India’s high-profile batters were once again bamboozled by Hazlewood (1-17 from five), Starc (2-25 from eight) and Cummins (1-7 from two) on the middle day of a five-Test series that is locked at 1-1.

The visitors slumped to 2-6 when Mitch Marsh took back-to-back catches – first at forward square leg and then a spectacular grab at gully – to help Starc remove Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) and Shubman Gill (1).

Starc shot a knowing glance at Jaiswal, who had taunted the Australian paceman in Perth about bowling too slow. Since then, a golden duck at Adelaide has dented the confidence of Jaiswal, who has learnt just how hard success can be in Australia.

Warming up near the boundary before going out, Jaiswal clipped a ball off his pads along the ground that hit Cricket Australia’s video guru Tama Stockley in the ankle. The young batter immediately apologised, but the ball was also whacked towards Australian players, who looked unimpressed.

With Pant also back in the sheds after edging Pat Cummins through to Carey for nine, Australia require another 16 wickets for victory, provided India do not mount a major comeback.

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By late in the afternoon, Nathan Lyon had bowled just six balls across the previous 22 days. He sent down another over before players left the Gabba field for the eighth time of the day.

Earlier, Australia had added important late runs courtesy of Alex Carey (70) and Starc (20) to register their highest total since the 487 they made against Pakistan in Perth last year.

Up to 50 millimetres of rain could fall across Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving Australia with precious little time to take the remaining wickets.