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Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood says the second Test in Bangalore remains on a knife's edge, while admitting "temperatures are rising" after India fought back on day three.
India will resume on day four with a 126-run lead, having cruised to 4-213 at stumps on yet another tense day full of terse words.
Cheteshwar Pujara is unbeaten on 79 and Ajinkya Rahane not out on 40.
Hazlewood, who has the progressive figures of 3-57 in India's second innings, says the Test is evenly poised.
"I think it's pretty level at the moment," he said.
"They obviously fought back beautifully there in that last session and credit to Pujara and Rahane, they batted really well. It's pretty level going into day four."
Hazlewood says Australia needs to strike quickly on day four to restrict the target it will need to chase for victory.
"I think anything up to 200," he said.
"If the wicket keeps playing, or doesn't get any worse than today I think 200 is very chaseable."
Hazlewood concedes the intensity of the rivalry between Australia and India is beginning to show.
"Temperatures are rising a little bit. Obviously yesterday and I think today as well," he said.
"It's obviously pretty intense out there, but we try and stick to playing on skill and being quite calm.
"That's when we play our best cricket."
Steve O'Keefe was given a dressing down on day three by both umpires, having celebrated Australia captain Steve Smith's spectacular slips catch to dismiss opener Lokesh Rahul (51) with plenty of gusto.
O'Keefe appeared to direct a spray at Pujara, who was standing at the non-striker's end at the time.
Smith continued his running battle with India captain Virat Kohli soon after, having also swapped barbs with his counterpart on day two.
Chirpy Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade then fumed at Pujara and Rahane's attempts to waste time towards the end of a wicket-less session.
"Nigel, we're happy to wait for the striker but not the non-striker," Wade told umpire Nigel Llong.
Llong and Richard Illingworth, aware that India was trying to ensure they had one less over to face in the day, had just told the home side's physio to leave the field.
Cricket matches between the two nations are often heated affairs, especially when the Border-Gavaskar trophy is up for grabs.
Both camps launched a charm offensive on the eve of the four-Test series, showering the opposition with plaudits and speaking with nothing but reverence.
ABC/AAP
Topics: cricket, sport, india, australia
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