Shane Watson’s dismissal for 17 on the last ball before lunch has compounded Australia’s misery on Monday’s day four of the first Test against India.

The tourists are in a desperate position at 1-34 in their second innings and require another 158 runs to make India bat again in Chennai.

Watson was caught at slip off the bowling of spinner Ravi Ashwin after being promoted from No.4 back to opening because of David Warner’s gastro complaint.

Ed Cowan is 13 not out.

Skipper MS Dhoni hit 224 – a record for an India captain – in his side’s first innings of 572.

Offspinner Nathan Lyon’s 3-215 from 47 overs was the equal-second highest tally of runs conceded in an innings for an Australia bowler in Test history.

Paceman James Pattinson led Australia’s attack with 5-96, his third five-wicket haul in the 22-year-old’s eighth Test.

His fellow quicks Mitchell Starc (0-75) and Peter Siddle (1-66) bowled tightly but couldn’t get the vital breakthrough.

Dhoni’s 265-ball knock included 24 fours and six sixes in a six-hour onslaught of brutal hitting.

India had resumed on Monday’s fourth day of play on 8-515.

Dhoni’s partnership of 140 with debutant tailender Bhuvehswar Kumar (38) is the first century stand for India against Australia for the ninth wicket.

Pattinson bounced Dhoni and the right-hander was caught behind with the total on 546, before a 10th-wicket stand of 26.

Virat Kohli (107) shared a 128-run stand for the fifth wicket with Dhoni after Australia had been in a strong position with India 4-196 when Sachin Tendulkar was bowled by Lyon for 81.