India has controlled play on day two at the MCG, reaching 5-277 to eke out a first-innings lead of 82 runs against an Australian side that struggled to take its chances.
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored a magnificent century, ably assisted by a fine innings from Ravindra Jadeja as part of an unbeaten 104-run partnership.
Australia were left to rue its missed chances, dropping three catches across the day's play.
Tim Paine, Steve Smith and to a lesser account, Cameron Green were all guilty of dropping chances, adding to the one Marnus Labuschagne missed late yesterday.
That, plus a number of other chances that fell just short of the slip cordon, combined to give the impression that it was not to be Australia's day.
Earlier, Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara looked in good touch until a phenomenal spell of fast bowling from Pat Cummins had both caught behind in consecutive overs by Paine.
Gill looked sharp with some exquisite drives to both side of the wicket, but offered plenty of chances as well to a luckless Australia.
A number of edges fell just short of the slips, while Paine missed a tricky chance off Gill's inside edge in the second over of the day.
However, Paine made amends when Gill, on 45, feathered one to him when attempting a drive off Cummins, just as he approached a maiden Test half-century.
The Aussie captain then doubled down on his redemption arc, claiming a ripping catch to dismiss Pujara for just 17 in Cummins's very next over.
If that was the cue for India to capitulate, they did not take heed as Rahane and Hanuma Vihari steadied the ship after lunch before Vihari attempted one sweep too many off Nathan Lyon — who was turning the ball prodigiously from outside the off stump — gloving the ball up to Smith for 21.
Rishabh Pant — controversially left out of the side in Adelaide — was next in and counter-punched superbly, adding a fluid 29 from just 40 balls before he slashed at a wide Mitchell Starc delivery to offer Paine another simple catch.
India's stand-in skipper was solid though, bringing up his fifty off 111 balls and then pushing on to secure his century 84 balls later.
Jadeja was a willing partner to his skipper, curbing much of his natural stroke play to stick around and frustrate the Australian bowlers.
Even the new ball could not change Australia's fortunes, with few chances being created and runs flowing from the bats of the two Indians.
Australia's frustrations looked to be over when Rahane hit a rising ball straight into the air off Mitchell Starc, only for Travis Head to drop the simplest of chances in the final action before late rain bought a premature close to the day's play.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
