INDIA has claimed day one honours in the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, spearheaded by a five-wicket haul from spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Making his Test return, the allrounder executed simple yet effective plans on a favourable Nagpur pitch, combining with fellow tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin (3-42) to dismiss eight Australian batters.

The tourists won the toss and elected to bat, which seemed an handy minor victory in the grand scheme of the match. Though, their fortunes quickly took a turn as seamers Mohammed Shami and Mohammaed Siraj removed both openers within the opening three overs.

Usman Khawaja was the first to go as Siraj struck with his very first delivery, trapping the left-hander in front and utilising DRS to overturn the initial not out call. Shami joined in during the following set of six, sending David Warner‘s off stump cartwheeling to leave Australia reeling at 2-2.

Their dismissals brought Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith together at the crease, and the prolific pair began to resurrect their side’s innings. They guided Australia to 2-76 at lunch with a balance of proactivity and steely temperament as India’s spinners came to the fore.

The class of Jadeja got things moving for the hosts, as he flighted a delivery which bit and spun to beat the otherwise in control Labuschagne, seeming him sharply stumped by debuting gloveman KS Bharat. A more innocuous ball then trapped Matt Renshaw in front first up, and all of a sudden the visitors were on notice at 4-84.

After Smith got a hold of Axar Patel with three boundaries in an over, he too fell victim to the golden arm of Jadeja, who beat the inside of his bat with one which went with the arm. Alex Carey (36) and Peter Handscomb (31) provided ample counter-attacks, though the former was castled by Ashwin before tea to become his 450th Test victim.

After a middle session which yielded 98 runs for the loss of six wickets, Australia’s tail offered little more resistance for a total of 177. For all the promise of a few starts, India’s attack played to the conditions beautifully under the shrewd captaincy of Rohit Sharma.

It was the influence of Rohit which also made for a contrasting start to India’s batting innings. Comfortable in home conditions, the opener clipped opposing skipper Pat Cummins for three boundaries in the opening over, including two from the first two deliveries.

Rohit proved imperious at one end to remain undefeated on 56 at stumps, though partner KL Rahul could not quite hang in long enough as Todd Murphy picked up his maiden Test wicket, caught and bowled. Murphy (1-13) was easily the pick of Australia’s bowlers, though Nathan Lyon (0-33) got into his groove while Cummins served up an uncharacteristic array of straight half-volleys.

Ashwin faced five deliveries as India’s night-watchman to see out the first day’s play, with India to resume on 1-77, exactly 100 runs behind Australia’s meagre first innings total.

SCORECARD

Australia leads by 100 runs, India will resume on 1-77 (R. Sharma 56, R. Ashwin 0)

Australia 1st Innings (177)
Marnus Labuschagne 49 (123), Steve Smith 37 (107), Alex Carey 36 (33)
Ravindra Jadeja 5-47 (22), Ravichandran Ashwin 3-42 (15.5), Mohammed Shami 1-18 (9)

India 1st Innings (1-77)
Rohit Sharma 56* (69), KL Rahul 20 (71), Ravichandran Ashwin 0* (5)
Todd Murphy 1-13 (7), Scott Boland 0-4 (3), Nathan Lyon 0-33 (10)