Two wickets from Umesh Yadav and one from Ravichandran Ashwin helped India reduce Australia to 121 for three at tea on day two of the second Test at the Gabba here Thursday.
Australia came out all guns blazing with last match's centurion in both innings David Warner (29) once again looking dangerous.
The hosts got off to a quick start, reaching 47 for no loss as Warner peppered the boundaries with some aggressive batting.
But a leading edge proved to be the downfall for the left-handed, giving India some reprieve.
Shane Watson (25) and opener Chris Rogers (55) were in no mood to hand the initiative back to India and took on the bowlers.
The duo shared a 51-run stand for the second wicket and scored at a fair clip, threatening to take the game away from the visitors.
But an overzealous Watson tried to take on Ashwin and was caught brilliantly by Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on.
Rogers kept the scoreboard ticking and was joined by new captain Steven Smith (batting 6), forged a 23-run stand before gloving an Umesh Yadav delivery down the leg side to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Earlier, a fifer for debutant pacer Josh Hazlewood helped Australia bowl out India for 408 at the stroke of lunch.
India, who were in the driving seat at stumps on day one, added 97 runs more runs to their overnight score but lost six wickets in the process.
The visitors were put on the back foot almost immediately with Ajinkya Rahane (81) being dismissed in the third over of the day. His overnight partner Rohit Sharma (32) didn't survive much longer either and was sent packing six overs later.
After adding just 17 runs, India had lost both their overnight batsmen and had relinquished their strong position.
A 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket between captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) and Ravichandran Ashwin (35) stabilised the situation for India. But Ashwin's wicket once again opened the floodgates as the visitors surrendered rather meekly in the end.
Dhoni looked good for a while but edged a Hazlewood delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin while trying to leave the ball.
India's tail failed to put up a fight and fell without much trouble for the Australian bowlers.
