Centurion KL Rahul channelled his inner wall as India reached 2-234 at tea on day three of the fourth Test, with Australia bungling three chances at the SCG.

Rahul, mentored by namesake Rahul Dravid and renowned for the high price he puts on his wicket, made a steadfast response to Australia’s first-innings total of 7(dec)-572.

Rahul, who came up with two embarrassing dismissals on debut in Melbourne, posted his maiden Test century off 253 balls.

The milestone came in the final over before tea on Thursday, as he and Virat Kohli (67no) negotiated five overs of the second new ball.

The 22-year-old benefited from two reprieves in the morning session – a bungled run-out on 41 and Steve Smith’s dropped catch on 46.

Smith was distracted by Spidercam in that instance, having lost track of the skied edge amid the camera’s wires.

But the stand-in skipper only had himself to blame when he put down another with Kohli on 59.

Smith, stationed at second slip, managed to get both hands to the leather but couldn’t reel it in.

It meant Australia went wicketless in the pre-tea session, in which the visitors added 112 runs.

Rahul thumped a six off Nathan Lyon to move past 90, while Kohli was typically aggressive.

It was distinctly different to the morning, when the tourists managed 19 runs in the first hour of play.

Given the placid nature of the SCG pitch, it was testament to how well Lyon and the side’s pacemen bowled.

The hosts’ persistence paid off in the 44th over.

Rohit Sharma played on and departed for 53, attempting a sweep shot to a Lyon ball outside off stump that deserved more respect.

The following delivery, Smith was clearly unhappy with his teammates’ inattentiveness.

Rahul took off from the non-striker’s end, trying to race through for a single after the ball ricocheted off Brad Haddin’s thigh in the direction of substitute fielder Pat Cummins.

By the time he realised Kohli was standing still, Rahul was mid-pitch and Cummins had collected the ball.

But the 21-year-old, who was on the park due to Chris Rogers’ sore back, lobbed the leather to the wrong end.

There was more drama, with Rahul slipping and dropping his bat before Haddin realised he should have a ping at the stumps.

The pair recovered in an unbeaten 137-run stand.

The hosts look set for a long day in the field, with Indian legend VVS Laxman noting on Twitter the wicket was the slowest Australian pitch he had seen.

Mitchell Starc created some anxious moments with the second new ball, while the left-armer was warned for running on the pitch in his followthrough.