Needing 245 to avoid the follow-on, India lost wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant during a stop-start session in which only 6.5 overs were bowled because of three rain delays. India lost three early wickets in the first session, after earlier bowling Australia out for 445

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli all fell to Australia's opening bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. KL Rahul was not-out 30 at tea, with captain Rohit Sharma yet to score. With most of the first day lost to rain Saturday, Travis Head and Steve Smith's second-day centuries ensured that India cannot realistically win the Test.

The best they can probably hope for is to bat for enough time to draw the match and head to Melbourne with the series locked at 1-1. Australia resumed the third day on 405-7 and were eventually bowled out for 445, wicketkeeper Alex Carey the last man out after an enterprising 70.

With more rain predicted for the remainder of the Test, India's first target was to avoid the follow-on. But their reply got off to a terrible start when Jaiswal, who edged Starc's first ball for four runs through gully, chipped the next ball straight to Mitchell Marsh at square leg. Fellow opener Rahul got a nasty hit on the wrist from a Hazlewood ball that rose sharply off a good length, but after treatment he was able to continue.

Should the Test culminate in a draw due to rain, the series will remain level at 1-1 with two matches left. In this scenario, India would need to win both remaining Tests to secure direct qualification for the WTC Final in June, where they are likely to face South Africa.