Chasing a rare win on Australian soil, India went to lunch at 108-2 requiring another 122 runs with eight wickets in hand.
At the crease were Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar on identical scores of 17; the former in supreme form and the latter struggling with the burden of expectation.
This morning Jason Gillespie trapped Akash Chopra (10) plumb in front to draw first blood. Stuart MacGill had Virender Sehwag stumped for 47 with the score reading 79-2.
With temperatures topping 38 degrees Celsius, forcing the first drinks break to be taken with only nine overs being bowled, the Australians suffered a setback when Gillespie walked off the field midway through his over with a right side groin strain.
Adam Gilchrist grassed Dravid with the score on 73-1 off Brad Williams in the 23rd over.
History is, however, against India with a visiting team topping 200 in the fourth innings only eight times to win a Test in Australia.
But history has never bothered this Indian team, which could become the first side ever to win a Test after conceding 500 runs in the first innings.