Australia have responded following two embarrassing defeats to enjoy a rare day of dominance in India and take control of the third Test on a rank turner of a pitch in Indore.
The tourists went to stumps on day one at 4-156, a lead of 47, after Australia's spinners ripped through India during a chaotic opening session at Holkar Stadium.
But superstar all-rounder Ravi Jadeja (4-63) once again did his best to turn the game in India's favour, claiming all four Australian wickets, including the prized scalp of acting captain Steve Smith (26) about 20 minutes before stumps.
Australia lost their top-four — Travis Head, Usman Khawaja (60), Marnus Labuschange (31) and Smith — but in-form number five Peter Handscomb (7 not out) and returning all-rounder Cameron Green (6) remain unbeaten.
India have already burned all three of their reviews as Jadeja attempted to continue his extraordinary stranglehold over Australia.
Despite their position of dominance, Australia don't need reminding of how quickly India can claw their way back into a match after the hosts' remarkable comeback during the second Test in Delhi.
Left-armer Matt Kuhnemann, playing in his second Test, starred with 5-16 as India crumbled for 109 — their fourth lowest total at home against Australia and their shortest innings in terms of balls since 2008.
Australia's trio of spinners — Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy — took nine wickets before India's innings ended 30 minutes into the second session when Mohammed Siraj was chaotically run out.
After captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat, India stumbled to lunch at 7-84 as Kuhnemann and Lyon (3-35) stunned the hosts.
India lost 5-18 in a collapse similar to the trouble Australia found themselves in during the first two Tests.
The hosts briefly steadied through Virat Kohli (22) but young spin sensation Todd Murphy (1-23) claimed the Indian superstar's wicket for the third time this series.
Bowling all-rounders Axar Patel (12 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3) rescued India out of immense trouble during the second Test but there was to be no repeat of their heroics in Indore.
It was drama in Indore from the start, with Sharma nicking Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off the first ball of the match.
However, umpire Nitin Menon gave Sharma not out and Australia failed to review the decision.
Starc trapped Sharma in front on the fourth ball of his first over with replays revealing the India opener would have been out had Australia used DRS.
But Sharma only scored 14 as he was stumped by Carey while trying to smash a Kuhnemann delivery.
The most extraordinary wicket of the day was Lyon's first, getting a ball to turn and keep low to smash into Cheteshwar Pujara's stumps.
Starc and Green opened the bowling after returning for their first match since suffering respective finger injuries during the Boxing Day Test win against South Africa.
Starc replaced Pat Cummins as Australia's frontline quick after the captain made the decision to return to Sydney to be with his seriously-ill mother.
Steve Smith is filling in as skipper for the third time since Cummins became Australia's red-ball leader in November 2021.
Whoever wins in Indore will secure their spot in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June.
Look back on all the action as it happened on day one in our live blog.
Key events
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Live updates
An intriguing, explosive day
By Simon Smale
Well, at one stage there I thought this might be the only day of play in this Test - but Australia has batted with extraordinary poise to get themselves into a very strong position in the Test.
We'll pick things up tomorrow where we left it today - and I look forward to sharing all the ebbs and flows with you all as they happen.
Thanks for joining me today, see you later.
What is the World Test Championship situation
By Simon Smale
We only need a draw or a win to make the world test final…this could well be the only opportunity. Need to make it a count (think we can rule out the draw here)
- Davo
You are right, Davo, but Australia will probably still play India at the Oval anyway.
To get to the decider, Australia and India need to win one more Test.
The only way Australia would miss out though, even if they don't win another Test in this series, would be if Sri Lanka beats New Zealand 2-0 in their series this month - which could happen I guess.
It would be better to keep it in Australia's own hands, that's for sure.
Is 100 the new 300?
By Simon Smale
Is 100 the new 300?
- Mike
I reckon it could be.
So when Australia surge past 150 (maybe) I guess that's an imposing first innings score.
Chalk that up as a win Mr Khawaja
By Simon Smale
50 in this game is equivalent to a century in regular conditions.
- NK
It was a superb innings and, as he's just said, it was not easy at any point of his innings.
'It's a pretty spin-friendly wicket': Usman Khawaja
By Simon Smale
Here's Usman Khawaja, speaking to the host broadcaster.
