KL Rahul fell to a stunning Steve Smith catch for 84 after he and Ravindra Jadeja had led an Indian fightback on the fourth day of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Needing 245 to avoid the follow-on, India were 167-6 at lunch with Jadeja unbeaten on 41 and Nitish Kumar Reddy on seven.

Rahul was dropped by Smith off the first ball of the day.

But the Australian made amends with a superb diving one-handed take at first slip 20 minutes before lunch as Rahul departed 16 runs short of a ninth Test century.

In a match that has lost almost two days to rain, India have no real hope of winning and are hoping to salvage a draw and head to Melbourne on Boxing Day with the series locked at 1-1.

Australia were hit by the loss of fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who bowled one innocuous over in the morning session before leaving the field with the physiotherapist.

Cricket Australia later said Hazlewood, who missed the second Test with a side strain, had reported calf soreness and was having scans on his leg.

Resuming the morning at 51-4, India had an escape on the first ball of the day when Rahul edged Cummins to second slip only for Smith to spill a routine chance.

Rahul and Indian captain Rohit Sharma saw out the first half-hour and took the score to 74 before Sharma edged a Cummins delivery that moved slightly off the seam to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Rahul took advantage of Smith's lapse and brought up an impressive half-century with a lovely cover drive, shortly before a shower sent the players scurrying from the field for 25 minutes.

He added 51 runs to his overnight total before Smith's brilliant catch diving from off-spinner Nathan Lyon.