Rahane, who scored a brilliant century in the first innings to lead India's revival after they were reduced to 116/4, said going in with five bowlers worked well.

With the win, Rahane, the Man of the Match for his 112 and 27*, etched his name in history for his inspiring captaincy while India extended their supremacy in Melbourne hence adding to Australia's woes at the venue.

India’s comprehensive victory, led brilliantly by stand-in skipper and man of the match Ajinkya Rahane, levels the four-match series at one-all.

The Aussies are ahead of India by just two runs and have four wickets in hand. India are yet to bat in the second innings.

Rahane patiently put together a valiant century, his 12th in the format as first as a captain, against one of the best Test bowling attacks in present world cricket. 

Rahane pats Jadeja after getting run out for no fault of his own; was run out by the smallest of margin while responding to a quick single call by Jadeja.

Rahane survived three dropped opportunities but showed ample resilience against the spin and pace attack to stitch fifty-run stands alongside Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant before added a century more alongside Ravindra Jadeja on day 2. 

Rahane's innings ended after scoring 112 runs, adding further eight runs to his overnight score, when he got run out of a brilliant piece of fielding from Marnus Labuschagne.

Rahane walked back with 112 runs, the second-highest score by an Indian captain at the MCG and the fifth among all visiting captains. 

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Rahane, who is captaining the Indian team in the second, third and fourth Tests of the series in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, scored a masterful 104 off 200 balls.

Rahane was unbeaten on 104 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was with him at the crease on 40 as the two built a century stand for the sixth wicket.

On the second day of Boxing Day clash, Rahane flaunted his textbook technique to become the 10th Indian captain to score a centuy in Test cricket history.

Rahane was unbeaten on 104 at the draw of stumps.

The 104, still unbeaten, will forever stand as one of Rahane's finest knocks and he will now look to build on the score, which already seems to stand as the sole difference between the two sides, when day 3 resumes on Monday

Rahane remained unbeaten on 104 in a 100-plus partnership with No.7 Ravindra Jadeja, who holds on to the crease on 40 as India put 277/5 on the board.

The legendary spinner praised the stand-in Indian skipper for eking out his second century Melbourne and in conditions that favoured the bowlers.

Rahane was unbeaten on 104 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was with him at the crease on 40, the two having added an unbeaten 104 for the sixth wicket.

Rahane added a 12th Test century to his name and first as a captain to guide India past Australia's first-innings total and build on the lead on day 2 of the Boxing Day Test.

With the century, Rahane also equals Sachin Tendulkar's record of becoming the only Indian captain to score a ton at the MCG.