Australia have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series against India, with the third Test drawn at the MCG.

Needing only a draw to win the series, Steve Smith declared at lunch on day five and asked the tourists to attempt a record run-chase of 384 runs in two sessions at the MCG.

India slumped to 3-19 in response and the four-Test series was essentially decided.

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The victory India needed to keep the series alive, which would have set a new mark for successful Test run-chases at the MCG, was never going to eventuate.

It became a question of a draw or Australian victory, but the tourists held their nerve to be 6-174 on Tuesday when the captains agreed to end the game with four overs remaining.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane did the bulk of the stonewalling, their fourth-wicket stand lasting 26 overs and 85 runs.

Kohli fell the first ball after tea for 54, while a sensational delivery from Mitchell Johnson turned sharply to kiss the top of off stump and dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara.

The stage was set for a thrilling finish when a mistimed pull shot ended Rahane’s 199 minutes of resistance, with the hosts needing four wickets in 15 overs.

Edges popped up here and there in the final hour, including one that Shane Watson dropped at first slip, but MS Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin were unbeaten at stumps.

“In my mind, Australia batted too long,” Shane Warne said during the first session, while calling the game for the Nine Network.

The hosts will curse their fielding on days three and five, when too many chances went begging.

India’s initial collapse on Tuesday could easily have been worse, with Kohli almost run out on four after a mix-up with Murali Vijay in the fifth over.

David Warner’s return was wide of Brad Haddin, prompting another heated exchange between Kohli and the wicketkeeper.

Chris Rogers dropped a catch at point when Rahane was on 22 and lashed at a wide ball from Johnson.

Nathan Lyon fumbled a return at the bowler’s end in the final over before tea, with replays suggesting Kohli could have been run out. He did not add to his score after the break.

Kohli and Rahane both got off the mark with pulled boundaries, refusing to curb their natural aggression after Shikhar Dhawan, debutant KL Rahul and Vijay all fell cheaply.

There was no vitriolic send-off for Kohli, who was booed to the crease by some sections of the MCG crowd and has had numerous clashes with Australia throughout the series.

But umpire Kumar Dharmasena had a word with Smith and David Warner soon after, as ill-feeling between the sides continued to bubble.

Earlier Shaun Marsh was run out on 99, falling centimetres short of his first Test century on home soil.

Two rain delays didn’t help the situation, but neither side had much interest in pushing the game along during a stop-start morning session.

Dhoni refused to take the second new ball, while he put men on the fence and at times didn’t have a single slip in place on Tuesday.

Two rain delays didn’t help the situation, but neither side had much interest in pushing the game along in a stop-start morning session.

That was until Marsh teed off late, taking 12 runs off one over from India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

AAP