Earlier, Smith more than doubled his overnight total of 68 to record his seventh-highest score in Australia and best since a knock of 200 not out against the West Indies in Perth two summers ago.

There was a period when Smith’s 10,000 Test run looked to be in reach. He began his innings needing 191 to emulate a feat achieved by only three Australians: Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

It wasn’t to be, but if Smith can make 51 runs in his next four innings he will become the fifth fastest in history to reach the magic five-figure mark.

Not since the 2019 Ashes has Smith made hundreds in consecutive Tests in the same series.

Smith’s century in Brisbane was scratchy as he tinkered with his technique on the run and found strength from simply surviving.

On Friday, there was a thick outside edge off Jasprit Bumrah that took him from 70 to 74. Next over, an unperturbed Smith walked down the pitch at Akash Deep and crunched a glorious square drive for a boundary.

It was a shot with minimal foot movement to a ball well outside the off stump, but the speed of Smith’s hands and impeccable timing was evidence enough to demonstrate that the 35-year-old still has a few good years left.

Smith now has 264 runs for the series – second to Travis Head (409) on the list of Australian runscorers – at an average of 44, having been caught twice down the leg side.

He brought up his 11th hundred against India and 34th in Tests with a delightful cover drive that pierced the infield perfectly.

Only six players have more Test hundreds – Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), Joe Root (36) and Rahul Dravid (36).

Sam Konstas didn’t bat or bowl on Friday, but the TV cameras still followed the 19-year-old sensation all day. As Smith and Cummins brought up Australia’s first seventh-wicket partnership of more than 100 runs in eight years, broadcasters wanted constant shots of Konstas in the dugout, the day after his stunning 60 on debut.

Boasting an extra 100,000 Instagram followers, Konstas was humbled when he misfielded a ball early in India’s innings.

The nerves had subsided by the final session as Konstas stretched his arms on the boundary line and had sun-kissed fans imitating him like he was Merv Hughes in the 1980s.

As Nathan Lyon walked in to bowl at Kohli, Konstas clapped above his head to get spectators going in Bay 13. Energy was high all day.

Australia went wicketless for 26 overs late in the day before the three dramatic late wickets swung the match.