As Australia ended play on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test only 2 runs ahead and with just four second-innings wickets intact, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj said the visitors are hoping to not drop their guard down and dismiss the hosts quickly on Tuesday. 

The Indian team had earlier made 326 in response to Australia's first-innings total of 195, taking a significant lead of 131 runs which, though the home team surpassed at the end, they did so at the cost of six wickets. 

Read Also: "Captaincy is all about backing your instinct", says Ajinkya Rahane 

"Our plan is to get Australia out as quickly as possible. Our plan is to concentrate on the basics and be patient," said Siraj at a virtual post-day press conference, as quoted by ANI. 

Indian bowlers were once again collectively brilliant and didn't let the absence of Umesh Yadav become a major issue. The experienced pacer walked off the field in pain earlier as he picked up an injury while bowling his 4th over. 

Siraj, who completed that over for Umesh, was queried over the pacer's injury status and he said, "the physio will give an update regarding Umesh."

With the surface certainly playing better for batting, Siraj said they were intent on maintaining tight lines and lengths, and never letting the pressure off. 

"After Umesh bhai went off the field. We focused on bowling in tandem and kept our focus on bowling maiden overs and dot balls as the wicket was not helping much," he said. 

"(Jasprit) Bumrah told me to not give any easy ball and keep my focus on every ball that I was bowling."

Siraj, who is on debut, added to his two first-innings scalps with the wicket of Travis Head and had figures of 1/23 at the close of play. The 26-year-old said horning his red-ball skills during the extended lockdown has helped him a lot. 

"Worked on my red-ball skills and fitness during the lockdown. And then I had a good IPL which boosted my confidence," he said.