Verbal battles, Virat Kohli's masterful batting and Nathan Lyon's heroics have ensured the second Test between Australia and India, which resumes on Tuesday with India five down and needing 175 runs to win, has been compelling viewing.

But the key factor has been the spicy drop-in wicket prepared by curator Brett Sipthorpe which Hazlewood describes as unlike any he has ever played on.

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Players from both sides have copped heavy blows batting on a supercharged pitch which has produced variable bounce similar to the WACA Ground's prime.

The unpredictable deck has helped to ensure a result is virtually assured, in stark contrast to last year's drawn Boxing Day Test which led to the MCG copping a warning from the International Cricket Council over its docile drop-in pitch.

Hazlewood, who snared two wickets on day four to help deny an Indian comeback, rated the pitch highly.

"That's from a bowler's point of view, definitely," he quipped.

"But we've seen a hundred as well and quite a few guys getting fifties, and it's obviously gone to the fifth day. There's plenty there.

"I think it's exciting that things can happen at any stage throughout the day. It's pretty competitive with bat and ball."

Hazlewood noted that unlike the WACA Ground, where the cracks tended to get bigger and bigger, the Perth Stadium pitch had not deteriorated significantly.

"It's a strange one," he said.

"You see obviously patches where it's flying around and hitting the cracks, and then there'll be a period where it'll go pretty quiet and it looks manageable to bat.

"It's definitely different."

Australian Associated Press