The 18-year-old got off to a flying start on Wednesday after getting a birdie on the par-four second hole before getting two more birdies on the par-five 10th and par-three 14th holes to get a 68 in a flawless round.
The Bengaluru golfer shared the spot with Lexi Thomson of the United States, Britain's Charley Hull and the Spaniard Azahara Munoz.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand set the pace with a six-under 65 as she enjoyed a one-stroke lead at the top over the South Korean duo of Inbee Park and Seiyoung Kim.
It was an eventful round for Ariya, who got an eagle on the par-five fifth, alongside seven birdies against a double bogey on the par-three fourth and a bogey on the par-four 11th.
Two strokes off the pace were Carlota Ciganda of Spain, Chinese Taipei's Candie Kung and Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark.
