Australia's David Warner jumps to attempt to field the ball against India on the third day of their cricket test match in Sydney, on Thursday. At stumps, India are 5 for 342 in reply to Australia's first innings of 7 for 572 declared. - AP

SYDNEY, (AP):

Virat Kohli marked his elevation to India's captaincy by smashing his fourth century of the series yesterday, leading the visitors to 342-5 after day three of the fourth Test, trailing Australia's total by 230 runs.

Lokesh Rahul also scored his maiden century and Rohit Sharma made 53 as India moved to the brink of avoiding the follow-on.

Kohli, who was appointed captain when Mahendra Singh Dhoni suddenly retired after the third test, produced an unbeaten 140 to go with his twin centuries in the first test and his highest score of 169 in the third test.

Kohli's four tons in the series matches the effort of Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith, who is the heir apparent to the injured Michael Clarke as permanent captain, and as young leaders they may be establishing a longstanding rivalry.

The 26-year-old Kohli has 639 runs for the series and passed Rahul Dravid's record of 617 runs in a series (2003-04) by an Indian batsman in Australia.

Rahul - playing his second test after a poor debut in Melbourne with scores of 3 and 1 Ñ reached his milestone with the aid of an incorrect bat-pad decision, a missed run out chance and a dropped catch which was partly caused by interference with a TV camera suspended above the field.

Mitchell Starc (2-77) toiled on a placid SCG pitch to finally remove Rahul for 110 caught and bowled.Shane Watson (2-42) trapped Ajinkya Rahane lbw for 13, before having Suresh Raina (0) caught behind next ball to reduce India to 292-5 and revive hopes of enforcing a follow-on.

Wriddhiman Saha was 14 not out with Kohli at stumps, having added 50 for the sixth wicket.

Australia did have opportunities to take more wickets, but missed a simple run out chance and dropped two catches during day three.

The hosts have an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with two wins and a draw in the first three Tests.