Debutant spinner Todd Murphy's heroics are keeping Australia in the first Test, but India captain Rohit Sharma's brilliant century has helped the hosts establish a 144-run lead in Nagpur.
After just seven first-class matches, Murphy became the 35th Australian to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut, leading the team off the field with figures of 5-82.
It was the only glimmer of hope for Australia though, as Sharma's sensational ton on a tricky VCA Stadium pitch — his ninth Test century and first as skipper — led India past Australia's first innings score and on its way to a formidable total.
He was eventually dismissed for 120, bowled by his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins with the second new ball.
India went to stumps on day two at 7-321, with Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 66 and Axar Patel 52 not out.
After India appeared to be racing towards building an unassailable lead, Murphy struck with the first four wickets of the home side's innings.
The bespectacled 22-year-old dismissed nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin (23) and prolific number three Cheteshwar Pujara (7) before lunch, following on from removing KL Rahul (20) late on day one.
But Murphy, or his family who flew over to India just two days ago, will never forget his first ball after lunch.
The Victorian, who was picked after just seven first-class matches, dismissed Virat Kohli, India's former captain and one of the finest batters of all-time.
Wicketkepper Alex Carey hung onto a tough chance after fumbling the ball and Kohli was out for just 12.
Veteran Nathan Lyon bowled India's Twenty20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav (8) as India limped to 5-168.
But the experience of Sharma and Jadeja allowed them to combine for a crucial 58-run stand.
Sharma fell as India's sixth wicket, before Murphy took the wicket of KS Bharat (8).
There was little Australia could do against Jadeja and Axar though, who put on 82 together to firmly take control of the contest.
AAP/ABC
Look back at how the action unfolded in our day-two blog.
Key events
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Live updates
Ok, thanks for being with us today
By Simon Smale
We'll wrap things up here.
Thanks again for being with me and persevering with another tough day for Australia in the field.
Tomorrow is a new day, but if Australia don't bat well, it will be the last day in Nagpur.
India leads by 144 - and that's a very, very good lead to have at this stage.
Catch you tomorrow.
There is still time to turn this around
By Simon Smale
sigh. Another series of hope in India. Another disappointment. (I'll try not to give up hope, but it's pretty hard!)
- Steph in Melbourne
I mean, not this match you wouldn't have thought, but it's going to be a long tour.
Let's not write Australia off just yet.
Stumps: India 7-321 (Jadeja 66, Axar 52), lead by 144
By Simon Smale
OK, well Australia are really up against it now.
A deficit of 144 - and counting - could be far too much on this pitch, especially with the threat of those left arm spinners probing the rough.
Australia has not had the best day, despite persevering and never letting their heads drop.
However, that missed chance from Smith right at the death - one of a couple he dropped in that innings - simply have to be taken if Australia wants to win.
India will praise Jadeja and Axar for their super partnership of 81 for the eighth wicket.
There were moments for Australia, but Todd Murphy's maiden five-fa was the only bright spot and will not mask what has been a torrid day for the tourists.
114th over - Nathan Lyon to bowl the last of the day
By Simon Smale
The lead is 144.
Axar Patel is standing miles off the pitch to the left of Nathan Lyon, almost where a runner used to stand when they were allowed.
Lyon is coming around the wicket.
There's a silly mid on and one slip in place.
Jadeja is being watchful - he seems happy to face up the last over of the day, with shadows patterning the pitch.
DROPPED IT! Oh no! Another edge flies to Steve Smith and he bobbled it in the air, it hit him on the body as he fell, and then it hit the ground. Would have been a good catch but again, Smith has high standards and he's let another fall short there.
Frustration.
Lyon bowls the last and Jadeja defends it.
113th over - Murphy to bowl another
By Simon Smale
Axar defends the first.
He square drives to cover point for no run next up, again that positivity showing through.
Axar defends the next ball as Murphy probes again.
Silly mid off comes in, Axar fends it past him.
Murphy is getting some advice from Nathan Lyon as he comes in again, this time the silly mid off is at second slip as Axar defends.
A maiden, Murphy's ninth from 36 overs.
112th over - Matt Renshaw comes in for the first time
By Simon Smale
OK then, cupboard is officially bare.
He had a knee injury yesterday, but is now bowling his fifth Test match over.
He does have 11 first class wickets to be fair, a best of 3/29.
Looping balls that are a bit too full, close to full tosses early on to concede a few singles - one of which would have been four but for an excellent stop by Cummins at mid off.
FOUR! Another full toss brings another boundary.
Fifty for Axar Patel!
By Simon Smale
A single brings Axar a second Test match fifty off 94 balls.
Well played that man - he's really aided and abetted Jadeja in his efforts at extending the lead to a near-unmanageable size.
