PIX: Australia in control after India's collapse and rain delay

Images from Day 3 of the third Test between Australia and India at The Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.

• Scorecard

India laboured to 51 for 4 as Australia put themselves in the drivers seat on a rain-marred day three of the third Test at the Gabba, in Brisbane on Monday.

After Australia ended their first innings at 445, India's top order flattered to deceive, throwing away their wickets to end the day at a precarious position.

Rain hung around Brisbane for the most part of the day, and in the end, play was officially called off after the sixth interruption. India need to reach 246 to avoid follow-on. The visitors trail by 394 runs.

Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins removed Rishabh Pant during a rare break in the rain on day three of the third Test against India but the poor weather returned to halt the hosts' charge.

India were reeling on 48/4, trailing Australia's first-innings total by 397 runs, as another downpour brought tea early at the Gabba.

Opener K L Rahul was unbeaten on 30 with India skipper Rohit Sharma yet to score.

Australia's bowlers could send down only 14.1 overs after being bowled out for 445 in the morning but paceman Cummins did well to have Pant caught behind for nine in the first over following a rain break.

Starc struck in the first over of the innings when Yashasvi Jaiswal flicked a full delivery straight to Mitchell Marsh at short midwicket to be dismissed for four. Shubman Gill played a loose shot, chasing a wide delivery only to be caught by Marsh at gully for one.

Virat Kohli's woeful run with the bat continued as he was caught behind for three off Josh Hazlewood before rain prevented any further play in the morning session.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah (6/76) did the heavy lifting as Australia added 40 runs to their overnight score of 405 for seven. Carey played a fine innings of 70 before he was the last wicket to fall.

Resuming on 45, Carey swept a Ravindra Jadeja delivery for a boundary towards fine-leg to race to his half-century off just 53 balls.

Mitchell Starc took the attack to Jadeja, heaving the spinner for a six over square leg. For someone who is known for keeping one end tight with his accurate bowling, Jadeja was going at five runs an over, and the seasoned left-arm spinner's profligacy put additional burden on a strained pace attack.

The surface at Gabba offered a bit of turn and bounce but Jadeja was guilty of bowling too straight to the left-handers.

Showing intent to score his runs quickly, Starc hit Bumrah over midwicket for a boundary, but four balls later, the Indian pace spearhead induced a faint edge from the blade of the left-arm fast bowler and it went through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

It was Bumrah's sixth wicket of the innings, 18th of the series and 50th on Australian shores.

A passing shower interrupted the proceedings for a brief while and once play resumed, Mohammed Siraj bowled Nathan Lyon after he played down the wrong line.

Akas Deep, who bowled well on the second day, was finally rewarded for his toil as he had Carey caught in the deep to end Australian first innings.

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