His two-day total of 10-under 134 placed him five shots ahead of the rest of the field. Australian Kunal Bhasin, M Dharma of Bangalore, Mukesh Kumar of Mhow and Delhi's Rashid Khan are in tied second at five-under 139.
Kunal (67-72) and Dharma (67-72), both joint overnight leaders along with Joshi, shot matching scores of 72 to be placed tied second.
Defending champion Mukesh Kumar shot a 69, Rashid turned in a 70.
The cut was declared at nine-over-153. Fifty-two professionals made the cut.
