Melbourne/IBNS: Nitish Reddy's stoic batting and an appropriate support from the other end by Washington Sundar helped India to fight back against Australia in the Boxing Day Test at MCG in Melbourne on Saturday.

Reddy, who had scored 40s earlier in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, slammed his maiden Test fifty and extended his innings to go past 80.

At tea, which was called after play was stopped due to rain, India scored 326-7 with Reddy remaining unbeaten at 85 from 119 balls while Sundar was at the crease with his 40.

Though the duo have managed to rescue India from a disaster, Reddy and Sundar are well aware that their job is far from being over against Australia's mighty 474.

The only two wickets India lost on the day were in the form of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja.

Pant, who was batting at 28, drew flak from several corners for getting dismissed in a bid to play his trademark unorthodox shot at a time India were staring at a follow-on.

"Stupid, stupid, STUPID... That is throwing away your wicket... Not in the situation India was. You have to understand the situation as well. You cannot say that that's your natural game. I'm sorry. That is not your natural game. That is a stupid shot. That is letting your team down badly," remarked former cricket great Sunil Gavaskar, who was infuriated at the commentary box.

India's young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal earlier hit a remarkable 82 from 118 balls.

His runout dismissal in a misunderstanding with Virat Kohli had dampened India's hope for a big score.

Jaiswal, who was batting at 82, pushed the ball to mid-on for a quick run but Kohli's refusal led Australia's Pat Cummins to dismiss the southpaw at the striker-end.

The southpaw, who walked back to the pavilion in utter dismay, added with Kohli 102 runs for the third wicket after India lost skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early.

Kohli, who looked composed and played his vintage shots in the middle, soon followed Jaiswal to the pavilion edging an off-stump ball bowled by Scott Boland.

The former India captain, whose current Australian tour has so far remained dull except a ton in Perth, walked back scoring a solid 36 from 86 balls.

A massive hundred by Steven Smith powered Australia to 474 in the first innings of the fourth Test against India.

Smith, who scored 140 from 197 balls, steered Australia's innings in the first session on day two along with skipper Pat Cummins, who slammed 49.

Until he was dismissed cheaply post lunch, Smith, who has a superb record at MCG, hit 13 fours and three sixes offering more worries for the tourists.

India's vice-captain and pace bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah maintained his dominance even after a spell which went all wrong to 19-year-old Aussie debutant Sam Konstas on day 1.

The world's best bowler clinched four wickets for 99 runs while he was supported by allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who picked three including the Aussie skipper's vital wicket this morning.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy is evenly balanced 1-1.