Australia have fought their way to a modest first innings total of 263 in Delhi as India appeared in control of the crucial second Test.
Resilient knocks from Usman Khawaja (81) and Peter Handscomb (72 no) helped Australia build more of a platform than in Nagpur last week, when they capitulated to an innings and 132-run defeat.
Australia would have hoped for a higher score but the total was perhaps better than expected after they'd slumped to 3-91 and 6-168 with a long tail.
Mini collapses of 2-0, 2-1 and 2-0 halted any Australian aspirations of building a commanding, after Pat Cummins won his eighth-straight toss.
Australia have made some bold and at times puzzling selections already in this Border-Gavaskar series, but they are already vindicated by the decision to recall Handscomb.
The Victorian delivered one of his finest performances in a baggy green by thwarting India's imposing attack at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Handscomb combined for a 61-run fifth-wicket stand with star opener Usman Khawaja as the pair appeared to turn the momentum in Australia's favour.
But after losing 2-0 in three balls in the first session, Australia lost 2-1 soon before the tea break as Alex Carey was dismissed without scoring.
It was first Test stars Ravichandran Ashwin (3-57) and Ravi Jadeja (3-68) who landed the important blows by taking the prized scalps of Marnus Labuschange and Steve Smith.
Khawaja's enterprising knock came to an end in stunning fashion, with India opener KL Rahul hanging onto a diving, mid-air catch as the home crowd erupted as the 36-year-old finished 19 runs short of a famous century.
The left-hander rode his luck in brilliant fashion to notch Australia's first fifty of the series, surviving some loud shouts from India's spinners and quicks alike.
Khawaja's opening partner David Warner fell for 15 to end a torturous innings where he was hit on the helmet and elbow in separate incidents.
Australia were rolled for 177 on day one of the first Test after winning the toss, and then crumbled for 91 - their lowest Test total in India - in their second innings to lose inside three days.
Cummins is Australia's only recognised quick as the tourists opted to give Queensland spinner Matt Kuhnemann a Test debut.
Kuhnemann was playing Sheffield Shield less than a week ago, but will play as a third spinner alongside first Test sensation Todd Murphy and veteran Nathan Lyon after being called into the squad to replace Queensland teammate Mitchell Swepson.
The last time Australia picked three spinners was against Bangladesh in 2017 when Lyon, Ashton Agar and Steve O'Keefe played, as well as allrounder Glenn Maxwell.
Miserly Victorian quick Scott Boland dropped out for Kuhnemann after playing an important role in Nagpur last week.
The hosts made just one change, with fit-again Shreyas Iyer replacing Suryakumar Yadav at No.5
© AAP 2023