199-run stand that turned the match on its head.
Pujara spent more than 11 hours at the crease in Ranchi and faced some 525 balls in his marathon innings, which ended after tea on Sunday.
Rahul Dravid previously held the record for the longest Test innings by an Indian, having faced 495 balls in a knock of 270 against Pakistan in 2004.
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Hazlewood tried to rattle Pujara and Saha with a barrage of bouncers and barbs but it was one of many tactics that failed from the visitors.
"In a match there is always some talk on the field," Saha recalled.
"Pujara just told him 'look at the scoreboard'. Pujara was batting at 180 at the time.
"When he (Hazlewood) tried to talk to me I also just said go and bowl, that was it nothing more."
Umpires Chris Gaffney and Ian Gould took control of the situation, warning both Hazlewood and Pujara to focus on the game.
The tension between the two sides was clear during a handful of incidents on Sunday.
Injured captain Virat Kohli celebrated both late wickets heartily, grabbing his shoulder after David Warner was dismissed in a clear sign he didn't appreciate Glenn Maxwell's antics on the preceding day.
The tourists were unhappy with a video released between the second and third Tests in which Pujara bragged about sledging David Warner.
Meanwhile, Saha and Australia coach Darren Lehmann both praised Pujara's patience at the crease.
"He scores 200-300 in domestic cricket almost routinely. He is always on the top of his game," Saha said.
"We were not getting really big partnerships. He curtailed his shots, tried to build big partnerships."
Lehmann suggested Pujara showed the visiting batsmen the best way to approach day five of the contest.
"He bats long periods of time ... when he gets in, he certainly likes to go on with it. We've got to find a way to get him out early," Lehmann said.
