Harbhajan Singh provided India the breakthrough on Day 2 of the second Test against Australia, at Mohali, on Saturday.

The offie had the dangerous Shane Watson (126) caught by Gautam Gambhir at short leg.

But that was only after Watson and Tim Paine put on 53 runs for the sixth wicket.

Watson's epic 338-ball stay was inclusive of 10 hits to the fence while occupying the crease for a whopping 459 minutes. It was his highest Test score, surpassing the 119 he made against Pakistan in Melbourne last year.

At stumps on day two, India, replying to Australia's first innings total of 428, were 110 for two (in 21 overs), 318 runs adrift. Rahul Dravid unbeaten on 21 and night-watchman Ishant Sharma batting on nought.

Mitchell Johnson announced his arrival by smashing a Harbhajan delivery over long-on and deep midwicket for a maximum. It was the first six of the Australian innings. He then smashed Ojha for yet another over the boundary.

He soon reached 1000 Test runs mark (when on 31) and completed the 1000 runs and 100 wickets double in his 37th Test. He became the 12th Australian and 57th in the world to achieved the feat.

Johnson was caught behind off the bowling of Zaheer Khan. His 66-ball 47 was inclusive of five hits to the fence and three over it, all off Pragyan Ojha's bowling.

Overnight batsman Tim Paine reached his maiden Test fifty with a single off Harbhajan.

Paine, who was dropped by Dhoni before he could open his account on Day 1, was a thorn in the Indian side as he went about accumulating the runs for Australia.

He and Johnson put on an invaluable 82-run partnership for the seventh wicket for the visitors before the latter was dismissed.

He was dismissed by Zaheer, caught by VVS Laxman in the slips, eight short of a hundred. 

In dismissing Paine, Zaheer picked his fifth wicket of the Test.

On Day One he claimed the wickets of Simon Katich, Michael Hussey and Marcus North, and had Mitchell Jonson's scalp earlier on Day 2.

He could have had six in the bag had an induced an edge off Shane Watson's blade not dropped just in front of wicketkeeper Dhoni early in the morning session. He finished with figures of 5 for 94 from 30 overs as Australia were dismissed for 428 in their first innings.

India, replying to Australia's first innings total of 428, got off to a good, opener Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir putting on 81 runs off 80 balls before the latter departed.

The left-handed Gambhir was beaten by a delivery from Mitchell Johnson that kept low and was rapped on the pads. India had put up 81 in just 13.2 overs.

Sehwag continued to be aggressive. He scored a whirlwind 59 off 54 balls that included ten fours. But Johnson ensured Australia a second breakthrough, having the dangerous opener caught by Michael Clarke at covers.

At stumps on day two, the home team was 110 for two (in 21 overs), 318 runs adrift of Australia's first innings score. Rahul Dravid unbeaten on 21 and night-watchman Ishant Sharma batting on nought.