Captain Steve Smith scored his maiden test century in India as Australia was bowled out for 285 just before lunch on the third day, setting India a record target of 441 runs to win the first test.
The first session Saturday followed a familiar pattern as another six wickets fell on an increasingly treacherous Pune wicket, to go with the 16 wickets which fell on a dramatic day two, which include India crumbling for 105 in its first innings.
Resuming at 143-4, Smith made India pay dearly for three dropped catches on the second day as he combined in useful partnerships with Mitchell Marsh and Matt Wade to leave India in a desperate position to avoid its first home defeat in 20 tests.
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Smith, on 73, again survived a close lbw appeal off Ravindra Jadeja in the 56th over, which television replays later indicated the ball would have struck the stumps. However India had exhausted its two reviews for the innings and the Aussie captain soon after raised his 18th test ton — and fifth hundred in consecutive tests against India dating back to the 2014-15 series — with a drive to backward cover.
Jadeja (3-65) finally captured Smith's wicket when he had the captain trapped lbw in the 75th over for 109, off 202 balls with 11 boundaries.
Smith reviewed the decision but was unsuccessful and departed with Australia leading by 401 runs.
Starc continued where he left off in the first innings, smashing 30 from 31 before holing out to Lokesh Rahul off Ravichandran Ashwin (4-119).
Nathan Lyon continued the quick scoring, including a six off Ashwin which was caught on the boundary by Umesh Yadav but the paceman couldn't stay inside the rope.
Yadav (2-39) limited further damage by capturing Lyon lbw for 13, before Jadeja had Steve O'Keefe caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha for 6 from 42 balls to end the innings.
Earlier in the session, Mitch Marsh added 10 runs to his overnight score before being caught behind for 31 from a thin outside edge off Jadeja, ending his 56-run partnership with Smith.
Wade added 20 in another useful 35-run stand with Smith, before Yadav had the keeper caught behind.
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