Ryno laments 'disappointing' fielding

The best and worst of Australia's fielding was on display on the third day of this third Commonwealth Bank Test at the MCG.

On a day that was book-ended by two sensational diving catches by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, the Aussies put down three clear chances as India piled on the runs, with Virat Kohli (169) and Ajinkya Rahane (147) the beneficiaries of Australia's butterfingers.

Fast-bowler Ryan Harris, who finished the day with 4-69 having scored 74 with the bat yesterday, said the dropped catches could have put Australia in firm control of a match that is delicately poised after three days.

"That's probably the disappointing thing of the day. If we'd have taken our chances, it could have been totally different," Harris said.

"We've obviously got pretty high standards with our fielding.

"No one means to drop catches, but that was well below standard today.

"You can't give batsmen like Rahane and Kohli second chances because they'll do what they did today."

The day started brightly for the Aussies, with Haddin continuing his excellent series with the gloves by diving in front of Shane Watson at first slip from the second ball of the morning to grab an edge from Cheteshwar Pujara in the webbing of his right glove.

The catch would have come with an added sense of relief for Haddin, who misjudged and dropped an edge from Pujara the previous evening.

But the partnership between Kohli and Rahane, a MCG fourth-wicket record of 262, was allowed to flourish when both batsmen were given a life in the second session.

Rahane was the first to have a stroke of good fortune when Nathan Lyon dropped a return catch when the Indian was on 70.

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It was a rare blemish for Lyon, normally an accomplished fielder, who let the ball burst through his hands having lured Rahane into a lofted straight drive.

Kohli was the next to be let off the hook on 88, with Watson spilling a chance low down to his left at first slip off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

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The right-hander had another stroke of luck in Johnson's following over when his top-edged pull shot landed safely at backward square leg, just out of the reach of the fast-approaching Haddin.

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Debutant Lokesh Rahul was also let off the hook when he was on three, with reserve fielder Peter Siddle spilling a chance backpedalling at mid-wicket off Lyon's bowling.

Thankfully for the Australians, Siddle's drop didn't cost them as much as the earlier blunders did - Rahul was dismissed the very next ball.

The day ended much like it started, with Haddin taking another brilliant diving catch to dismiss Kohli on the final ball of the day.

The 37-year-old again launched himself in front of Watson to pluck the ball in his right glove, an almost exact replica of his catch in the first over of the morning.

Harris himself also took a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Ravichandran Ashwin for 0, with the quick sticking out his right hand before holding the ball to his chest on the rebound.

Kohli said it was unusual to see the home side miss so many chances.

"They have set for high standards in the field and today was surprising to see them drop three catches and have so many misfields and easy singles for us," Kohli said.

"I don't remember the last time I've seen them being inconsistent in the field.

"They've got very high standards with slip catching and in the field.

"It might just be one of those off days for them, but in general they do have very high standards as far as fielding is concerned."