Piyush Chawla claimed two top-order wickets as Australia limped to 4-191 on the second day of its tour match against a Board President's XI.
In the morning, the President's XI was eventually bowled out for 455 just before lunch and the Australians' reply hit rough weather almost immediately when Matthew Hayden was caught behind off Irfan Pathan for 20.
Chawla and the other specialist spinner in the side, Pragyan Ojha, then took centre stage as the Australians struggled for the second day in a row.
They slipped to 4-128 at one stage before Michael Hussey (54 not out) and Brad Haddin (34no) staved off capitulation.
Hayden, whom India Test captain Anil Kumble and paceman Zaheer Khan reckon would be the danger man when the Border-Gavaskar series gets under way in earnest, was lured into a drive off the front foot by Pathan and was beaten by movement.
The edge flew straight to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, limiting the burly left-hander's innings to a mere 29 deliveries.
Simon Katich, who looks set to open the innings in the first Test in Bangalore, was dismissed by Ojha for 15.
The left-hander attempted to work a delivery on the on side, but only inside edged onto his pads for Virat Kohli to take a simple catch at forward short-leg.
Captain Ricky Ponting, who has a miserable batting average of 12.28 in India, set about working up some sort of form.
He made a steady 41 before he was bowled through the gate by a googly from Chawla.
Michael Clarke (18) was Chawla's second victim, the leg-spinner trapping the Australia vice-captain plumb in front.
Hussey's focus was more on occupying the crease rather than amassing runs, his 50 coming off 126 deliveries.
He and Haddin had added 63 runs for the fifth wicket by stumps.
Earlier, Ponting had delayed taking the second new ball, even though it was available when play resumed, a decision which helped Patel (62) and Pathan complete half centuries.
Pathan struck a fluent 56 while adding 75 for the seventh wicket with Patel and 44 for the eighth with Chawla (23).
But the President's XI innings quickly ended after the second new ball was taken.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson was the pick of the Australian bowlers with a haul of 4-75, while seamer Stuart Clark finished with 3-67.
Indian Board President’s XI v Australia
Stumps Day 2
Indian Board President’s XI 1st Innings
Chopra lbw b Johnson 25
Jaffer c Johnson b Clark 19
Badrinath lbw b Siddle 2
Yuvraj Singh c Hussey b Johnson 29
Sharma c Krejza b Johnson 105
Kohli lbw b Lee 105
Patel b Siddle 62
Pathan c Siddle b Clark 56
Chawla c Lee b Johnson 23
Ojha c Hussey b Clark 0
Gony not out 0
Extras 29 (b 5, lb 15, nb 9)
Total 455 (all out; 108.4 overs)
FoW: 1-41 (Jaffer, 11.6 ov), 2-49 (Chopra, 14.6 ov), 3-59 (Badrinath, 19.3 ov), 4-120 (Yuvraj Singh, 34.2 ov), 5-266 (Sharma, 64.6 ov), 6-328 (Kohli, 80.1 ov), 7-403 (Patel, 95.5 ov), 8-447 (Pathan, 107.1 ov), 9-451 (Ojha, 107.6 ov), 10-455 (Chawla, 108.4 ov)
Bowling
Lee 18-3-61-1 (4nb)
Clark 18-5-67-3
Johnson 23.4-4-75-4 (1nb)
Siddle 18-3-64-2 (1nb)
Krejza 20-1-123-0 (2nb)
Clarke 11-0-45-0
Australia 1st Innings
Katich c Kohli b Ojha 15
Hayden c Patel b Pathan 20
Ponting b Chawla 41
Hussey not out 54
Clarke lbw b Chawla 18
Haddin not out 34
Extras 9 (b 4, lb 5)
Total 191 (4 wickets; 68 overs)
FoW: 1-26 (Hayden, 8.4 ov), 2-54 (Katich, 17.3 ov), 3-94 (Ponting, 30.2 ov), 4-128 (Clarke, 44.1 ov)
Bowling
Pathan 17-4-50-1
Gony 11-2-37-0
Ojha 17-3-44-1
Chawla 21-6-46-2
Yuvraj Singh 2-1-5-0