The Indians created many chances and spurned many. Still, the hosts were in the driver's seat at stumps as Australia finished on 273/7, with Steve Smith (58 not out) and Mitchell Starc (20 not out) holding fort.
Michael Clarke won his third toss in a row and decided to bat on a spin-friendly pitch. While the first session was dominated by the Aussies, the next two saw India strike back with seven wickets. It was a superb comeback from the Indian team, considering Australia were 139 for no loss at one stage.
The Aussies started with their best-ever opening partnership on Indian soil as David Warner and Ed Cowan not only defied the Indian bowlers — pace and spin alike — but also scored runs at will in the first session. Warner (71) was quick in his feet movement, didn't mind stepping down the track to the spinners and if there was anything remotely short, he rocked on to the back foot and took full toll. Cowan, on the other end, also opened up gradually as Australia went into lunch at 109/0.
However, the second session was completely different with Ravindra Jadeja striking twice of consecutive balls, getting rid of Warner and skipper Clarke, who promoted himself to No. 3 in the order.
That move did not work and Jadeja got him for the fourth time in the series, out stumped off the first ball he faced. Ojha terminated the painstaking innings of the out-of-form Phil Hughes, who has scored just 27 runs at an average of 5.40 in this series. But it was Jadeja (3-56) who outshone the other two spinners - Ravichandran Ashwin and Ojha - getting plenty of turn and bounce from a Day 1 pitch.
In the post-tea session, Ed Cowan's (86) charmed stay at the crease ended, while Ishant Sharma's reverse-swinging deliveries rattled the timber of Brad Haddin and Moises Henriques. Steve Smith, though, justified his selection in the playing XI, holding the Aussie innings till the end.
However, the day could have been much better for India had they grabbed all the chances that came their way. Kohli, was the guilty-party on three occasions, giving reprieves to Cowan twice (when the batsman was on 35 and 64) and then spilling a chance given by Warner, as the ball went between Dhoni and Kohli. Cowan was also dropped at silly point by Pujara.
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