WATCH | #INDvAUS: Openers dig in as Australia win first session on a crumbling Pune track

India were made to toil hard by a confident Australia before the visitors suffered double blow just ahead of the lunch on the opening day of the first cricket Test, in Pune on Wednesday.

Australia lost a well-set David Warner who was bowled by Umesh Yadav along with his opening partner Matt Renshaw (36), who retired hurt because of a stomach upset after the duo gave the visitors a splendid start in the first session of the series opener.

Australia were cruising along nicely at 82 for no loss after choosing to bat first on a dry pitch that started to offer turn from early on, before the sudden departure of the two set openers. Warner was looking good before he was bowled for 38 by Umesh , and then tall Renshaw retired to the pavilion with an upset stomach close to lunch, which resulted in the arrival of two new batsmen in captain Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh at the crease.

Both March and Smith were batting on one with Australia managing the score in 33 overs. For India, the bulk of the bowling was done by their spin trump card Ravichandran Ashwin, who opened the attack along side Ishant Sharma. Ashwin bowled 16 overs for 23 runs without a wicket to his name.

Umesh, brought into the attack after 27 overs, bowled two overs for one run and ended up with the wicket of Warner, who played away from his body and dragged the ball on to his stumps. Opting to take first strike in the first-ever Test held in this city, Australia initially did struggle a bit against the turning ball. They managed to score 40 runs in the first hour of play with Warner starting slowly and then attacking off-spinner Jayant Yadav.

Warner was also lucky to be bowled off a no-ball by Jayant when on 16. Ashwin, on the other hand, was not only turning the ball but also kept down the runs with Warner, especially, in no mood to try and attack the home team's spin trump card.

Ashwin, who conceded a four to Renshaw with a poor ball on the batsman's pads in his first over, kept the lid on the run-rate from then on and also bowled three maiden overs in a row before switching over to the pavilion end after a first spell of 8-4-10-0.

The Indians also wasted their first DRS call in the 10th over of the match after their appeal for a catch behind against the tall Renshaw was rejected by the umpire. The TV replays showed appreciable gap between the bat and the ball. Warner, who was initially outscored by his opening partner, soon got past that phase by striking Jayant for a couple of fours in two overs, forcing India captain Virat Kohli to bring on third spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

With every over, Renshaw grew in confidence in his first innings in India. The tall England-born Renshaw then got past his partner's score again as he first tickled a ball from Ashwin to fine leg for a boundary. He then smacked Jadeja, who was not getting the same amount of purchase from the wicket as his spin mates, for a four and then lofted the left-arm spinner in the same over over long on for the first six of the match.

Warner, on 37, had two close calls. He first survived a big leg before shout from Ashwin and then nearly popped up a return catch to the off-spinner in the same over. Just when the Indians were getting frustrated, Kohli decided to replace the unimpressive Jadeja with Umesh and the fast bowler struck in his very first over, the 28th of the innings, by making Warner chop a ball on to the stumps.

Warner's dismissal also saw Renshaw, not out on 36 off 89 balls, simultaneously retire to the pavilion with tummy trouble.

Brief Scores:
Australia 1st innings: 84 for one in 33 overs (David Warner 38, Matt Renshaw 36 retired hurt; Umesh Yadav 1/1).