"I played with my plans, tried to score when I saw a scoring opportunity ... it's not rocket science to the honest," he says.
He says it was hardest early in the innings with the new ball.
"The start was the hardest with the new ball," he says.
"It's not an easy wicket out there.
"It was spinning in the morning it was spinning this afternoon.
"It's a pretty spin-friendly wicket.
"It felt pretty tough out there the whole time I was out there.
"I don't think it will get any easier."
Stumps: Australia 4-156 (Green 6, Handscomb 7) lead by 47
By Simon Smale
So, I don't think many people would have predicted that it would be Australia who would outspin India on a wickedly awkward track before carefully compiling a decent score with the bat to have a lead of 47 runs at the end of day one.
On a day where 14 wickets fell on a pitch that offered uneven turn and bounce from pretty much the very first over, things were as tough as you can imagine for all the batters.
Australia will now hope they can continue to extend that lead as much as they can tomorrow morning and into the afternoon.
Every run on this pitch is going to be crucial.
54th over - The final over of the day, Ashwin to bowl it
By Simon Smale
One slip and bat pad.
From over the wicket, Ashwin has Handscomb pushing forward for no run, the ball turning sharply into his defensive stroke.
Handscomb backs away and tells someone behind the bowlers arm to stop moving.
Now he's focussed, only to back away again. Or was that Ashwin who backed away first. Lots of amateur psychology going on out there...
Handscomb comes forward and is wrapped on the pad - well outside the line and Handscomb was playing a shot says Joel Warner - and he made that clear to Ashwin.
Handscomb defends off the outside edge. No run.
Another long delay between balls, Handscomb has gone for a walk, silly point comes in, bat pad in place, short midwicket as a catcher, with the slip.
Handscomb flat bats it down in front of him to end the day's play.
53rd over - Jadeja will have another
By Simon Smale
Two more overs left in the day.
Staying four down at the close is vital for Australia now.
A bit of an edge there from Green, who takes a single backward point off an attempted off drive.
Handscomb's edge is found but the ball falls along the ground to second slip - there are two slips and a silly point and catching backward point.
Handscomb again edges the ball to deep backward point for a single.
Green makes Jadeja waits, backing away and taking his time, making him bowl to his rhythm. He defends back down the pitch.
Green fends to silly point, who backhands the ball towards the stumps, chance of an overthrow. Not taken.
BIG APPEAL! The ball explodes past the outside edge as Green drives - misses it but the ball flies to slip. Knowing he has no reviews left, Rohit makes the signal with a smile on his face.
52nd over - Ashwin continues
By Simon Smale
Only a handful of overs left in the day.
Leg slip, slip and a bat pad for Green, who is forward defending back down the pitch.
Green pushes to long on for a single.
Australia's lead is 45.
Just the orthodox slip and bat pad for Handscomb, how defends back down the pitch.
INSIDE EDGE! Straight to bat pad but along the ground - very close on the bounce to the fielder.
BEATEN! Handscomb gets one going across him from Ashwin, who grimaces and holds up his hands.
51st over - Jadeja continues
By Simon Smale
He'll want a day one five-fa won't he, Jadeja. You wouldn't bet against him...
Solid defence from Handscomb.
Handscomb fends the next to backward square leg for a single.
Green then does the same, another single.
CLOSE! Jadeja beats the outside edge of Handscomb and holds up his hands - so close to that outside edge. Great length and line from Jadeja.
Handscomb is forward and defends to mid on.
Iyer is very straight at silly point, Handscomb plays it square, past him but for no run.
50th over - Ashwin back into the attack
By Simon Smale
Too full, another full toss in fact but Handscomb just fends it away for no run to short midwicket.
He's forward defending the next into the off side for no run.
Single from Handscomb now to get off strike.
Tough times for the new man Cam Green - first match in a while and right into the spinning bearpit.
Green clips off his pads to deep square leg for a couple to get off the mark.
OH WHAT A BALL! Ashwin gets the turn off the pitch as Green pushes forward into the off side, the ball just hits the edge, missing going through the gap between bat and pad by half an inch and falls wide of the man at bat pad by half a foot.
