Australia v India: Ajinkya Rahane & Virat Kohli lead India fightback

Rahane (centre) and Kohli put on a partnership of 262 to help India close in on Australia's first-innings total

India's Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli both made centuries as the tourists finished day three of the third Test 68 runs behind Australia in Melbourne.

Kohli hit 169 and Rahane 147 as India reached 462-8 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 530.

The partnership between the pair was worth 262 before Rahane was trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon.

Kohli edged a Mitchell Johnson delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin as his dismissal brought a close to play.

It was a rare moment of joy for Johnson, whose figures read 1-133 from 29.2 overs at the end of the day.

Kohli had struggled horrendously in the Test series in England last summer, but his ton was his third of the four-match series, which India trail 2-0.

India had resumed on their overnight score of 108-1, but lost Cheteshwar Pujara to the second ball of the day.

Opener Murali Vijay was also dismissed before Rahane, who was dropped on 70 by Lyon, and Kohli, who survived Shane Watson grounding a catch when he was on 88, came together at 147-3 and took the total to 409.

Australia got some late wickets following Rahane's exit, Ryan Harris the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-69.

"It was obviously tough through the middle there," said Harris. "But to finish the day off like that is pretty good.

"I think as a group we bowled pretty well. It was just that we didn't take the opportunities when they came and the two guys out there put on that big partnership."