"Shaun Marsh is batting fantastic and we saw what Ryan Harris did in the first innings."
Warner made 40 off 42 balls to give Australia a fast start before being trapped lbw by Ashwin (2-56).
Ishant Sharma (2-49) claimed Shane Watson (17) soon after the rain-delayed start of the second session.
Captain Steve Smith's fine run of form stalled when he made just 14 before edging an Umesh Yadav (2-73) ball to leg slip, where it was snapped up by Ajinkya Rahane.
Australia can reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a win or draw after a 48-run win in the first test and a four-wicket victory last week in the second test at Brisbane.
"Any score on the final day is going to be tricky," Ashwin said. "That's why you call it a test match, because it tests every single aspect of your game and your attitude. It's going to be hard work, but we're up for it.
"We want to win games of cricket."
Rogers (69) laced eight boundaries in his fourth-straight half-century before being bowled by Ashwin. The Australian opener had already survived two close calls: dropped at first slip when on 33 and getting an edge that did not carry to the wicketkeeper when on 56.
Joe Burns, on debut, was caught behind off Sharma, who looked increasingly dangerous as the ball produced reverse swing on a deteriorating MCG pitch.
"Ishant got the ball in the right areas," Warner said. "And with the older ball he manages to get a bit of reverse swing and he can go both ways. He's played a big role in these last three tests."
Brad Haddin made just 13 before he was caught behind off Yadav and Mitchell Johnson (15) offered some aggressive strokes before being caught by Rahane off Mohammed Shami (1-75) for 15.
Earlier, Johnson claimed two wickets as India lasted just 15 balls, adding only two runs to its overnight score to finish with 465 in its first innings.
Yadav was caught behind for a duck with the second ball and Smith caught Shami for 12.
- AP