Great bowling by Ashwin.
Green takes a single to keep the strike.
EDGED! TAKEN! SMITH HAS TO GO!
By Simon Smale
Brilliant from Jadeja! That's the length, that one turned and bounced, found the edge and Smith has to go.
Smith is out for 26, leaving Australia 4-146 and Jadeja has all of them, 4-59 the veteran left arm spinner is.
And he'll want to finish strong.
He has Green fending his first ball into the off side for a dot ball to end the over.
49th over - Jadeja won't let go of this ball (except to bowl)
By Simon Smale
Oh misfield! It's Siraj at mid on after Smith slaps the ball towards him, turning a simple one into a simple two. That's really poor from Siraj.
Turn from outside off, a solid line and length that Smith has to defend but was wary of that turn away from him. It's a length India has not found enough.
Smith edges to point for no run.
FOUR! Smith slapping a ball that's overpitched again to the extent that it ends up being a full toss, for four through wide mid on.
48th over - Axar Patel, with two slips and a silly point, continues
By Simon Smale
FOUR! Too short, Smith hammers the ball over midwicket for a one-bounce four. And gets a nod of approval from a baggy green wearing Handscomb too. What more could he want.
FOUR MORE! Why not!? A bit edgy to third man but it was in the general vicinity of where he wanted the ball to go.
Smith plays the ball to silly point where a helmeted Iyer stops it nicely.
Smith defends the next back down the pitch.
And the next to silly point again - Axar has done well to tighten up here.
Smith drives for a single to long off to keep the strike.
47th over - Jadeja will continue
By Simon Smale
He has been a threat as Handscomb digs out his other hat, the baggy green to bat in. Alongside the helmet, that's the third different style of headwear we've seen him in today. Good old three hat, never change.
Smith defends his first.
CHANCE! Smith edges the ball into Bharat's fingers and the ball falls safely for a single.
Handscomb forward, fends the ball to second slip off the outside edge.
Testing times out there for the batters.
Handscomb takes a single to deep point.
Two slips for Smith, silly point too, Smith fends to deep point and takes a single.
46th over - Axar continues around the wicket
By Simon Smale
Two slips wait, plus the straight silly point. Second slip is very close as it happens...
Handscomb is in the mood to smother everything that's coming his way, getting the stride forward and deadening the ball as it comes near him.
He's so far forward there that he almost topples over - he'll need to make sure he gets to the pitch every time or he'll risk a stumping if he overbalances like that.
He's playing nicely so far though and takes a single to mid off.
Smith sees out the over with a flat-bat defence.
How much will Australia lead by?
By Simon Smale
Lead Qualities for Australia: 50 runs will be not great. 100 runs will be acceptable 150 runs would be great 200+ would be spectacular
- Steven
Seems reasonable.
45th over - Jadeja will carry on
By Simon Smale
Smith pushes into the off side, solid defence.
He pushes the next into the off side as well, no run.
BIG APPEAL! Jadeja really likes this! India only has one review left remember - they burned two of Jadeja - who really liked those too - earlier.
Sharma has reviewed!
Was it leg side?
Oh yes, it's a long way down leg and even hit Smith outside leg. Another terrible review from India - and now they have none.
Smith drives uppish to mid off - no run and he's dropped it tantalisingly just in front of the man there too.
Smith pushes the next couple away as well and that's the over.
44th over - Axar Patel continues
By Simon Smale
CHANCE! Smith plays the ball straight into Shreyas at silly point but it falls just in front of him as he leaped to get out of the way.
Smith pushes into the off side and gets a single.
Axar from around the wicket, sweeps the ball towards the stumps for Handscomb to defend.
Handscomb defends into the leg side, wants a quick single but is turned down quite rightly by Smith.
Handscomb fends the last into the off side.
Just the single off the over.
43rd over - Three to come from Jadeja
By Simon Smale
It was the change of angle from around the wicket that did for Khawaja, just unsettling him.
Jadeja is back over the wicket to old three-hat Handscomb, how stumbles forward after defending the ball.
Two slips and a silly point in place for Handscomb, who defends solidly.
And he sees out the over as well.
India has the next breakthrough it desired.
