Armed with the knowledge they need only a draw to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Australia’s cricketers will do India no favours in the third Test.

India will resume on 8-462 when day four starts at the MCG on Monday.

Australia posted a once-imposing total of 530 in their first innings.

The hosts will need to score quick runs and almost certainly make an aggressive declaration if there’s to be any result apart from a draw.

“We’re 2-0 up (in the series),” paceman Ryan Harris said after day three.

“We always try to play to win. I’m not saying we’re not going to do that, but we’ll see what happens.

“As a bowler – 1200 would be nice,” he added, when asked what would be an ideal lead to defend.

Virat Kohli spearheaded an incredible Indian fightback on Sunday, putting on a record-breaking stand worth 262 runs with fellow centurion Ajinkya Rahane.

Kohli scored 169, while Rahane compiled 147.

Harris noted it was a “very, very good wicket”.

“If I’m getting runs, it’s pretty flat,” he said, referencing the fact he crashed a Test-high score of 74 on Saturday.

“Once you get two class batsmen in, it doesn’t really matter where you bowl.

“If they want to hit it somewhere, they’ll hit it.

“Chasing runs here … it’s not easy, but it’s easier than most grounds.”

Kohli opened up about a slanging match with Mitchell Johnson, saying the Australians taunted him for being a “spoilt brat”.

“I said ‘maybe that’s the way I am – I know you guys hate me and I like that’,” Kohli said.

“I don’t mind having a chat on the field and it worked in my favour.

“I’m very proud of the way we played. We backed ourselves throughout.”