Kohli looms as key man on final day

India's provocateur Virat Kohli looms as the key man on the final day of this third Commonwealth Bank Test as the tourists seek what would be a record-breaking victory at the MCG.

Australia finished day four at 7-261, a lead of 326, with 96 overs scheduled for today after only 77.3 overs were bowled yesterday due to a rain delay in the afternoon session.

The elements are expected to be a factor again today, with the weather bureau forecasting a 50 per cent chance of light showers in the morning and early afternoon.

The possibility of rain, and the threat of the in-form Kohli, will weigh heavily on the mind of Australia's captain Steve Smith as he weighs up a possible declaration.

One thing in Smith's favour is the current series scoreline; Australia lead 2-0, meaning they only need to draw the match to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with one Test to play.

It's too early in Smith's captaincy career to use precedent to predict when and if a declaration will come. But coach Darren Lehmann regularly preaches a mantra of attacking and positive cricket, leaving open the possibility that the rookie skipper will set India a tempting victory target early on the fifth day.

But opener David Warner hinted that a declaration on their overnight score was unlikely.

"I think we need a few more runs than what we've got on the board at the moment," Warner said.

"It's still a very good batting wicket, I think. The ball's coming on nicely, there's not much sideways movement with the new ball.

"I think as the ball gets older and a little bit softer there's a bit of reverse swing, as we saw late in the day today.

"I think that's probably going to be the key when we take the field with the ball; to try and get that ball going a little bit and obviously dry up the runs and get 10 opportunities.

"I think that's the way that we're going to try and win the game.

"Obviously the new ball's crucial and we'll try and make the most of it. There's going to be extra zip with the new ball (but) I don't think there's going to be sideways movement at all.

"Depending on the weather there might be a little bit of swing if it's a bit overcast, but I don't think that's likely."

Along with the in-form Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, and damaging one-day batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and MS Dhoni, the biggest factor on day five will be Kohli, one of the world's premier 50-over players, who would fancy himself to steer his side home no matter how daunting the chase.

The Indian's record in ODI cricket in exceptional; he has 21 centuries, 33 fifties and an average in excess of 50.

Fourteen of those centuries have come in run chases - 13 of which have resulted in victories - and his second-innings average of 64.26 underlines his ability to pace his innings when chasing down a total.

India’s average victory target in those 13 matches has been a touch over 290, and includes successful pursuits of 360 and 351 against Australia in October last year.

Kohli came within inches of guiding India to a record-breaking chase in the first Test in Adelaide, hitting 141 as the tourists fell 49 runs short of their victory target of 364.

India were 2-242 at one stage on the final day but lost their final eight wickets for 73 as the Aussies claimed a 1-0 series lead.

"We saw in the Adelaide Test how well they fought there," Warner said.

"Luckily we got the breakthrough because it could have been a different story; they would have went 1-0 up.

"We know what their batting line-up is like.

"Kohli and Rahane put on a great partnership together (on day three).

"They had their luck but they went on with it and got big scores and that's in the back of our minds.

"We know the positive brand of cricket that they're playing now and we've got to come out with the ball when we have our opportunity to either dry it up or try and take those 10 wickets."

If Australia's innings closes early in the morning session - either through a declaration or the loss of their final three wickets - India will likely be set an all-time record run chase at the MCG, with the current mark of 7-332 set by England way back in the summer of 1928-29.

But most of the long history of run-chases at the MCG is largely irrelevant as the ground has used drop-in pitches since 2000.

The 14 Tests since then have yielded a mixed bag of fourth-innings totals; six teams have been dismissed for less than 200 in the final innings, with Australia's 258 against England in 2010 the highest fourth-innings total in that time.

There have been six successful run-chases, including Australia's 2-231 against England last year, South Africa's 1-183 in 2008 and Australia's 1-127 in 2004.

Needing a victory to keep the series alive, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said India would go for the win.

"Any score on the final day is going to be tricky," Ashwin said.

"It's going to be hard work, but we're up for it. We're here to win games of cricket. We'll be positive and try and see where we can go."