Veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fell cheaply Monday as India were reduced to 33-3 at lunch, leaving Australia two sessions to wrap up a victory in the fourth Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An unrelenting Pat Cummins took 2-10 off nine overs, removing Rohit for nine and KL Rahul for a duck in quick succession on the fifth morning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India's hopes of reaching their target of 340 then suffered a further blow when Kohli departed off the final ball before the interval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohil had scored just five when he tried to drive a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc and edged to Usman Khawaja at first slip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was 14 not out at the break after grinding for 83 balls, with India's run rate reduced to a stagnant 1.26 by accurate Australian bowling.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India need a record fourth-innings Melbourne run chase of 340 to go 2-1 up in the series, after Australia posted 234 in their second innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
More likely they will need to bat out the rest of the day to salvage a draw and keep the series locked at 1-1 going into Sydney's final Test, which begins on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia captain Cummins continued a brilliant all-round Test, after scoring 49 and 41 with that bat, by making a double breakthrough in the 17th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opposing skipper Rohit had batted with discipline but fell when attempting an aggressive whip across the line that flew quickly to Mitchell Marsh at gully.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The out-of-form Rohit has failed to go past 10 in three Tests after missing the opener in Perth for the birth of his second child.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India were 25-1 at that stage and it quickly became 25-2 as Rahul fell five balls later, snicking a rising Cummins delivery to Khawaja at first slip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Australia's stubborn final-wicket stand of 61 was finally broken 10 balls into the day when Nathan Lyon was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for 41.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Last man Scott Boland scored a dogged not out on 15 off 74 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marnus Labuschagne top scored for the home side on Sunday with 70, helping to revive an innings that was faltering at 91-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n