PUNE – Paceman Umesh Yadav claimed four wickets on a pitch that offered big turn to help India restrict Australia to 256/9 after the touring side had made a solid start on the opening day of the four-match series on Thursday.
Paceman Mitchell Starc, who would be expected by Australia to play a role similar to that of Umesh with the ball, smashed an unbeaten 57 to frustrate the hosts and take his team past 250.
Earlier, David Warner made 38 and added 82 for the first wicket with Matt Renshaw after captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat against a spin-heavy India.
“Umesh has been known to bowl well with the old ball,” India batting coach Sanjay Bangar told reporters, explaining it was a technical ploy.
“Even in the series against England you could see he got a lot of reverse swing. We had held him back, expecting that the ball would reverse-swing pretty early in the innings.
“It was the precise plan to hold him back and two left-handers at the top of the order, so that was the plan to use Ashwin with Ishant.”
David Warner was bowled by Umesh Yadav for 38 in Pune. Photo: Rajanish Kakade, AP
Smith said he expected turn from the very first ball on the dry pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in the western Indian city of Pune, a venue making its debut as a Test centre.
India captain Virat Kohli appeared to agree with his counterpart, bringing on spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, in just the second over of the day.
After four overs from paceman Ishant Sharma, Kohli opted to utilise spin from both ends when he brought on Jayant Yadav against the left-handed duo.
The sparse crowd thought Jayant had bowled Warner around his legs for 20, but the off-spinner had overstepped the crease and it was called a no-ball.
Warner and Renshaw were able to put loose balls away before Kohli brought on his other paceman Umesh in the 28th over.
Umesh needed just two deliveries to break the opening stand when Warner dragged the ball on to his stumps.
Australia then took an ultra-defensive approach against a side unbeaten in their last 19 Tests, but more chances eventually came India’s way.
Smith and Shaun Marsh added 37 for their stand in almost 20 overs before the latter was caught down the leg side attempting to sweep Jayant.
The hosts struck two quick blows when left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Peter Handscomb (22) lbw after the right-handed batsman had added 30 runs with Smith.
In the next over, Ashwin lured Smith into a drive taken by Kohli at midwicket to dismiss the world’s top-ranked Test batsman for 27.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh did not last long either, falling lbw to Jadeja for four.
Renshaw, who had to leave the field in the morning with an upset stomach, returned to the crease to hit 68 before he was caught at slip off Ashwin.
Umesh dismissed Matthew Wade for eight before taking the wickets of Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon in successive deliveries.
“I think definitely he has improved a lot... He has improved his balance at the crease, his stride has got a bit shorter, and also his wrist position has gotten better,” Bangar said of Umesh.
“Since his lengths are far fuller, he is able to extract that reverse swing. I think he has worked very hard on his bowling and the results are for everybody to see.”
Australia were boosted by Starc late on as the left-hander smashed five fours and three sixes to add 51 for the unbroken final wicket with No 11 batsman Josh Hazlewood, not out on one.