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Pat Cummins belted his best Test score at the MCG two years ago and the quick might need to better that in order to set India a difficult run chase.

Matthew Wade is banking on some more MCG heroics from Pat Cummins to give Australia a defendable target in the second Test against India.

The tourists are on the verge of levelling the Border-Gavaskar series at one-all after demolishing Australia's top-order on Monday.

Australia will resume on day four at 6-133, leading India by only two runs, with Cummins (15 not out) and promising allrounder Cameron Green (17 not out) at the crease.

Vice-captain Cummins is not a recognised batsmen, but is a more than handy player to have in the tail.

In the corresponding game in 2018, Cummins belted 63, his highest Test score, when Australia's backs were against the wall.

The quick couldn't save Australia in their fourth-innings pursuit of 399, but Wade believes Cummins will take confidence from that performance.

"We'll take (any lead)," Wade said.

"It'd be nice for these two (Green and Cummins); I know 'Cummo' isn't an established batsmen but he's done well for us at this ground in the past.

"We all know what Greeny's capable of if he can get in so it'd be really nice for them to get a nice partnership together - something we haven't done enough.

"Anything over a 100 (run lead) would be good."

Wade, who was promoted to opener for the series in David Warner's absence, was the pick of Australia's batsmen with a gritty 40.

Usually a middle-order aggressor, Wade patiently faced 137 balls - the sixth most deliveries he has faced in Test cricket - to try and defy India's precision bowling.