India will keep bouncing Brad Haddin, despite the tactic appearing to backfire on day two of the Boxing Day Test.

Commentator Ian Chappell was scathing of the tactics from Indian captain MS Dhoni in the morning session.

Haddin resumed on 23 and reached 55 as the Australian tail again wagged freely.

He and captain Steve Smith put on 110 in a crucial sixth-wicket stand that steadied the innings.

It was the first time Haddin had scored more than 22 in a Test innings since last summer.

The Indians kept trying to unsettle Haddin with bouncers and Dhoni set a leg-side field for his pacemen, drawing Chappell’s ire.

“This has been horrible captaincy from MS Dhoni. He’s given his bowlers no chance at all,” Chappell said, while calling the game for the Nine Network.

“His tactics this morning have been designed to help Australia … it’s senseless captaincy.”

But spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who led the Indian bowling with 3-134 from 44 overs, strongly defended their Haddin strategy.

“Did he seem comfortable? Okay, if you say so,” Ashwin said.

“We really thought he had a genuine weakness … and we continue to think he has a weakness.

“We will continue to target him in the next Test match as well and the next innings as well.

“He doesn’t quite look comfortable, so that’s the idea behind that.”

Smith praised Haddin for his knock, saying he had the right attitude from the start.

“Brad bats best when he comes out and tries to take on the opposition,” Smith said.

“He did that today, he was very positive from ball one and I thought he played the short ball really well.

“He got underneath a few, played a few pull shots and played really well.”

Ashwin said the Indians only lost control of the Australian innings in the last half hour when Smith lashed out.

He noted the Indian top order had also batted well so far.

The spinner added it was one of his best bowling efforts.

“There have been really good spells in patches, but this is probably one of the best overall performances I’ve had,” he said.