Virat Kohli became the only man to make three Test centuries in his first three innings as captain and Lokesh Rahul hit the first of his career as India fought back on day three of the fourth Test against Australia at Sydney.
The hosts had declared on 572 on day two but India produced a brilliant response to reach 342 for five, a deficit of 230, with Kohli hitting his fourth ton of the series as the pair put on 141 for the third wicket.
Rahul had reached 110 when he was dismissed in just his second match while Kohli, in his first match as full-time skipper following the shock resignation of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was undefeated on 140.
India began the day on 71 for one and made slow progress in the early stages, adding just 12 runs in the first 10 overs.
Rohit Sharma brought up a dogged half-century but was gone shortly after when he edged a Nathan Lyon delivery onto his stumps to depart for 53.
A major talking point then came three overs before lunch when Steven Smith spilled a regulation catch with Rahul on 43. The Australia skipper claimed the ball may have hit the 'spider-cam' system of camera wires above the pitch – although Cricket Australia later confirmed this was not the case.
Kohli reached his half-century after the interval but was nearly dismissed by Mitchell Starc straight after the new ball had been taken but his inside edge somehow evaded the stumps and ran to the boundary.
Smith then put down another chance but this time he had nobody to blame but himself as Kohli got an edge to a Starc ball and it flew high to second slip where Smith spilled the opportunity above his head.
Rahul overcame the disappointment of his debut when he brought up a maiden Test ton from 253 balls, but the joy was short-lived when he lobbed a return catch to Starc.
Kohli joined his counterpart Smith in making it four centuries for the series with another superb knock, before Watson hit back for the hosts after a tough day in the field.
The Australian had Ajinkya Rahane trapped in front for 13 and then Suresh Raina caught behind in successive deliveries to change the course of the game.
That could have had India wobbling but Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha made it through to the close with the former becoming the top India run-scorer in a series in Australia.
After play today Starc accepted a level one breach of the International Cricket Council code of conduct for his exaggerated celebration of Murali Vijay’s wicket yesterday.