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Steve Smith led from the front as Australia fought back on day two, but India feel well placed to push for a maiden Test win at the Gabba.
Smith put on a 87-run partnership with Shaun Marsh in Brisbane, with Australia 4-221 at stumps on Thursday night.
The hosts scored freely and quickly after bowling India out for 408, when lunch was taken.
FOLLOW LIVE CRICKET SCORES OF DAY THREE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND INDIA
Smith is 65 not out, but offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin is confident the tourists will curtail his captain’s knock.
“We are in front of the game at this point of time,” Ashwin said.
“If we can get a couple of wickets tomorrow morning, we’re right in front.
“I still fancy myself to get him (Smith) out tomorrow morning.”
India have never won at the Gabba in five attempts, while Australia have not lost a Test at the venue since 1988.
But if Smith is dismissed early on Friday and India build a big first-innings lead, the tourists will feel confident about their chances of causing an upset.
Australia started the third session in need of a steady hand, having been reduced to 3-121.
Smith, leading the side for the first time in the absence of hamstrung skipper Michael Clarke, delivered exactly what the situation called for.
The 25-year-old was relatively cautious early in his innings, but went on the attack just as Ashwin looked to be on top of their battle.
Smith danced down the wicket against Ashwin, helping himself to 16 runs from one over.
“Using the feet is going to be much easier on these kind of wickets,” Ashwin said.
“I still kept throwing the ball up .. but it’s not about Steve Smith or any names here. It’s about quick wickets tomorrow.”
Earlier on Thursday, Josh Hazlewood became the 33rd Australian to snare a five-wicket haul on Test debut.
Hazlewood described it as a typical Gabba wicket – batting was both hard and easy.
“If you bowl well you can take wickets and if you bowl poorly the boundaries stack up,” Hazlewood said.
“It’s a tough wicket to bat on to start with … but once the batter gets in they can really cash in.”
India’s innings ended with a collapse of 6-87.
Hazlewood was unable to bowl late on day one due to whole-body cramps, but swung the ball well on day two to remove Ajinkya Rahane, Ashwin and MS Dhoni.
Shaun Marsh was dropped on 32 when Rahane fumbled a regulation skied catch, but he failed to add a single run after the reprieve.
Marsh provided a sharp edge to Ashwin two overs later when he slashed at a wide ball from Umesh Yadav.
Yadav finished the pick of India’s bowlers, boasting figures of 3-48.
Mitch Marsh, who strained his hamstring on day one, batted in discomfort and was seven not out when umpires called stumps due to bad light.
David Warner (29), Shane Watson (25) and Chris Rogers (55) all fell after making boundary-laden starts.
Warner and Rogers had attacked the new ball beautifully, with Ishant Sharma’s three-over spell costing 26 runs.
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