Ravindra Jadeja struck twice in two balls to peg Australia back in their first innings of the third Test in Mohali.
The left-arm spinner removed David Warner for 71 and then Aussie skipper Michael Clarke for a golden duck, as India fought back after lunch.
Phil Hughes saw off the hat-trick ball from Jadeja but he scratched around for form, hitting two runs off 31 balls before he was removed by Pragyan Ojha.
Opener Ed Cowan, 76 unbeaten, and Steven Smith steadied the ship for Australia before the break leaving them on 180-3 going into the final session of day two.