He's played very well and deserves the accolades.
111th over - Todd Murphy is continuing
By Simon Smale
OK, it seems we're ready to go again.
Jadeja, on 60 from 156 balls, defends.
EDGED! Off Carey's glove and they run a single. Hang on, what, a bye? Nope, there was a thick edge on that.
BANG! That's ripped up off the surface and hit the glove of Axar! Two good balls to start.
110th over - Lyon continues
By Simon Smale
Really silly mid off and a first slip, plus a deep leg gully as well, in position.
Lyon has Axar defending solidly. He's on 49 all of a sudden (when did that happen?) and is close to a second Test half century - after the 52 he scored against New Zealand at the Wankhede.
He won't get it here though, a maiden from Lyon.
He's also now getting a rub of the forearm from the physio - with 17 minutes of play remaining and the shadows extending across the pitch... Hmmm.
While Todd's bowling... here's a stat
By Simon Smale
The quirks of statistics.
109th over - Todd Murphy is back
By Simon Smale
Axar defends down the pitch.
Now he clips to fine leg, Jadeja was half way down the pitch and was sent back, he slowly turned and then had to get his skates on, but he gets home safely.
Murphy is bowling from the sunlight into the shade as the stands extend their shadow over the pitch - might make for some hard batting conditions for seeing the ball.
Not that Axar seems too bothered, defending down the pitch solidly.
Square leg has gone back, but Axar leans back and chops the ball to wide mid off for a single.
That is, bleak
By Simon Smale
I've got a hammer very similar to that - I use it to subdue hope
- Mike
108th over - Lyon comes in once more
By Simon Smale
Two close fielders on the off side.
Axar defends a couple and then punches to long off with a very nice-looking drive down the ground, with a big stride down the pitch.
Jadeja defends.
"Catch it" is the rather optimistic call as Jadeja defends the last to the leg side.
107th over - Marnus to continue
By Simon Smale
FOUR! Full toss right in the strike zone and Axar slams it - baseball style - to deep right field (wide mid on) for a base hit (four).
Marnus does well to dive and safe a four off another lower full toss, and gets a rub on the belly from his skipper as a reward. Well what more could anyone want than that.
Marnus is coming back over the wicket - he had been around, and Axar takes a single.
And now Jadeja takes a couple to end the over.
106th over - Lyon comes in again
By Simon Smale
Jadeja fends to the leg side, then he fends to the off side, both square of the wicket.
BIG puff of dust as Jadeja pushes at a yorker-length delivery.
Lovely flight, lovely drift, but Jadeja is playing Lyon so comfortably at the moment.
That one was closer, the "Ooo's" from the close fielders indicate that was close and it was, the ball keeping low and surprising Jadeja.
The pitch is OK
By Simon Smale
How bad is the pitch deteriorating on the leg side given all the talk (and controversy) about it pre-match? Is it going to be a big factor in Australia's second inning?
- Doc
There is rough outside off for the left handers.
But it's hard to tell how bad it is because Australia's bowlers are not pitching it there - a left arm spinner would probably be able to exploit that.
But with Australia's bowlers, it's hard to tell.
105th over - Marnus Labuschagne to have a second spell
By Simon Smale
Marnus and Cummins are having a chat with umpire Nitin Menon while the batters have a drink.
There are shadows all over the pitch at the moment.
There's a slip in place, and bat pad.
FOUR! Axar guides a beautifully placed cut to third man for a boundary. Not a bad ball, it came in and didn't get up much, there's a bit there for the leggy.
Short, Axar hooks to deep backward square leg for a single.
Marnus has Jadeja forward to a ball that turned into him.
A bit short, Jadeja pushes away and wants a single but turns away from it when he sees he's picked out the fielder.
Now he takes a single.
CLOSE! An inside edge and Axar gets away with that as the ball squirts to square leg.
Not a bad over, all up.
Will Marnus do?
By Simon Smale
Time for Travis Head to bowl. We need a Doug Walters moment
- Jeff
Because he's about to be tried again.
104th over - Captain Cummins comes in again
By Simon Smale
Only the one slip.
Axar is playing positively, even if he is not scoring runs all the time, he's playing a positive defensive stroke with almost every ball he faces.
He's picked out Marnus twice in successive balls with cut shots to point.
FOUR! Edged past the first slip through where a gully might be found with a little cut, Axar gets another boundary. The more you see that shot, the more you can see that's exactly what he wanted to do with it too. Well played.
He slaps a single out to mid on to end the over.
103rd over - Lyon has been turned around
By Simon Smale
Some work being done on the pitch with the hammer.
I thought for a moment that Renshaw was going to have a bowl there, he took his hat off suggestively, but it is Nathan Lyon.
Solid defence from Jadeja.
A maiden by Lyon.
