India manufactured some early inroads into Australia's batting line-up but face an uphill battle to escape with a draw with the home side still on top at stumps on day three of the fourth Vodafone Test at Adelaide Oval.
After being rolled for 272 in response to the home side's 7-604 declared, India were sent back into the field as Australia skipper Michael Clarke declined to enforce the follow-on and the visitors struck early, taking 3-1 in the space of 11 balls late in the day as the Aussies went into the sheds at 3-50.
David Warner started in aggressive fashion before being sent on his way for 28 after he chipped a low return catch to off-spinner R Ashwin, who finally got some purchase from the pitch as he took the new ball with Zaheer Khan.
Warner's dismissal brought out-of-form Shaun Marsh to the crease and the besieged No.3's nightmarish summer continued when he was adjudged lbw to Zaheer for a fourth-ball duck.
Marsh finished the series with a mere 17 runs at a woeful average of 2.83. His career average - over 50 before this series - has plummeted to 27.36 and he must be at extraordinarily long odds to be named in Australia's Test squad for their upcoming tour of the West Indies.
The following over Ed Cowan (10) shuffled across his crease and was given out leg before to Ashwin (2-22), Australia flopping from 0-39 to 3-40.
First innings heroes Clarke (nine not out) and Ricky Ponting (one not out) will look to restore order when they resume tomorrow and aim to set India an improbable fourth-innings target, the home side's lead currently standing at 382.
It was an Australia Day to remember for Peter Siddle, who snared a superb 5-49 in conditions unsuited to the pacemen.
The Victorian's lion-hearted efforts overshadowed a superb knock from Virat Kohli, who was last man out after stroking a fine 116.
It was Kohli's first Test century and, amazingly, the only individual ton scored by the tourists in seven completed innings this series.
On 91, the talented youngster survived a big shout for lbw off a Ryan Harris ball but replays showed the angle of the ball would have taken it just past leg.
Drama unfolded the following over as Siddle trapped a shuffling Ashwin in front for five.
The very next ball, incoming batsman Zaheer Khan showed little regard for the match situation or his partner's pending milestone when he swung wildly and edged the big-hearted Victorian speedster to Brad Haddin for a catch behind for a golden duck.
It was the vastly-improved Siddle's well-deserved fifth wicket of the innings, his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests.
Ishant Sharma blocked out the hat-trick ball, before Siddle took his position at fine leg in front of the faithful on the Adelaide Oval hill, who afforded him rapturous roars of approval.
On 99, Kohli, fast running out of partners, almost gave it all away when he flashed at a couple of testing Siddle offerings outside off-stump before almost being run out as he desperately wanted a single off the last ball of the over when he set off after dropping one in front of point.
He had to turn back quickly and dive back in his crease, but a direct hit would have sealed his fate.
Kohli overcame his momentary jitters and brought up his ton with a push for two through the covers, the 23-year-old celebrating with a mid-pitch leap and a kiss of the helmet.
Tempers became frayed in the middle as Sharma and Kohli pepped up at the Aussies.
Sharma (16) provided steady support before Ben Hilfenhaus clipped the top of his off-stump.
Kohli was last to go after missing a Hilfenhaus full-toss and being trapped lbw for a marvellous lone hand of 116 off 213 balls.
Despite Kohli's knock and the early strikes from Ashwin and Zaheer, the Australians are well and truly on top and only something extraordinary can prevent them marching to a 4-0 series sweep.
