India lost the big wickets of Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal after the lunch sessions. The visitors were already in trouble after Mitchell Starc induced a thick edge off Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane for Matthew Wade to complete a comfortable catch in the slip cordon. Rahane losing his wicket for a poor shot just before lunch as India reached 161 for four on the third day of the series-deciding fourth Test against Australia here on Sunday.
At the break, the visitors trailed Australia's first-innings total of 369 by 208 runs with Mayank Agarwal (38) and Rishabh Pant (4) batting in the middle.
The visitors started with their overnight pair of Rahane (37) and Cheteshwar Pujara (25) adding 43 runs before the latter fell to a near unplayable delivery by Josh Hazlewood in only his second over of the day.
Until Pujara's dismissal, the experienced duo raised hopes of a big partnership by negotiating the formidable Australian bowling attack in the first one hour of play.
Pujara was his usual solid self while Rahane was a bit more adventurous and lucky as the ball flew past the gap between gully and third slip for boundaries on two occasions.
Before getting out, Pujara square cut Mitchell Starc for a boundary and also collected four runs with a back-foot square drive through deep point.
Introduced into the attack after 11 overs had been bowled in the day, Nathan Lyon saw Pujara straightaway dancing down the pitch and then running three, which gave Rahane the strike and he rocked on to the back-foot and played the cut shot against the off-spinner for a four through point.
Rahane beautifully punched Pat Cummins for three runs before Australia had their first breakthrough of the day.
Bowling in the channel just outside the off-stump, Hazlewood got one to straighten a bit after angling it in. Pujara had no answer as the ball took an edge through to captain Tim Paine behind the stumps.
Returning to the side after sitting out the third Test, Agarwal showed intent as he looked to keep the scoreboard ticking in the company of his captain, who seemed determined to convert his start into a big one.
Batting at number five instead of the opening slot, Agarwal's first boundary was a fortuitous one as a thick edge off Cummins flew between second slip and gully. His second boundary was much better as Agarwal glanced Starc down the leg side.
The Australian team celebrated soon as Josh Hazlewood has wreaked havoc, dismissing Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal after Lunch. India are in trouble, six wickets down. Washington Sundar is in the middle with Shardul Thakur holding the fort for the Indian side. Thakur is taking the risk of fetching boundaries but Sundar is playing to the merit of the ball and is leaving the deliveries well. For the moment, Sundar and Thakur are playing risk-free cricket. India is 224/6