Play has been called off early on the second day because of rain.

"Play on Day 2 has been abandoned due to wet outfield. Play on Day 3 will resume at 9.30AM local time (5am IST)," tweeted Cricket Australia.

Australia grabbed two wickets before India steadied to be 62 for two in reply to the home side's 369 at tea before rain wiped out the entire final session.

Cheteshwar Pujara was eight not out, with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane on two on a hot and humid day at the Gabba.

Paceman Pat Cummins struck early to dismiss Shubman Gill for seven, with Nathan Lyon, celebrating his 100th Test, removing Rohit Sharma for 44.

Gill had not scored less than 31 in his four innings since his test debut in Melbourne but Cummins removed him cheaply, inducing a thick edge caught by Steve Smith in the slips.

Having built a 49-run partnership with the watchful Pujara, Rohit had seemed well set as he smashed Lyon through point for four in the spinner's third over.

But he threw away his wicket two balls later with a dance down the pitch and a miscued slog that Mitchell Starc snaffled after running in from long-on.

Earlier, Australia's hopes of building a big total were thwarted as India's bowlers removed captain Tim Paine (50), Cameron Green (47) and Pat Cummins (2) for the addition of only four runs midway through the first session.

Lyon pushed Australia past 350 before he was bowled by debutant Washington Sundar for a quickfire 24 off 22 balls.

Starc chipped in a valuable unbeaten 20 before paceman Thangarasu Natarajan, the second of India's Test debutants, wrapped up the innings by bowling Josh Hazlewood for 11.

Natarajan finished the best of India's bowlers with 3-78, while Sundar and Thakur also grabbed three wickets apiece.