Australia's fast bowlers shattered India's top order on Friday, placing the hosts in command of the fourth Test after setting a formidable first-innings target, supported by Steve Smith's 34th Test century.
India closed day two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 164-5, trailing by 310 runs after Australia posted 474 shortly after lunch, anchored by Smith's stylish 140.
Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on six, while Ravindra Jadeja stood on four. Three late wickets in the final half-hour halted India's momentum, which had built to 153-2 earlier in the day. Scott Boland and Pat Cummins took two wickets each.
Skipper Rohit Sharma resumed his role as opener after batting lower down the order in the previous two Tests. However, his poor form persisted, and he fell for three, mistiming a pull shot off Cummins to Boland at mid-on.
Cummins struck again to dismiss KL Rahul for 24 with the last ball before tea, clean bowling the in-form batsman.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal offered resistance with a fluent 82, showcasing impressive footwork and boundary play. The 22-year-old, who scored 161 in the first Test, seemed set for another century but fell victim to a mix-up with Virat Kohli during a quick single, ending a promising 102-run partnership.
Kohli, fined 20 percent of his match fee for a day-one shoulder charge on debutant Sam Konstas, edged Boland behind for 36. Boland later dismissed nightwatchman Akash Deep without scoring.
Australia resumed on 311-6 and added 163 runs, spearheaded by Smith's composed innings, which featured 13 fours and three sixes.
Smith, resuming on 68, accelerated alongside Cummins, who contributed 49 in a 112-run stand before falling to Jadeja. Smith reached his 34th century with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy, following his 101 in the previous Test.
Smith's milestone placed him among legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, with only six batsmen having more centuries, led by Sachin Tendulkar's 51.
After Smith’s dismissal in bizarre fashion—dragging a ball from Akash Deep onto his stumps—Jadeja removed Mitchell Starc for 15. Nathan Lyon was the final wicket to fall, lbw to Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed 4-99.
The five-match series stood level at 1-1 after India's 295-run win in Perth and Australia's 10-wicket triumph in Adelaide, while the rain-hit third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw.
