India close in on victory

A depleted Indian attack shrugged off an injury to paceman Umesh Yadav to rout Australia's batsmen and give themselves a platform for a series-levelling victory on day three of the second test on Monday.

With Umesh lost to a calf strain after lunch, spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja chipped in two wickets and seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj took one apiece to leave Australia 133 for six at stumps, clinging to a lead of two runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Ajinkya Rahane paid tribute to his bowlers but said there was work still to be done. "The bowlers bowled really well and bowled in the right areas. We still got four wickets to go, the game is not over yet," he told broadcasters.

The Australia batting that failed to reach 200 in the two previous completed innings of this series lurched further into crisis today to be 6-133 and, with fine weather forecast for Melbourne over the remaining two days, in need of another Adelaide-like miracle to prevent India levelling the battle 1-1.

Leading the side just days after a humiliating defeat in the series-opener at Adelaide Oval, Rahane earned praise from the cricket fraternity for the manner in which he handled his bowlers and his field placements at Melbourne.

"Captaincy is all about backing your instinct. You've got to back your gut feeling. Credit to the bowlers, they bowled in the right areas," he added.

India, anchored by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane's inspirational century on day two, were bowled out for 326 before lunch in reply to Australia's first innings 195.

"It was really special. Getting a century always is. Still feel that my hundred against England at Lord's is my best," Rahane said after the day's play.

The unassuming Indian entered the Lord's Honours Board when he struck an elegant 103 off 154 balls during the Indian team's tour of England in 2014.

India's batsmen are highly unlikely to produce another Adelaide-style horror show where they dismissed for 36.